FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2011
Contact: Julie Enszer
julierenszer@gmail.com
(301) 864-9482

Queer Writers to Converge at “3 Dollar Bill” AWP Reading in Washington, DC
Public reading on February 3 will feature 30 LGBT writers of poetry and prose

WASHINGTON, DC— Some of the LGBT community’s most talented and dynamic writers converge in the Nation’s Capitol for a night of rapid-fire readings. “3 Dollar Bill,” the Queer Reading at the 2011 Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference, gathers thirty LGBT writers of poetry and prose who will each read two minutes of their work. The event will take place Thursday, February 3, from 7:30-10:30 pm at the Human Rights Campaign Equality Forum (1640 Rhode Island Avenue NW, in Washington, DC).
“3 Dollar Bill” is sponsored by Arktoi Books, BLOOM Literary Journal, Human Rights Campaign, Knockout Literary Magazine, The Lambda Literary Foundation, A Midsummer Night’s Press, The Publishing Triangle, Sibling Rivalry Press/Assarcus Journal, Sinister Wisdom Literary Journal, White Crane Institute, and The Writer’s Center.
“The lineup of readers is simply remarkable,” says Tony Valenzuela, Executive Director of Lambda Literary. “From literary rock stars to the budding genius of our community’s emerging voices, queer night at AWP is going to astonish people. You better not miss it.”
The full list of readers includes: Francisco Aragón, Ilse Bendorf, Tamiko Beyer, Regie Cabico, Monica Carter, Cynn Chadwick, Sela Chavez, Julie Enszer, Danielle Evennou, Gina Evers, Reginald Harris, Charles Jensen, Saeed Jones, Eloise Klein Healy, Rickey Laurentiis, Paul Lisicky, Michael Montlack, Eileen Myles, Kristin Naca, Achy Obejas, Christa Orth, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Radclyffe, Jason Schneiderman, Joseph Shapiro, Ely Shipley, Griselda Suarez, Justin Torres, Dan Vera, and V Wetlaufer.
Admission to the reading is free and open to the public. Book sales will take place during intermission and after the event. This is an off-site event being held in conjunction with the Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference, held annually in a different U.S. city.
About Arktoi Books:
Arktoi Books, an imprint of Red Hen Press, was established in 2006 by Eloise Klein Healy to publish literary works of high quality by lesbian writers. The mission of Arktoi Books is to give lesbian writers more access to "the conversation" that having a book in print affords.
About BLOOM Literary Journal:
BLOOM was founded to support the work of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered writers and artists and to foster the appreciation of queer literature and creation.
About Human Rights Campaign:
The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
About Knockout Literary Magazine:
Knockout was founded in 2007 by Jeremy Halinen and Brett Ortler. It is a biannual literary magazine that publishes a nearly 50/50 mix of LGBT and straight writers.
About Lambda Literary Foundation:
The Lambda Literary Foundation (LLF) nurtures, celebrates, and preserves LGBT literature through programs that honor excellence, promote visibility and encourage development of emerging writers. Find LLF at www.lambdaliterary.org.
A Midsummer Night’s Press:
Founded by Lawrence Schimel, the press began publishing books in 1997, with its Body Language imprint devoted to LGBT writers. They have published single-author collections from a diverse mix of queer writers such as Achy Obejas, Raymond Luczak, and Julie R. Enszer, as well as anthologies of queer writing such as the forthcoming Flamboyant: A Celebration of Jewish Gay Poetry and Milk and Honey: A Celebration of Jewish Lesbian Poetry.
About The Publishing Triangle:
The purpose of The Publishing Triangle is to further the publication of books and other materials written by lesbian and gay authors or with lesbian and gay themes. Founded in 1988, The Publishing Triangle works to create support and a sense of community for lesbian and gay people in the publishing industry. We offer forums, as well as networking and social opportunities, for our members. In addition we sponsor programs to increase awareness of and appreciation for lesbian and gay literature.
About Sibling Rivalry Press/Assarcus Journal
The mission of Sibling Rivalry Press is to develop, promote, and market underground artistic talent – those who don’t quite fit into the mainstream. In addition to books and chapbooks, they publish the quarterly magazine Assaracus, which features a substantial collection of work by ten gay poets in each issue. They are hosting an LGBT Poetry Showcase at the Rainbow Book Fair in New York City in March 2011.
About Sinister Wisdom Literary Journal
Sinister Wisdom is a multicultural lesbian literary & art journal by and for lesbians. Founded in 1976, the magazine is the oldest surviving lesbian literary journal, now more than 30 years in print. Sinister Wisdom is published quarterly in Berkeley, California and provides free subscriptions to incarcerated and institutionalized women as well as reduced-price subscriptions for lesbians with limited/fixed incomes.
About White Crane Institute:
White Crane Institute promotes the development of healthy Gay men and healthy Gay community. White Crane Institute's goal is to foster the gathering and dissemination of information about the critical role sexuality and gender variation has played and continues to play in the development of cultural, spiritual and religious traditions and to provide a nurturing environment for the continuation and expansion of those explorations for the greater good of all society.
About The Writer’s Center
For over 30 years, The Writer's Center has been a home for writers from all over the Washington metropolitan area. Our tradition of success is rooted in our vision, values, and mission. The Writer’s Center cultivates the creation, publication, presentation, and dissemination of literary work. We are an independent literary organization with a global reach, rooted in a dynamic community of writers. As one of the premier centers of our kind in the country, we believe the craft of writing is open to people of all backgrounds and ages. Writing is interdisciplinary and unique among the arts for its ability to touch on all aspects of the human experience. It enriches our lives and opens doors to knowledge and understanding.
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