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Coast is Queer, October 7th – 9th, 2022

We are delighted to report that Coast is Queer, the UK’s flagship LGBTQ+ literature festival is back for a third year, at it’s new home at the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, at Sussex University, an easy train or bus ride from the centre of Brighton.  

Coast is Queer aims to make LGBTQ+ literature accessible for all. In line with this ethos they have “Pay What You Can” tickets, ranging from just £2 to a full day or festival pass, so that those who can afford to, can support the festival. 

Last year’s online version of the festival attracted thousands of viewers from all over the world, so this year producers, New Writing South and Marlborough Productions, are thrilled to be back in real life.

Lesley Wood, CEO of New Writing South said: 

“We will be showcasing some of our boldest, brightest and best LGBTQ+ writing talent.  The festival has become an exuberant part of the UK’s literary landscape and this year feels even more special as we gather in person for three days of powerful, transformative interviews, discussions, readings, films and workshops”. 

There is so much on, it’s well worth a day or festival pass.  Here are some of the events our team at OutNewsGlobal is most looking forward to:

Performers including Clare Summerskill, DJ Ritu, Roni Guetta, Adam Nathaniel Furman and Joshua Mardell.

Queer in Time and Queering Space with Clare Summerskill, Adam Nathaniel Furman and Joshua Mardell.

Comedienne and writer, Clare Summerskill discusses her book of lesbian and gay oral histories, Gateway to Heaven, and Adam Nathaniel Furman & Joshua Mardell in their gorgeous Queer Spaces, as they find evidence of diverse lesbian, gay and queer existences through time, shining a light on the courage and skill of queer people to create safe spaces in hostile, sometimes lethal, environments. 


Join Queer Heritage South’s Roni Guetta in conversation with Joshua, Adam Nathaniel and Clare as they welcome Queer Spaces contributors DJ Ritu (Club Kali) and Sara Yaoska Herrera Dixon & Helen Dixon.  You may also remember Roni Guetta from going to her queer femminist nights, Traumfrau, which she has been running in Brighton since 2012.

New Writers, Tice Cin, Elizabeth Chakrabarty and Jon Ransom with Okechukwu Nzelu.

Panel with new voices Tice Cin, Elizabeth Chakrabarty and Jon Ransom with Okechukwu Nzelu.

Coast is Queer’s panel of most exciting, new queer voices to the 2022 festival discuss the highs and lows of launching their debut novels, and think about what is next for them.

Brighton writer Helen Treverrow will be appearing on the Sunday

Panel on speculative fiction with Julia Armfield, Leone Ross, Helen Treverrow, and Shola Von Reinhold.

Ursula K Le Guin challenged the gender binary as early as the 1960s.  This is about the literature of questions, of challenges and imagination starring characters who define and redefine genders, sexualities, identities and so much else in between.

Queer Film

In addition to live events, there will be a programme of short queer films curated by the BFI.  This includes: The Cost of Living by Alice Trueman, Bingo Queens by Nick Finegan, Daylight Rules by Alex Browning, Nails and Beauty by Rhona Foster and Octopus by Ella Glendining, will be screened throughout the weekend alongside a selection of films produced by Brighton-based filmmakers, My Genderation.

We are also very excited we will be able to buy and browse real life books (yes, remember them!) and online versions at the festival’s bookshop, curated by Brighton and Hove’s independent bookshop: Feminist Bookshop.

Coast is Queer’s 2022 Schedule – Click here for Pay What You Can Tickets

Friday 7th October

  • Queers in the Library: Panel – Zoey Dixon, Topher Campbell, Binni Brynholf
  • Pajtim Statovci (Bolla) in conversation with Dr Vedrana Velickovic
  • Mischief in the Making: Panel – Stacy Makishi, Ursula Martinez, Oluwaseun Olayiwola
  • Disrupting the Status Quo: Panel – Elias Jahshan (This Arab is Queer – ed), Golnoosh Nour (Queer Life, Queer Love – ed) with Maryam Din (Chair)
  • Juno’s Lovely Trans Literary Salon – Juno Dawson, Travis Alabanza

Saturday 8th October

  • Finding Home in the Queer Poem: Panel – Mary Jean Chan, John McCullough, Fran Lock, Peter Scalpello, Verity Spott
  • New Voices – Tice Cin Elizabeth Chakrabarty, Jon Ransom
  • Neil Barlett in conversation with Okechukwu Nzelu
  • Queer in Time and Queering Space: Panel – Adam Nathaniel Furman & Joshua Mardell, Clare Summerskill, DJ Ritu, Helen Dixon
  • Bad Gays – Huw Lemmey, Ben Miller
  • Saturday Night Out – Livia Kojo Alour, Charlie Wood, Devil’s Dyke Network

Sunday 9th October

  • Speculative Fiction Panel – Julia Armfield, Leone Ross, Helen Trevorrow, Shola von Reinhold
  • Small Odysseys – Maria Jastrzebska 
  • Michael Cashman in conversation with Pete Lawson
  • Sarah Winman in conversation with Beatrice Hitchman

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Maz Gordon

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