Ryka Aoki To Join La Maricolectiva at Opening Performance of QPOC Conference on Friday. April 8 at UCR

Ryka Aoki will share her spoken word talents at the opening performance of the Queer People of Color Conference at UC Riverside, April 8-10, 2011. Ryka will also present a featured workshop on “Beneath Grassroots: Changing the world with no strings attached” and will close the conference with a keynote on Sunday.

Ryka Aoki is a writer, performer, and educator who has been honored by the California State Senate for creating Trans/Giving, LA’s only art/performance series dedicated to trans, genderqueer, and intersex artists.

La Maricolectiva Performance To Open QPOC Conference Friday, April 8, 2011 at UC Riverside

La Maricolactiva bring their spoken word, slam poetry, cabaret and stand up, spanish, english y espanglish with a kick of jota slang to UC Riverside on Friday, April 8 to open the 6^th Annual Queer People of Color Conference. Co-sponsored by ASPB, their performance is open to the entire UCR campus and anyone registered to attend the QPOC Conference.

D’Lo To Provide Sneaky and Soulful Ways to Change the World and Ourselves at QPOC Conference, April 8-10, 2011

D’Lo, a queer Tamil Sri L.A.nkan-American, political theatre artist/writer, director, comedian and music producer, will present a featured workshop at the Queer People of Color Conference this April at UC Riverside. D’Lo’s workshop will make a link between/performance/writing and the sneaky ways we want to be subversive in this world. D'Lo will guide participants in a series of exercises that unleash the creative spirit.

Kenyon Farrow, QPOC Conference Keynote Speaker, Named "Modern Black History Hero" by BET

Kenyon Farrow, who will deliver a keynote at the Queer People of Color Conference April 8-10, 2011 at UC Riverside, was recently recognized by BET for his community activism. Black Entertainment Television aired this television spot honoring Kenyon as a "Modern Black History Hero."

Vincent Cervantes, Queer Chicano Speaker on Religion, Theology, Race, Gender, and Sexuality, To Present at QPOC Conference

How do we create a decolonized theology of spirit and queerness? What are the social, existential, and embodied experiences of being queer and Chicano/a? National speaker and social activist Vincent Cervantes will help us think differently about traditional theological notions of spirituality and sexuality, and seek ways to overcome and disrupt normative boundaries, at the Queer People of Color Conference.

Vincent Cervantes is a queer Chicano writer, speaker, blogger, and social activist who works to educate and inform others through his words and performance. Inspired by storytelling, Vincent seeks to keep talking so that others too will share their stories.

QPOC Conference Offers Gender Neutral Restrooms

UC Riverside’s Highlander Union Building will host the Queer People of Color Conference April 8-10, 2011 While the HUB is known for its HUGE gendered restrooms signs, we will offer safe and accessible restrooms for all gender identities during the QPOC Conference.

Starting at 6pm on Friday, April 8, all the restrooms on the 3^rd level of the HUB will be gender neutral. This includes one restroom with 18 stalls and another restroom with 7 stalls and 6 urinals. One single-occupancy restroom is also located on the 3^rd level. Folks who prefer gendered restrooms for “Men’ and ‘Women” may access additional restrooms on the 2^nd level of the HUB.

Ruth Villasenor of Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits to screen "Traditional Indigenous Values" at QPOC Conference

Ruth Villasenor will screen her film "Traditional Indigenous Values, a short documentary that gives an Indigenous woman’s perspective on Prop 8, being Two Spirit and the effect of Colonization. She will explore historical references of acceptance of mutliple genders, the continued effects of "manifest destiny", and current colonization of Indigenous people.

Visibility Project Photo Exhibit at QPOC Conference

The *Visibility Project is a photographic portraiture series focused on the Queer Asian American identified community, that seeks to break down ethnic, gendered, and sexual stereotypes through the powerful and accessible media of photography and video. Project director Mia Nakano, and collaborator Shawn Tamaribuchi are bringing the photo exhibit to the QPOC Conference, April 8-10, 2011 at UC Riverside, and will also be presenting a workshop on the project.