Next week, a group of local queer poets will gather to read, express and learn from one other.
“You Can’t Kill a Poet” will take place from 7-9 p.m. May 27 at Wooden Shoe Books and Records, 704 South St., featuring eight Philadelphia-based poets.
Poets include Nikki Lopez, Emma Sanders, Tee Gee, Julia Perch, Mel Orphan, Carrie Reilly, Claire Steen and Emily Gordon.
Gordon, who is pursuing a master’s of fine arts in poetry at Lesley University, created the event.
Gordon, 24, lived in Boston for five years and moved to the Philadelphia area last year. A Bucks County native, Gordon said that when she moved back to the area, it was hard finding a community of queer poets.
“When I moved back I had plans to find a poetry community and never really did,” she said. “I was thinking, What do I want? I want a queer poetry reading that is outside of the realm of slam poetry, a place where people can get together, sit around and read their work, so I figured why not make that event?”
Gordon said she met many of the featured poets through personal acquaintances and word-of-mouth recommendations.
She added that the diversity the group provides will bring an eclectic experience to the event.
“Some of these people have different lives and poetry is a thing they love. Nikki is a DJ and activist, Tee Gee is a drag performer. Some people are highly educated in poetry, some people never went to college. I think there will be a certain amount of diversity in the group.”
The event’s name comes from a poem called “Rotting Symbols” by Eileen Myles. Although the event will initially be hosted at the Wooden Shoe, Gordon hopes to find an assortment of LGBT-friendly establishments to host future events.
“With Giovanni’s Room closing, there are coffee shops that host queer-friendly things but the Wooden Shoe provided the right space. It might be a permanent spot but we hope to move it to different venues in the city,” she said.
Gordon, a poet herself, said she became interested in the writing form in high school and continued her love of poetry in college.
“It is something I have always done,” she said. “It doesn’t give back monetarily; you do it because you want to do it and love to do it.”
Lopez, 26, serves as the bilingual youth sexual-health coordinator at GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization. She has read at several events around the city and said poetry is a way of life for her.
“Poetry makes everything that doesn’t make sense have a place, to mean something, to know it mattered,” she said.
Gordon said “You Can’t Kill a Poet” will give a space to a sector of artists who are often under-recognized.
“I think that, despite what some people might think, queer poets don’t get the voice they deserve. The voice of poetry is still straight, cisgender, white and male,” she said. “I think it is important that people feel empowered and feel like they have a space to speak about whatever they want to speak about.”
The event is free and light refreshments will be served, however no alcohol will be provided or allowed.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/events/869278469764828.