Queer Britain X Bi Lines: Bi+ poetry reading and open mic

Come along to help launch Bi+ Lines, the first ever anthology of bi+ poetry on Bi+ Visibility Day! Contributors to the anthology will perform their work live at Queer Britain, themed around in-betweenness, and then we’ll open up the floor to bi+ audience members for an open mic. Hosted by poet and editor Helen Bowell.

Bi+ Lines is an Arts Council England funded project for bi+ poets, including bisexual, pansexual and queer writers, or anyone who experiences attraction to more than one gender. Historically excluded from both straight and queer spaces, we know that bi+ people are less likely to join queer communities or be out of the closet. Bi+ Lines seeks to increase the representation of bi+ writers, strengthen its community and allow bi+ people to creatively reclaim the in-betweenness that has been used to shut them out. Following eight workshops for bi+ poets in Spring 2023, LGBTQ+ publisher fourteen poems is publishing Bi+ Lines, the first anthology of contemporary bi+ poets, this autumn.

This event at Queer Britain is the first of a series of launch events for the book, where we’ll hear from three of the contributors, whose work was selected from over 2,800 submissions. Bi+, queer, polysexual open mic-ers are invited to perform one poem of up to three minutes in length.. Poems exploring the idea of in-betweenness (on any subject matter) is encouraged, but not required. Spaces are limited so book early to secure your spot!

Find out more about Bi+ Lines at helenbowell.co.uk/bi-lines and follow the project on Twitter/Instagram at @bi_poets.

This project is supported by Arts Council England, fourteen poems, Gay’s The Word, Commonword, Manchester Poetry Library, Out on the Page, Spread the Word and The Writing Squad.

This is a mixed event, everyone is welcome!