By Graham Cleary-Budge
The queer community in Kentucky is blossoming with talent and promise, and they’re happily willing to share. Queerslang is a music, film, and learning festival geared towards Lexington’s Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, and Ally community. Conceived, planned, and created by UK radio station WRFL’s grant director, Jack Cofer, upon hearing of the LGBT part of South X Southwest, Gay X Gay Gay.
As a satellite event to the Boomslang music festival, Queerslang will be an all-day extravaganza on Saturday, September 24. The event will feature a choice of four different workshops, and two independent documentary film screenings. Attendance at just one hour-long workshop will slash your ticket to the dance after-party at Cosmic Charlie’s from $15 to $8. (A Boomslang weekend or Saturday day-pass wristband will get you in for no charge.)
The screenings include “Whistlin’ Dixie”, a film by Meredith Heil documenting queer bands in the South, and local Darsey R. Miller’s “R.O.C.K.-umentary”, a documentary about Lexington’s roller derby team. Workshops range from “Zines 101: Create, Copy, Distro” to “As the Table Turns: A History and Instructional Look at Scratching and Mixing Records on Turntables”.
Cofer has recruited some very impressive queer musical acts to play at this inaugural Boomslang satellite event. Local artist, Ellie Herring, will be kicking off the musical festivities with her ethereal electro pop. Next on the roster, out of New York, NY, two members of Le Tigre formed a side project called MEN, known for their performance art and unique stage presence. Deemed the “super sexy headliner” on the show’s event webpage, the queer band pioneers, SSION, will be showering the late night stage with their flamboyant glory.
In an online interview, Cofer says he hopes that this event “[Lets] young people know there is a space for them in Lexington, KY.” He also noted, “I think it’s a shame when people who fall outside of the gender norms and hetero-normative lifestyles leave for more ‘accepting’ cities.” Cofer went on to add that his acceptance and support from the Lexington art community and WRFL propelled him to be able to plan and create this break-through event.
Boomslang/Queerslang information and tickets are available online at boomslangfest.com. Weekend passes and day-of passes are for sale. Weekend passes are $50.00 or $40.00 with a valid UK student ID. The workshops and screenings are free and all ages and will be held at Awesome, Inc. at 348 E. Main St. starting at 12 P.M.
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