Queer Intro

Welcome to the Gay in the Bay Blog! I am Josie, a queer writer and videographer that loves to document what I see around me. This started out as a writing blog but has grown to include events that more people should know about.

This post is for the week of January 15 - 21.

Do you have a live event that needs filming? I’m a videographer! Please check out the Sweeney Media on your way to the About > Contact page. I look forward to working with you.

Writing

Revisions began on the queer superhero novel last week. I’ve made progress on the beginning and veering into the middle. There is still much to figure out with this story, but it’s a good start.

One thing I’ve changed is the structure of chapters. I have renamed all chapters to “issues,” because I want this to be similar in structure to comic books. There is only a couple of big changes going on, but these categorical changes are resulting in many words at a time.

What happened this week…

This week has been eventful!

D&D OGL Updates

Each week I attend a D&D session at The New Parkway. But that was somewhat overshadowed by the continuing saga of the Open Gaming License (OGL), and the reaction against the Wizards of the Coast (WotC). As of today (January 22), the dust has settled for a few days. There are still videos published on YouTube that discuss and, in many cases, rightfully complain about the decisions made. There are several videos that do a good job explaining all of this, but the most recent one can be found HERE. The link goes to a DnD Shorts video. There is a lot of historical facts and contractual verbiage that he and other YouTubers are making understandable. This is not a simple matter.

Things To Do in the Bay Area

There are so many things going on in San Francisco. Milk SF on Valencia St. is a wonderful queer-friendly hub that supports two such events. And they are both on the third week of each month.

One of them is Queer Bedtime Stories. This is an event where everyone reads poetry, short stories, or snippets from provided books. This gives a spiritual air, though there is no emphasis on religion. Host Scott gives each attendant a chance to breathe and celebrate the queer culture around us. This is an event that I love attending each month.

On the third Saturday of each month, a very different type of event occurs at Milk SF. A pun on the idea of poetry slams, Poetry Slime is a two hour rush of poetry, prompts, and in-the-moment jokes. After moving to Oakland, this was one of the first events I attended. This is a wonderfully chaotic time and cannot say enough good things about Poetry Slime.

If you are interested in attending either of these events, please check out their Instagram accounts for up-to-date information. Queer Bedtime, Poetry Slime.

And the Rest

A friend had a house warming party. I got the chance to hang out and get to know some recent friends better. It was a great time. Folks in the Bay really know how to throw a party!

I closed the week out by recording an episode of Queer Film Theory covering the movie The Hunger (1983). As always, there was plenty to talk about. The next movie has already been announced at the New Parkway Theater. You can find more information HERE.

Weekly Pop Culture…

Early this week a newly published book arrived. I’m very excited to have begun The Tidings of Misfits by Jordan Dugdale.
I’ve largely listened to the same music while writing a big chapter. The Villain Mode playlist has been good, but I’ve also listened to my Hyperfixation list.

Thank you for reading this issue of Gay in the Bay. Just like my works of fiction, this is a work in progress. May your upcoming week be fabulous.