Adventureeeeeeeers! We've been quiet, we know 👀 And we're staying pretty quiet! Honestly, the pandemic is shit, we've spent 4eva indoors, and in-person clubby things are pretty much guaranteed superspreader events. So, uh, we're not going to be doing those for the forseeable.
But jeeeez, it's pride month and almost all the queer events are back to in-person only, so we want to have a party for everyone alienated by all that, and anyone else who'd like a dance in their front room! <3 And reason for the season and all that, we're keeping to an all-queer playlist! So if you've any requests, let us know in advance and we'll see if we can shuffle them into our mixx.
We're keeping it kinda low-key here so, go ahead and invite anyone you like!, but we're gonna tamp down the promotion - this is yr announcement, and then we'll give a brief reminder beforehand.
A reminder of the dealio from last time we ran an online event:
1. We’ll be running this on Zoom. Book a ticket, and we’ll send a link to join in the day of the party!
2. CYOA will ALWAYS be free for those who need it. This month is also the month the fucking arseholes are trying to start deporting asylum seekers en masse to Rwanda tho, and if you can afford to, we recommend a donation to African Rainbow Family, who support LGBTIQ refugees and people seeking asylum. There's a donation link here - https://africanrainbowfamily.org/donate/ - or we're including ticket options below and we'll send 100% of money raised on cuz our costs this time round are zero.
3. The SOBER part of the sober queer+LGBT dance party is still paramount. Most of the reasons ppl need sober spaces are still absolutely true for online spaces, so please respect that and don’t drink or take other intoxicants before or during.
4. Dress as you will! Dress for pride, in spectacular outfits and drag and glitters! Dress in yr pyjamas! Combine both!
AND, the usual:
CYOA is a queer+LGBT dance party for ppl who want a nite without alcohol/intoxicants - welcoming ppl of all genders & sexualities (& none), all ages, all bodies & characters!
We still run quite an early ship! We’ll have music and all the dancing from 8pm 'til 11.30pm, with a break at 10.30pm to announce raffle winners. People are welcome then to stay around and chat/quietly message their crushes from the dance floor/etc.
- Why sober? Queer+LGBT spaces, as well as clubs generally, are often heavily centred around drinking, & sometimes we need alternatives. Ppl have lots of reasons for wanting space away from alcohol&c. Mebbe you can't drink/take intoxicants, for yr health or because of recovery. Mebbe you don't partake, whether for effects/taste/price/any no. of other reasons. Mebbe intoxicated spaces feel less safe to you - & while everyone's responsible for what they do under the influence, alcohol & drugs can make ppl less safe in many ways. Mebbe you just want to try dancing sober, without the pressure of intoxicant-oriented spaces, or bc the nite before was hard & you want a break.
For many ppl, the presence or absence of alcohol/intoxicants is a basic accessibility & safer space issue. Please respect that: however lovely you might be when not sober, it may be a serious issue for others. Because of this, please don't drink/take drugs before coming - sorry, but you won't be welcome. You can have fun without, promise. & if you really don't like the thought of dancing sober, please remember there are *loads* of spaces that already cater to you on that front, & very few for the ppl for whom the opposite is true. However, please also be aware that some people may appear intoxicated due to medication or medical conditions, and no assumptions should be made about anyone's state.
- What music does CYOA play? Music to dance to. Femme pop, glittery electro, shouty riot grrrl songs &c. But this time, specifically all queer artists! So expect Janelle Monáe. Le Tigre. Rina Sawayama. Au Pairs. Pet Shop Boys. Big Freedia. &so on. Here's a mixx from a past nite to give you an idea! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eJ6in0_O7nKcsS7A1f_oGcz3eUN_vjHu/view?usp=sharing
- Accessibility:
1. We will have a safety moderator (Sara, who will have “moderator” in their username) who will be monitoring chat, and if you have any problems please message them.
2. You are welcome to have video on or off. We will sometimes feature people dancing on the main video: if you do not want this, please put “(do not feature)” in your username or message the moderator.
3. Mics will be kept off at all times during dancing.
4. While some fun lighting behind you when dancing is lovely, please ensure you avoid anything strobing.
5. If anyone acts inappropriately towards you, please contact the moderator and they will be removed.
6. It's probably too short notice to get a hold of a BSL intepreter, but we will transcribe lyrics once our playlist is finalised and make these available.
While a dance party isn't for everyone, & isn't any basis for a utopian project, & while we recognise totally "safe spaces" do not exist in this society, CYOA is committed to doing whatever is reasonably possible to make things as safe as possible. Sexual & other harassment won't be tolerated, & nor will transphobia, body policing, misogyny, racism, disablism, or turning up intoxicated. We want everyone to feel able to express their genders & sexualities however they wish without fear of harassment. We want celebration of different bodies & personalities. We don't want cool clubs, & we don't want cool-of-uncoolness clubs. A lot of how this works out in the details is up to you!, but if there's anything making you feel unsafe or uncertain, then a) on the night, let the moderator know, & b) we'd be happy in advance to discuss in private or public what can be done to help/mitigate - send a message to Angelica (DJ Riot Star).
Thank you to everyone who's danced and supported us for so long, thank you to everyone who will come and dance, so much <3 and we're excited to see everyone after so long SOON!