Just Do It

Queer Literary Fest

by Campbell States

Sun., Oct. 26, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m., free, Big Blue Marble Bookstore, 551 Carpenter Lane, 215-844-1870, bigbluemarblebooks.com

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Despite the fact that Philly hosts some type of lit festival every weekend or so, few do more than touch on queer writing. So Maleka Fruean of Big Blue Marble Bookstore took matters into her own hands, sending out announcements to local activist groups such as LadyFest Philly in a search for writers of all sorts. The result is this Sunday's Queer Literary Festival, which will feature a diverse mix of poets, fiction writers and creative nonfiction wordsmiths as well as an open mic. The lineup includes West Philly-based erotica writer Joel Nichols; librarian and local poet Gretchen Keer; and Mecca Jamilah Sullivan (pictured), fiction writer and author of the short story "A Strange People."

In addition to providing a forum for queer writers, Fruean is also hoping to draw people out to Mount Airy, Big Blue Marble's culture-rich but sometimes forgotten nook of the city. Says Fruean, "It's like a grown-up West Philly."