11/05/2026
‘WHEN I SAY Q***R JOY, I MEAN…’ is the collaborative poem written by you guys for .s Q***r Fest 2026. As anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric is seemingly spreading like a bad rash across politics and culture, taking time to think about what makes us joyful is really important. And events like Q***r Fest are equally as important, so we can all come together and just… be 💃
“When I say q***r joy, I mean my ex talking to my boyfriend about her d***o collection.
When I say q***r joy, I mean Experiencing morning bo**rs for the first time.
When I say q***r joy, I mean Natasha Lyonne and Clea DuVall in ‘But Im a Cheerleader’.
When I say q***r joy, I mean the ease of being known.
When I say q***r joy, I mean b***s!
When I say q***r joy, I mean haircuts - if you have dysphoria, get a fade.
When I say q***r joy, I mean living my true authentic self without prejudice.
When I say q***r joy, I mean feeling celebratory in the ways we are different - it’s the opposite of the we were raised to feel; q***r joy has an element of the IKEA effect, because we built it ourselves.
When I say q***r joy, I mean gay eye contact.
When I say q***r joy, I mean the unspoken understanding and acceptance that blooms when two q***r people acknowledge each other.
When I say q***r joy, I mean Cate Blanchett in Carol.
When I say q***r joy, I mean being my truthful self.
When I say q***r joy, I mean wearing a towel round my waist despite the fact it’s fu***ng freezing.
When I say q***r joy, I mean all the small things, moments where I can just be myself, feel comfortable, and not have to think twice about it, knowing that’s enough.
When I say q***r joy, I mean Clairo haircuts.
When I say q***r joy, I mean lipstick smears on bathroom mirrors, neon lights, knowing you’re exactly where you need to be and with exactly who you need to be with.”
