LGBT Track at 2013 Decatur Book Festival

The 2013 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical (AJC DBF) will feature its largest and most diverse LGBT track lineup in the festival’s history. The 2013 LGBT track, sponsored by the Atlanta Queer Literary Festival, includes award-wining poets, book launches, seven panels, and more than 25 featured presenters.

AJC DBF Program Director and former Outwrite Bookstore owner, Philip Rafshoon, says, “Much like the entire book festival, the lineup of this year’s LGBT track reflects the diversity of our community and the strength of our voices. We are very fortunate to have a great selection of authors who can speak openly about their lives and the lives of others.”

The Atlanta Queer Literary Festival worked with the Decatur Book Festival to help set up the LGBT track for the 2013 Festival.

Poetry

• Richard Blanco, inaugural poet at President Barack Obama’s second inauguration. Presenting “One Today” and other poems, as well as participating in “Poetry and Public Life” discussion
• Carl Phillips, award-winning American poet. Presenting his new work “Silverchest"
• Collin Kelley and Theresa Davis presenting their new poetry collections, "Render" and "After This We Go Dark," published by Sibling Rivalry Press.

Book Launches

• Manil Suri, Indian-American mathematician and award-winning author. Launching the paperback edition of the much praised “The City of Devi”
• Megan Volpert, author, editor, and local English teacher. Launching her poetry anthology “This Assignment is So Gay” teaturing readings from five of the book’s poets as well as a panel discussion led by the Georgia Safe Schools Coalition

Panels

• “Outsider Artists” Featuring authors Jim Elledge and Robert Sherer discussing artists who are dejected, rejected, or both with moderator Diana McClintock
• “Love is Love” featuring David Levithan and Sara Farazin sharing their new books on gay teen relationships: “Two Boys Kissing” and “If You Could Be Mine”
•  “American Homophobia” featuring David McConnell discussing his nonfiction piece “American Honor Killings,” and Stacy Braukman sharing her historical work “Communists and Perverts Under the Palms: The Johns Committee in Florida, 1956-1965”

Featured Presenters

• Alysia Abbott featuring a presentation of her work “Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father”
• Linda Hirshman featuring a presentation of her work “Victory: The Triumphant Gay Revolution”
• Wayne Koestenbaum,  cultural critic and American poet, presenting his new essay collection “My 1980s & Other Essays”

The full LGBT track schedule, as well as the entire AJC DBF schedule, can be found at:www.DecaturBookFestival.com/2013/schedule/.