ABOUT BACK CHAT

CAISO: Sex and Gender Justice in Trinidad and Tobago has partnered with Bocas Lit Fest since 2017 to organise a space to celebrate Caribbean LGBTQI+ writing and writers. This event has usually been held in person during the Bocas Lit Fest as an evening event with music and dancing featuring a mix of well-known local and diaspora writers and performers. We call this event “BackChat” in honour of the groundbreaking Caribbean LGBT literary readings held in New York over 20 years ago - and as a way to continue showcasing and celebrating Caribbean diverse genders and sexualities.   

For 2022, Bocas and CAISO hosted BackChat 2022 Virtual Edition with a curated, pre-recorded and produced event that was broadcast online during the Bocas Lit Fest on Friday April 29th, 2022. Novel Niche joins us this year as a planning and curation partner, and we also invited Rebel Woman Lit and Intersect Antigua to also join us as partners. 

We are looking forward to next year being back in person! And CAISO has a number of exciting activities in stream to conitnue celebrating Caribbean LGBTQI+ voices - writers and artists - throughout the year! Stay Tuned to our socials and contact us to get involved!

• Introduction & Host welcome - Phillipe Alexander  
• CAISO Welcome - Johannah Rae-Reyes and Kellog Nkemakolam 
• Kei Miller, A Psalm for Gay Boys 
• Andre Bagoo, excerpt from The Dreaming 
• Shivanee Ramlochan, Camp Burn Down 
• Intersect Antigua - Sarah-Anne Gresham 
• Willum Watts, In Chrysalis & From Time 
• Shani Mootoo, Masterclass 
• Rebel Woman Lit - Jherane Patmore Moon, yes 
• Novel Niche - Shivanee Ramlochan 
• Rosamond S. King, Darling you… Zami  
• Rajiv Mojabir, The Po-Co Kid, Hiranyagarbha, and Indo-Queer IV 
• Lesley-Ann Wanlis, Nostalgia in Apron 
• CAISO - Johannah Rae-Reyes and Kellog Nkemakolam) 
• Arnaldo James, Compassionate States 
• Deneka Thomas, I Cannot Be Prayed Away 
• CAISO - Johannah Rae-Reyes and Kellog Nkemakolam 
• Angelique V. Nixon, we been here long time 
• Xoe Sazzle, Love is Love 
• Closing Thanks - Phillipe Alexander 

Curation Team:

• Shivanee Ramlochan, Johannah Rae-Reyes, Angelique V. Nixon 

Partner Organisations:

• NGC Bocas Lit Fest
• CAISO: Sex and Gender Justice
• Intersect Antigua
• NovelNiche
• Rebel Woman Lit