Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity is hosting a poetry reading, Sextober Slam, Oct. 10, as part of their second annual Sex Positive October month events. The event will also celebrate Emporia State’s LGBTQIA+ Awareness Week.
“We wanted something that would let poets who wanted to get their voice out there say something,” said Abigaile Weiser, co-president of URGE and junior sociology major. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be about sex positivity or anything like that.”
This will be the first year that URGE has held the poetry slam and it’s open for everyone who wants to share their work or attend.
There are currently a few poets who have signed up for the event in advance, according to Weiser.
URGE plans to table Oct. 10 in the Memorial Union to promote the event and find more readers and poets.
“We’re partnering with BSU (Black Student Union) on it (the event),” Weiser said. “It’s just saying ‘hey we’re a community here and we all need to come together and support this idea and support poets who are trying to get their names out there.’”
URGE is looking for as many readers as possible, but they encourage people to sign up before the day of the event, so they can ensure that everyone who wants to read will have the time to do so.
“Throughout the entire month we’re going to be doing meetings about consent,” Weiser said. “To promote this idea that it’s a natural thing and sex positivity is something that is necessary, because we don’t want to shame anyone for any of their choices.”
Chevelle Balcacer, the treasurer for HALO and junior psychology major shared her thoughts on the Sextober events, saying education on this topic is important.
“Sex, sexual assault, consent and safe sex practices are all so so important to keep ourselves educated and up to date on,” Balcacer said. “Hearing that students are wanting to learn more about how to keep themselves and their partners safe makes me so happy.”
The Sextober Slam will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. Oct. 10 in the Center for Student Involvement, according to URGE’s Sextober Slam Facebook event page. The event is free to attend.
