From Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bee Brown, The Bee Agency
Join LGBT Detroit for the Hotter Than July Book Festival on Friday, July 14, at 8:00 pm. The event is at the Marvin Lee Building at 20021 Greenfield Road in Detroit, Michigan. This event is in partnership with Pen America. PEN America works to defend and celebrate free expression in the United States and worldwide through advancing literature and human rights.
“The book festival is a captivating celebration of literature that goes beyond storytelling by delving into important societal issues,” says Damon Percy, event coordinator. “One of the thought-provoking panel discussions during the festival revolves around banned books and pays tribute to the remarkable writer Essex Hemphill.”
This discussion sheds light on the ongoing challenges faced by authors and journalists whose works have been censored or banned due to their provocative content or controversial themes. It serves as a platform to explore the impact of censorship on free expression and the importance of preserving intellectual freedom.
Honoring the legacy of Essex Hemphill, a trailblazing poet, and LGBT+ activist, this panel highlights the enduring power of his work and the indelible mark he left on the media landscape. Through engaging dialogue and critical analysis, the moderator, Damon “Magic” Percy, cultural historian, writer, activist, & archivist and panelists Kalimah Johnson, founder and executive director Detroit’s of the SASHA Center, Oakland’s Marvin K. White, author of “Our Name Be Witness” & “Last Rights”, and, Charles Stephens, executive director and founder of Atlanta’s Counter Narrative encourage attendees to reflect on the significance of unrestricted access to diverse voices and the imperative role of literature in challenging societal norms.
In support of the works of such authors, journalists, and activists, we invite attendees to bring Black and Brown-centered LGBT+ written works to build the internal LGBT Detroit Library.
Jonathan Gonzales
Program Assistant
Office // 313-397-2127 ext 116
Web // www.lgbtdetroit.org
Address // 20025 Greenfield Rd, Detroit MI 48235
