queer qandī fest was an arts and activism festival celebrating queers of colour, envisioning queer futures, highlighting creative forces and creating new narratives and representations.
qand + قندي qandī, sugared: Candy
So what’s the deal with qandī? Well, the English word Candy is derived from Arabic قَنْدِيّ (qandiyy, “candied”), in turn, derived from Medieval Persian قند (qand, meaning “cane sugar”), in turn, borrowed from Sanskrit खण्ड (khaṇḍa, “candied sugar”). Words we don’t know the roots of are a natural part of our vocabulary. We take them for granted and probably never bother to know where they come from. The sweet victories won by LGBTQ movement, come from the struggle of many. Yet not all of the members of the community can enjoy the fruits of these victories. It is often taken for granted that Queer history and Queer struggle is a White Western phenomena. The white/cis-washing of the historical events retold in books and films are some examples of QTIPOC being erased from Queer history. The prevalent LGBTQ+ phobia in many POC communities and countries of heritage for migrant queers, strengthen the assumption that fighting for LGBTQ+ rights are White Western issues. With queer qandī we wish to acknowledge the diverse experiences of QTIPOC and create a space where we can learn, share and explore our experiences, history and struggle.
Events
Thursday 20 June
Friday 21 June
Saturday 22 June
Sunday 23 June
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Thursday 20 June
Panel Discussion : Queer and Trans Global Activism
17.30-19.00, Waterstones
Panellists: Dr. Nour Abu Assab, Dr. Senthorun Raj and artists Ornella Ospino and TextaQueen. Chaired by Dr. Joyce Man and Yu-Chen Lai. Organised in collaboration with lgbtQ+@cam.
Opening of art show – Drinks and nibble
19.00, Waterstones
queer qandī art show Gazes and Spaces opened after the panel discussion. Artworks by Myah Jeffers, artist April Lin, Ornella Ospino, TextaQueen, Elmira Zadissa and Ramona Zadissa.
Film screening
21.00-23.00, Arts Picturehouse
Screening of short films in collaboration with Queers in Shorts was possible thanks to the generosity of the filmmakers and artists from around the world. We had the pleasure of screening:
REFUGE Part I and II: The World is Round so that nobody can hide in the corners,
The kiss, dir. Leandro Goddinho, Brazil, 2017
I am a woman, dir. Kai Fiáin, UK, 2016
Seeking Single White Male, dir. Vivek Shraya, Canada, 2011
Passing, dir. Mitchel Reed and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee, Canada, 2015
Duo Impacto, dir. Molly Harding, Cuba, 2017
Traveller Pride – Johnny’s Story, By Pavee Point, UK, 2018
Happy Birthday Marsha!, dir. Tourmaline and Sasha Wortzel, US, 2017
We Have Been Around – The story of STAR, dir. Rhys Ernst, US, 2016
We collected £76.16 for the Dallas Transgender Relief fund during the screening. Thank you everyone for your kind donation!
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Friday 21 June
Race, Sexuality and Mental Health
18.00-19.00, Waterstones
A conversation between Alexander Leon, mental health awareness activist and Dr. Mónica Moreno Figueroa, a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Cambridge.
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Saturday 22 June
Workshops
11.00-16.30, Cambridge Junction
- Poetry workshop with Sonia Quintero
- Illustration workshop with Ornella Ospino
- Portrait photography workshop with Myah Jeffers
- Zine making workshop with daikon* zine
queer qandī club night
21.00-02.00, Cambridge Junction
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Sunday 23 June
Workshops
11.00-15.30, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
- Writing queer stories with Aude Konan
- Self-care tips for the LGBTI community with Dr. Joyce Man
- Infectious Diseases and Marginalised People, talk and workshop with Dr. Morwan Osman
Our sponsors and partners
queer qandī fest was a project with support of Encompass Network, funded by LGBT Consortium the National Lottery’s Community Fund and made possible by generous donations from Qweirdos and Sofar Sounds Cambridge and in partnership with lgbtQ+@cam, Waterstones, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge Junction and Queers in Shorts.
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