about reverb
REVERB is an anti-oppressive reading series for queer writers on unceded Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh land in Vancouver that started up in January 2013. It is serious literary magic and also a lot of fun! We laugh, we cry, we change the world. In June 2017, we held our final event.
the little details
How often do we hold events?
REVERB began as a quarterly event, which meant we held events every season (within reason). In the last couple of years, we've tapered off to just two events per year; our final event was held on June 12th, 2017.
Who reads at REVERB?
Queer writers. Writers who identify somewhere inside of a large acronym. Queers who are beginning to identify within the idea of writer. We don't define queer for you -- if you consider yourself queer (whatever that means to you), then let's talk about writing. We never ask people to read specifically queer content -- whatever that means -- on our stage, but rather invite queers to be themselves and read what feels integral to them.
What about prizes?
We love prizes! We always have an amazing trove of give-aways -- and all you have to do is show up and put your name in a hat. Or maybe go on stage to answer trivia. We've given away great stuff like issues of Plenitude Magazine, Room Magazine, a VHS copy of the Last Unicorn, very old lesbian fiction, Poetry is Dead's Queer Issue, tickets to Sister Spit, tickets to Denim Vest, ice cream, Gallery Gachet's catalogue, and more! There are always prizes. For basically just showing up.
REVERB began as a quarterly event, which meant we held events every season (within reason). In the last couple of years, we've tapered off to just two events per year; our final event was held on June 12th, 2017.
Who reads at REVERB?
Queer writers. Writers who identify somewhere inside of a large acronym. Queers who are beginning to identify within the idea of writer. We don't define queer for you -- if you consider yourself queer (whatever that means to you), then let's talk about writing. We never ask people to read specifically queer content -- whatever that means -- on our stage, but rather invite queers to be themselves and read what feels integral to them.
What about prizes?
We love prizes! We always have an amazing trove of give-aways -- and all you have to do is show up and put your name in a hat. Or maybe go on stage to answer trivia. We've given away great stuff like issues of Plenitude Magazine, Room Magazine, a VHS copy of the Last Unicorn, very old lesbian fiction, Poetry is Dead's Queer Issue, tickets to Sister Spit, tickets to Denim Vest, ice cream, Gallery Gachet's catalogue, and more! There are always prizes. For basically just showing up.
our mandate
We believe that writing is a radical act that can transform dominant narratives about whose lives and loves are important and valued, and that sharing that writing can empower, inspire and transform ourselves and our communities.
We’re committed to radical inclusion in our series, recognizing that access to the world of writing, literacy, and even queerness continues to be limited. As organizers, we endeavour to create a reading series where white-identified readers are always in the minority to ensure a space that centres the voices of Indigenous, Black, mixed writers and all writers of colour. All our writers self-identify on a spectrum of queerness that centres trans and femme experiences. All of our events are held in physically and financially accessible spaces, and with every event, we make at least one change to ensure that REVERB becomes more and more accessible.
We promise to do all we can to create a safer space — bring your suggestions! Check your assumptions at the door; REVERB is a body-positive, anti-racist, anti-sexist, and hella queer- and trans-positive event.
We’re committed to radical inclusion in our series, recognizing that access to the world of writing, literacy, and even queerness continues to be limited. As organizers, we endeavour to create a reading series where white-identified readers are always in the minority to ensure a space that centres the voices of Indigenous, Black, mixed writers and all writers of colour. All our writers self-identify on a spectrum of queerness that centres trans and femme experiences. All of our events are held in physically and financially accessible spaces, and with every event, we make at least one change to ensure that REVERB becomes more and more accessible.
We promise to do all we can to create a safer space — bring your suggestions! Check your assumptions at the door; REVERB is a body-positive, anti-racist, anti-sexist, and hella queer- and trans-positive event.
In the spring of 2014, we changed the name of the series from LITANY. Here’s what we had to say about that:
Our last year and a half under the name LITANY has been full of magic. We’re grateful to everyone who welcomed the series, supported, and challenged us. We’d also like to thank those who offered feedback and questions about how our original title, which referenced Audre Lorde’s “A Litany For Survival,” participated in the all-too-common practice of non-Black queers co-opting the words of prominent Black queers. We hope that in changing the name of our series we’re carrying on the work towards an anti-oppressive queer reading series and working against the long history of anti-Black racism in Vancouver.
With that in mind, we bid a fond and grateful farewell to the name LITANY, and welcome in the new name for our series: REVERB. After a year of creating and transforming community through queer lit, this name echoes of how all your stories and words have stayed with us through this process. Reverb, or reverberation, is described as “the persistence of sound” after it has been produced — and we like to think that an anti-oppressive space for queer writing to resonate will continue to make some noise even beyond our events! A reverb is made up of reflections; we hope that this series provides space for you to reflect and be reflected, in all your many layers.
So, welcome to REVERB; hope you like it!