Wandsworth Libraries's is excited to announce an entire month of events across all eleven libraries this February as part of their LGBT+ History Month 2023. For details on all events you can go to...
To start the month of celebrations we have an evening of established and published poets performing in a poetry slam. Performers will be from the LGBT+ community and allies too. Audience members will have the opportunity to perform a poem they have prepared too.
Featured p erformers include:
Troy Cabida: featured in 100 Queer Poems, which was included in the Guardian's best poetry books of 2022. His debut pamphlet, War Dove, was published by Bad Betty Press in 2020. His poem, “How to wear a Love Bracelet”, was shortlisted for The Bridport Prize for Poetry 2022. Troy is a Philipino poet based in South London and a former librarian for Wandsworth Libraries.
H anna Stanislaus: born and raised in Tooting, . Hannah was kicked out of school at 13 and was sent to a Pupil Referral Unit. She became a mum in 2016 and in 2017 became homeless with an 11 month old baby, after experiencing domestic violence. Hannah went on to be elected as Councillor in Wandsworth but decided politics was not what she wanted to do and so began performing at poetry open mics and in February 2022 had her debut EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE, UNEDUCATEDAND ROUGH released through Paper Tiger Poetry
Hilaire McLiesh: co-author with Joolz Sparkes of London Undercurrents (Holland Park Press, 2019). Her project found ~ flow ~ flux was commissioned by Wandsworth Council in 2022. The resulting booklet presents poems created by local residents from words and phrases found on walks around the Nine Elms area. Hilaire is a proud ally to the LGBT+ community.
Emily Hunter: a regular on the spoken word poetry scene. Her writing explores themes of social justice, identity, and her experience of navigating the world as a masculine-presenting lesbian. She has performed live on air for BBC Radio London, has featured in a digital art exhibition for LGBT Consortium, and won the Fervor Festival Poetry Slam 2022.
T.Balogun: a South London based poet, passionate about inclusivity, diversity, positivity, supporting youth development, women’s rights, sport & her local community. ‘Blouse an’ skirt, babe!!!’ is T’s debut book, written during Lockdown 2020 and self-published in March 2021. The book includes poems that feature themes such as equality, education, mental well being, participation and racial injustice. She is currently in process of writing her 2nd book.
Register for event here
CK: is a multifaceted being, who cultivates healing poetry written through the heart and perspective of a trans non binary poet on a journey of self discovery. Through their own navigation of their inner landscape as well as the world around them in wonder and awe of harmony prevailing they wish to reassure, comfort and embrace people embodying freedom. Their work has been showcased at the Mexican embassy as well as venues in across London.