U STREET: OUTWRITE 2016 - A Celebration of LGBT Literature - August 5th thru 7th

The OutWrite LGBT Book Festival returns to The DC Center Friday, August 5th Sunday, August 7th. OutWrite is a celebration of LGBT Literature. The weekend is full of book readings, writing workshops, book discussions, poetry readings and more.

On Friday, August 5th at 6:30 PM at the DC Center for the LGBT Community, 2000 14th St. NW, Suite 105, this year’s opening event is a book launch for "Love Unites Us: Winning the Freedom to Marry in America," edited by Kevin M. Cathcart and Leslie J. GabelBrett. It will be followed by a panel that will discuss the direction of future LGBT activism post-marriage equality.
 
On Saturday, OutWrite will host a diverse group of talented LGBTQ writers that cover genres such as science fiction, memoir, true crime, journalism and much more. Panels, workshops and readings include:

• Stars in Their Pockets: Queer Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing
• In Name & Memory: Art, Violence and Bearing Witness
• Fuego y Hielo: poesía en español y inglés por
• Hidden Histories: Research, Writing & Queer Visibility
• Queering Afrofuturism with Imani Sims

In addition to the established writers, OutWrite will present four awards to young writers, in honor of literary pioneer Deacon Maccubbin, made possible by the DC Front Runners Pride Run.

As founder of the LGBT bookstore Lambda Rising, the Lambda Literary Awards and D.C.'s first Gay Pride Day, Maccubbin has dedicated himself to creating spaces for LGBTQ voices to be heard. The Young Writer Awards, made possible by DC Front Runners, aims to continue Maccubbin's legacy and provide opportunities for the next generation of the LGBTQ community to grow. The winners will read their work and be presented with their prizes.

A special treat this year is the addition of the OutWrite Open Mic hosted by noted poet Regie Cabico. The open mic will run from 12pm4pm, in the D.C. Center Lounge.

On Sunday, OutWrite presents five workshops for writers in conjunction with prominent poets and writers in the field. ME Girard, John Copenhaver, David Hazard, Imani Sims and Chelsea Shorte. Our speaker lineup includes :

• ME Girard, workshop leader and author of GIRL MANS UP, forthcoming from Harper Collins in September.
• Joanna Cifredo, author of A DARK ROAD TO PEACE and Racial & Economic Justice Policy Analyst with the National Center for Transgender Equality.
• Regie Cabico, performance poet and cofounder of Capturing Fire, the only Trans and Queer Spoken Word Festival centered around Poetry Slam Culture and Literature.
• Michael Nava, an attorney and writer, author of CITY OF PALACES and the Henry Rios mystery novels.
• Tim Murphy, longtime journalist and activist, and the author of CHRISTODORA, forthcoming from Grove Atlantic in August.
• Alexis de Veaux, the author of YABO, winner of the 2015 Lambda Literary Award in Lesbian Fiction.

The festival promises to be entertaining and engaging. The lineup reflects many of the diverse voices in LGBTQ communities.

For more information and a full listing of events, 

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/outwritedc/ 

or visit outwritedc.org.