Queer Memoir

Special

In this Queer Memoir Presents, we’ll be hearing stories from butch/stud identified people of from different queer generations, including a special reading from West Coast’s Jeanne Cordova and her award-winning memoir, When We Were Outlaws. Keep checking for updates and RSVP on facebook.

Pioneering rebel activist Jeanne Cordova is a founder of the West Coast LGBTQ movement. Her new book When We Were Outlaws just won the prestigious Publishing Triangle Lesbian Non-fiction award, and is a ‘Lammy’ award finalist.
Cordova chaired the Butch Voices LA Conference in 2010, and co-founded Butch Nation in 2011. Currently her band of guerilla activists–LEX (the Lesbian Exploratorium)– creates political, art and history events, including “GenderPlay in Lesbian Culture.” Cordova published The Lesbian Tide and her journalism continues with essays in award-winning anthologies like Persistence: All Ways Butch and Femme, Lesbian Nuns: Breaking the Silence and Persistent Desire: A Femme-Butch Reader. jeannecordova.com

Lea Robinson is a multi-talented butch. You may recognize her as the emcee for Boxers Off! An Evening of Butch Burlesque, L Boogie of L Boogie Productions, or from New York’s Butch Voices conference (www.butchvoices.com). You may have also seen her as “Officer Ruffins” in the lesbian serial ROOM FOR CREAM at La MaMa, as “Alma” in BUTCH MAMAS at WOW Cafe, “JT” in LET THEM EAT CAKE AT Dixon Place, or in the Bulldyke Chronicles at Dixon Place. Robinson was also featured in GO Magazine’s 2009 Edition of 100 Women We Love. In her former life, Robinson was a baller and played in a final four, which has led to her ongoing work with the National Center for Lesbian Rights and It Takes a Team! on homophobia and transphobia in athletics. Robinson is a gay for pay at a local university and very happy to be here with you this evening! Robinson and director Elizabeth Whitney also collaborate on The Miscegenations Project (www.miscegenations.org), an educational theatre project on intersections of identity. www.learobinsonactor.com.

Sinclair Sexsmith writes the award-winning personal online project Sugarbutch Chronicles: The Sex, Gender, and Relationship Adventures of a Kinky Queer Butch Top at sugarbutch.net. She has contributed to more than a dozen anthologies, including four Best Lesbian Erotica collections, Sometimes She Lets Me: Best Butch/Femme Erotica, Visible: A Femmethology Volume II, Persistence: Still Butch and Femme, and Take Me There: Trans and Genderqueer Erotica, and writes regularly for AfterEllen.com, SexIsMagazine.com, and LambdaLiterary.com. Mr. Sexsmith is on the board of the Lesbian Sex Mafia in New York City, joined the board of the BUTCH Voices conference as Media Chair in 2012, and serves the Body Electric School as a coordinator. She is the guest editor of Best Lesbian Erotica 2012 and editor of Say Please: Lesbian BDSM Erotica, both from Cleis Press. More information about her events, workshops, and projects at mrsexsmith.com

Ryann Makenzi Holmes, 26, Bed Stuy, Bk, NY — entrepreneur, student, biker, skater, DJ boi — was born in Washington, DC and raised primarily in Largo, Maryland. She currently attends Baruch College in New York, working tirelessly towards the “coveted” MBA. She resides in Brooklyn, where she attributes the inspiration for her first entrepreneurial endeavor, bklyn boihood, a community organization dedicated to the empowerment and visibility of masculine presenting queer and trans folks of color.

KELLI DUNHAM is a ex-nun, genderqueerious stand-up nerd comic, one of Velvet Park Magazine’s 25 Significant Queer Women of 2011 and author of four books of humorous non-fiction, including two children’s books being used by Sonlight conservative home schooling association in their science curriculum. She has two comedy CDs “I am NOT a 12 Year Old Boy” and “Almost Pretty” to her credit, both of which are in frequent rotation on Sirius Satellite Radio’s Rawdog Station. She is the co-founder, with Genne Murphy, of Queer Memoir.

Our April line-up. For last minute details, check out the event on facebook.
Ashley M Young
Barry Katz
Chella Quint
Grace Moon
Katie Liederman
Lenny Zenith

with hosts Kelli Dunham & Genne Murphy

ASHLEY M YOUNG
Ashley is a black feminist queer dyke; poet, non-fiction writer and teaching artist. She is the creator of an online writing project for women of color called Brown Girl Love (www.browngirllove.com) and recently completed a chapbook inspired by the project. She is a non-fiction 2011 Lambda Literary Fellow and a 2010 poetry participant of Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation Retreat for Writers of Color. Under the name Indigo, Ashley writes a blog called Indigo’s Theory about her journey through sexuality, Polyamory and womanhood. She also writes a column called “Indigo’s Poly Beginnings” for Fearless Press, an online magazine about relationships and sexuality. Her erotica has been featured in Salacious Magazine and she will be a featured writer in “Perverts of Color” alongside her partner Sara Vibes. She has read her erotica throughout New York City and teaches sex positive workshops in the LBGTQ community. Ashley makes a living as non-profit arts administer and is currently working on her memoir.

BARRY KATZ
After twenty-eight years of marriage, and the raising of two children, both now adults, Barry Katz turned his life upside-down. His memoir, “A Double Life,” tells the story of coming to grips with his sexuality and starting over late in life. The title refers both to the experience of having lived most of his life as one person on the outside, and a very different one on the inside; and also to his rebirth as a gay man, a starting over in middle age—closing the book on one life, and embarking on another.
Barry Katz is a writer, designer, and custom homebuilder based in Norwalk, Connecticut. A part-time painter and amateur pianist, Katz’s published writings include newspaper columns on home improvement; magazine articles on architecture, the arts, and green building; and a book, “Practical Green Remodeling: Down-to-Earth Solutions for Every Day Homes,” (Taunton Press 2010).

CHELLA QUINT
Chella Quint is a comedy writer, performer and old school zine girl who was born in Brooklyn but ran away to Sheffield, England when she was 21. She swears the two cities are identical in every way except for the commute to Manhattan. She is best known for writing and editing Adventures in Menstruating – a zine and live show deconstructing feminine hygiene adverts with brute force when necessary. Chella’s comic essay about interfering in-laws, “Getting Civilized”, was recently published in the anthology Here Come the Brides: Reflections on Lesbian Love and Marriage (Seal Press, March 2012). www.chellaquint.com

GRACE MOON
Grace Moon is an artist, writer, professor and founder of Velvetpark Media the arts and culture site for queer women.

KATIE LIEDERMAN
Katie Liederman has written for The Huffington Post, Nerve, V, Curve, Penthouse Forum, GO, Rap-Up, Velvetpark, The Archive, The New Gay, PrettyQueer, and was a resident blogger on Showtime’s Ourchart.com. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English from Cornell University and an M.F.A. in Nonfiction Writing from Sarah Lawrence College.

LENNY ZENITH
Lenny Zenith is a writer and musician from New Orleans, who currently lives in NYC with his wife Anne and cat Seymour where he works as a web manager, and still performs music intermittently. He identifies as a queer transman, and excerpts of his upcoming memoir were recently published in Obsolete! magazine. He’s often featured at NYC’s “Loser’s Lounge, and “The Car Song” by his 90′s band Jenifer Convertible was featured on the Trans-Genre CD compilation. Over the years his bands have opened for XTC, Gang of Four, X, Iggy Pop and U2 among others. He has also played The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival several times and has toured the U.S., Canada and UK. His latest band was Minor Planets (http://myspace.com/minorplanets) He is currently completing his memoir “Before I Was Me”.

With Queer Memoir producers/founders/hosts

GENNE MURPHY
GENNE MURPHY is a Philadelphia native, playwright and arts educator. Her work has appeared on Philadelphia stages and radio. Check out the upcoming production of her play, HOPE STREET AND OTHER LONELY PLACES with Azuka Theatre March 15-April 1: http://azukatheatre.org/show.php?prod=42. Genne is the co-producer, with Kelli Dunham, of Queer Memoir (queermemoir.com).

KELLI DUNHAM
KELLI DUNHAM is a ex-nun, genderqueerious stand-up nerd comic, one of Velvet Park Magazine’s 25 Significant Queer Women of 2011 and author of four books of humorous non-fiction, including two children’s books being used by Sonlight conservative home schooling association in their science curriculum. Kelli is currently organizing a southern states Good Ol’ Fashioned Queer Comedy Revival Show.

We’re so looking forward to our November NYC event, returning to the Queers for Economic Justice space. Bios of our amazing storytellers below; don’t forget to RSVP on facebook.

Ryann Holmes

Amber Dawn

Nick Krieger

Dan Horrigan

Lea Robinson

RYANN HOLMES

Born in Washington, DC and raised in neighboring PG County, Maryland, Ryann Makenzi Holmes, is an entrepreneur, student and community organizer. After completing her undergrad in Business and Marketing at George Mason University, she is now completing her final semester of graduate work in Baruch College’s MBA program. From her innovative event planning work with the Women’s Sports Foundation to her dedicated work with Public Interest Projects and The Audre Lorde Project, Ryann is committed to a life lived with integrity.

Settling in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn just over 5 years ago, the city and its energy felt vibrant, artistic and inspiring—all traits that she continually seeks to embody in her personal and professional endeavors. As a founder of bklyn boihood she spends much of her time working on providing visibility and promoting the empowerment of masculine of center folks of color.

After the successful launch of their visionary 2010 calendar, Ryann has set her sights high, committing to the creative expansion of the collective through hosting opportunities for networking, substantial program development and using social innovation to empower individuals and community efforts on a local to global scale.

AMBER DAWN

Amber Dawn is a writer, filmmaker and performance artist based in Vancouver. She is the author of the novel Sub Rosa (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2010), editor of the Lambda Award-nominated Fist of the Spider Woman (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2008) and co-editor of With a Rough Tongue: Femmes Write Porn (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2005). Her award-winning, genderfuck docu-porn, “Girl on Girl,” has been screened in eight countries and added to the gender studies curriculum at Concordia University. She has toured three times with the infamous Sex Workers’ Art Show. Currently, she is the director of programming for the Vancouver Queer Film Festival.

NICK KRIEGER

Nick Krieger is the author of the memoir NINA HERE NOR THERE: MY JOURNEY BEYOND GENDER, an exploration of the land between man and woman. Reviewers have called it “revolutionary,” “honest,” “funny,” “moving,” and “heartfelt.” Krieger’s writing has earned several travel-writing awards, has been published in multiple travel guides, and has appeared in numerous outlets, including 365gay, Original Plumbing, and the Advocate. A native of New York, Krieger realized at the age of twenty-one that he’d been born on the wrong coast, a malady he corrected by transitioning to San Francisco. He is passionate about activism through art, yoga, and queering all that he can. www.nickkrieger.com.

DAN HORRIGAN

Dan Horrigan got his start telling stories to anyone who would listen at bars and cocktail parties across New York. Dan is thrilled to be bringing his tales to a slightly more sober audience. Another incarnation of The Big A was produced in New York in February of 2010. In addition to being a writer / performer Dan is also a co-founder and Artistic Director of At Hand Theatre Company. At Hand is an independent, non profit theatre company in New York City that produces new plays while using eco-friendly practices. Dan likes to make you laugh and he likes trees and plays! He is proud to have produced Anton Dudley’s Letters to the End of the World, Mark Snyder’s Lila Cante, One Nation Under by Andrea Lepcio and 4 seasons of POP! Dan has directed At Hand’s productions of Cake And Plays Without The Cake by Jono Hustis, Silence! by Brian Dykstra and John Patrick Bray’s Trickster at the Gate. Last season, Dan was honored to have At Hand present his autobiographical solo show, MY AiDS. Other directing credits include Nicky Silver’s The Altruists (Access Theatre), Cindy Lou Johnson’s Brilliant Traces and PS Your Cat is Dead by James Kirkwood. Dan’s television appearances include Cash Cab, playing the role of Gay Guy In The Backseat With All The Wrong Answers (uncredited). He also appeared in Kathy Griffin’s My Life On The D-List playing Laughing Gay Guy in the 3rd Row At The WaMu Theatre (surprisingly, also uncredited). .

LEA ROBINSON

LEA ROBINSON is a multi-talented butch artist. NYC credits include ROOM FOR CREAM (Two-headed Calf/La MaMa), BUTCH MAMAS (WOW Café), The Bulldyke Chronicles (Dixon Place), and The Femme Show. She recently shared a bill with Elizabeth Whitney in the HOT! Festival at Dixon Place in SYRUP IN OUR SHORTS, AND OTHER SOUTHERN PLEASANTRIES, and she is currently working on a new solo show, YOU AIN’T SPECIAL. She also organized and emceed Boxers Off! An Evening of Butch Burlesque at Stonewall—a benefit for the upcoming Butch Voices Conference. She was featured in GO Magazine’s 2009 Edition of 100 Women We Love. www.learobinsonactor.com.

Because of the illness and death of Kelli’s partner Cheryl, Queer Memoir has been on hiatus since March. For our first post-hiatus event, we’re partnering with the amazing organization Queers for Economic Justice, to present QUEER MEMOIR: Letters. It’s going to be an amazing evening, so please RSVP on facebook and come!

ABOUT OUR STORYTELLERS:

ASHLEY M YOUNG
Ashley is a black feminist queer dyke; poet, non-fiction writer and teaching artist. She is the creator of an online writing project for women of color called Brown Girl Love (www.browngirllove.com) and recently completed a chapbook inspired by the project. She is a non-fiction 2011 Lambda Literary Fellow and a 2010 poetry participant of Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation Retreat for Writers of Color. Under the name Indigo, Ashley writes a blog called Indigo’s Theory about her journey through sexuality, Polyamory and womanhood. She also writes a column called “Indigo’s Poly Beginnings” for Fearless Press, an online magazine about relationships and sexuality. Her erotica has been featured in Salacious Magazine and she will be a featured writer in “Perverts of Color” alongside her partner Sara Vibes. She has read her erotica throughout New York City and teaches sex positive workshops in the LBGTQ community. Ashley makes a living as non-profit arts administer and is currently working on her memoir.
KAY ULANDAY BARRETT
A CAMPUS PRIDE 2009 Hot List artist, Kay Ulanday Barrett is a poet, performer, educator, and martial artist navigating life as a pilipin@ transgender/queer in the U.S. with struggle, resistance, and laughter. Based in NY/NJ, their work has featured on stages nationally and internationally; from the NJ Performing Arts Center to the Chicago Historical Museum, Brooklyn Museum to Dublin’s Lesbian Arts Festival. Kay’s bold work continues to excite and challenge audiences. Previously, Kay has served on the Board of Directors for Beyondmedia Education and the Advocates Committee for freeDimensional, a social justice resource for the arts activist global community. Honors include: LGBTQ 30 under 30 awards and Finalist for The Gwendolyn Brooks Open-Mic Award. Kay’s work has appeared in several anthologies and journals such as: Make/shift magazine, Kicked Out Anthology, Philippine American Psychology, and Asian Americans for Progress. Kay. turns art into action as a dedicated activist who serves LGBTQ communities and youth. As a critical foodie of color, Kay’s next project is a documentary called Recipes for the People. Check out K. online: http://www.kaybarrett.net/ and http://www.recipesforthepeople.com/

BRYN KELLY
Bryn Kelly is all about the story. She has shared her written work at NYC-based performance series Gayety!, Low Standards, and Queer Memoir; on Showtime’s OurChart.com; and in the forthcoming anthology, Trans/Love: Radical Sex, Love and Relationships Beyond the Gender Binary. She was a cofounder of Theater Transgression, a multimedia performance collective, and has appeared in Dixon Place’s HOT! Festival; in As You Like It at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe; and on NBC’s Law and Order: SVU. She lives in Brooklyn.

JAY TOOLE
Jay Toole is the director of QEJ’s Shelter Project and a real, live superbutch.

R. ERIC THOMAS
R. Eric Thomas (@oureric) is a playwright, teaching artist and storyteller. He is the author of four produced plays, including “The Spectator” (Run of the Mill Theater Company, Baltimore). Eric has read or performed for Second Stories at the Dive, Rant-o-Wheel, Queer Ignite, Superheroes Who Are Super!, Queer Memoir, “Live at Kelly Writers House” on WXPN and Philadelphia’s First Person Arts Story Slams, at which he has competed in the Grand Slam three times. His writing has appeared in Columbia University’s The Collection and the literary magazine, The Q Review. His solo show, “Will You Accept This Friend Request?” premieres November 14 and 15 as part of the First Person Festival. Facebook.com/R.Eric.T

GENNE MURPHY
Genne Murphy is a Philadelphia native and playwright.. She’s passionate about the intersection of the arts, social change, and community-building. She has had readings or productions of her plays in Philly with Azuka Theatre Company, Flashpoint Theatre Company, Madhouse Late Night Cabaret, the Cardboard Box Collaborative, the Annenberg Center/Merge, LIVE at the Kelly Writers House (radio), and in the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Check out her first full-length play, HOPE STREET AND OTHER LONELY PLACES to be produced by Azuka Theatre in spring 2012. Genne is the co-producer, with Kelli Dunham, of Queer Memoir (queermemoir.com

KELLI DUNHAM
Kelli Dunham (www.kellidunham.com) is everyone’s favorite nerd gone wild (mild?) stand up comic. She has appeared at colleges, clubs, fundraisers, the occasional livestock auction and on Showtime and the Discovery Channel. You can catch her full length show “Why Is the Fat One Always Angry: Kelli Dunham’s I’m Still Funny Dammit 43 Birthday Show” on October 1 at the Stonewall Inn. You can find her on facebook, youtube, twitter and any future social media platforms still to be invented as (get this cleverness) kellidunham.