Top queer writers share their works this Sunday

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• Historic Fort York David Spittal courtesy murmur.com
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Church Street will once again be home to Canada's queer literary arts festival when Writing Outside the Margins returns this weekend.

A diverse array of some of Toronto's top gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) authors, playwrights and songwriters will join noted screenwriter John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), poet and author Michelle Tea and musician Kinnie Starr for an all-day celebration on Sunday.

Church Street will become a car-free zone between Gloucester and Alexander streets to make way for the festival, which will include literary readings, an open mic stage, panel discussions and a children's zone.

Award-winning Cabbagetown author John Miller, one of the local writers who will share their material with the crowd, will read from his second novel, A Sharp Intake of Breath. He said literature can help build bridges between gay and straight cultures.

"People are curious to read about lives and cultures that aren't their own," he said. "We can all learn about experiences that aren't close to our own by reading literature."

While Miller does not consider himself strictly a queer writer, he acknowledged that queer themes will often come out in his work. In A Sharp Intake of Breath, for instance, the protagonist is a straight man, but one who has a speech impediment due to a cleft lip and palate.

"He faces a bit of discrimination, so it definitely has queer themes," he said. "I think it's natural to have gay and lesbian themes and characters in my books."

He noted, however, that gay and lesbian writers have gained more mainstream acceptance and most are not pigeonholed or viewed solely through the lens of their sexuality.

"There are many talented writers in Canada who happen to be gay and lesbian, but they're pretty much just viewed as writers now," he said.

Noted playwright Daniel MacIvor, another of the featured authors at the street festival, said literature is a good way to foster understanding and open-mindedness among people of all stripes.

"My goal is always to bring people together rather than to divide them," he said. "The key is to make the stories very human, so gay and lesbian audiences may see a very familiar, personal thing there, but straight audiences see something familiar as well."

Miller said he was looking forward to reading at Writing Outside the Margins and sharing the stage with other outstanding writers.

"It's a fantastic street festival and it's a great way for people to get excited about literature," he said.

MacIvor echoed those sentiments, saying that while Writing Outside the Margins is billed as a queer literary festival, it is also a celebration of literature in general.

"Getting people to talk about books? Bring it on," he said.

Writing Outside the Margins will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 24. Visit www.writingoutsidethemargins.ca for details.