Brave New Voices, an international competition where high schoolers from across America and around the globe come together to represent their cities and souls, stormed in this month in San Francisco, with young slam poets spitting flames in the firestorm of Donald Trump's adminstration. With over 50 slam poetry teams competing for the international title, the young poets demonstrated the power of the LGBT forces of the future when they hit the stage.
Watch some of the most powerful performances given at Queeriosity, the poetic safe space for queer youth and allies to discuss sexuality, identity, and community with rhythm and rhyme.
First up: Ritutal For Existing by Yujane, which discusses the spiritual self-care needed as a nonbinary individual.
Most Powerful Lyric:
Notice who this child of diaspora and dysphoria
Cannot be reduced to love is love
How this love is survival
This love is existing
This love is trusting what your heart
Is trying to say to the rest of your body
Danez Smith, a cult favorite in the slam community and published author, he dedicates his piece Genesissy to Islan Nettles and Dwayne "Gully Queen" Jones, two black transgender women who were murdered in the summer of 2013.
Most Powerful Lyric:
And on the 10th day...
God wore a blood-red sequin bodysuit
Dropped it low
Called it a sunset.
Youth poet Maddie furthers Danez's questions about God and queerness in a personal letter to God.
Most Powerful Line:
I thought nothing was holier than love
Until I started loving the wrong way for scripture
So I wanted to ask you
If evilness is learned
Why was I born this way?
Finally, Yosimar Reyes shares My Revolutionary, a testament to the sacredness of queer love.
Most Powerful Lyric:
You remind me that the only possessions we have in this world
Are our bodies and our voice
And the combination of the two
Must be used to honor the spirits of de pasasdos
