BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//GayOut//Event Export//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:168809@gayout.com DTSTAMP:20260811T191007Z DTSTART:20260829T130000Z DTEND:20260829T143000Z SUMMARY:In Short: Black Femme Transformation in ‘\\;Pemi Aguda’ \\;s “\\;Manifest”\\; with Magenta Naaku DESCRIPTION:Can physical and spiritual transformation be essential to Bla ck femme survival\\, liberation\\, and pleasure? When does embodiment bec ome an opportunity to shapeshift or possess others? How can rearranging o ur bodies to better fit our spirits lead to a mortal/supernatural collisi on? Who are we on the other side of possession? How do we arrange our bod ies after evaporating?\\nBlack Femme Transformation is a reading group in spired by our kin who embrace the fluidity of flesh and refuse to cage th eir souls. We’ll read short stories about femmes who trade in their hum anity in their pursuit of pleasure and freedom\\, and conjure the liminal ity of their imaginations into full-fledged realities–for better or wor se.\\nIn Eloghosa Osunde’s “Grief Is the Gift That Breaks the Spirit Open\\,” a Black femme discovers she has the ability to shapeshift by s natching abandoned bodies. As she navigates this new ability\\, she explo res the depths of her sexual pleasure. This vivacious queer story expands on the complexities of desire and relationships\\, and the parts of ours elves we choose to keep hidden versus what we share with our lovers. We ll discuss what makes a shapeshifter so\\, whether immortality is worth it\\, how secrets sew us together\\, and how love and horror melt seamles sly into the narrative.\\nReading List:\\n“Grief Is the Gift That Break s the Spirit Open” by Eloghosa Osunde (A copy of the story will be emai led upon registration.)\\nWhat to expect from this reading group: Partic ipants can expect a discussion-based experience with opportunities to rea d their favorite lines/passages aloud\\, share their ideas and interpreta tions of the text\\, and even speculate on the before and after of the ch aracters’ lives beyond the page. I will offer guided questions to maint ain the flow of our conversations\\, but everyone is welcome to pose new questions to the group. Finally\\, as I am a writer and teaching artist\\ , I would love to offer participants a writing prompt or two to take away each week. They can choose to journal in response to the prompt\\, use i t to further their own creative practices\\, or as a question to contempl ate until we meet again.\\nWhat to read in advance: Please read “Grief Is the Gift That Breaks the Spirit Open” in its entirety in advance of the first meeting. A copy of the story will be emailed upon registration .\\nWe offer a limited number of need-based scholarships for our Reading Groups and Writing Workshops\\, covering 50% of tuition. Applicants selec ted for scholarships will be notified one week prior to the first meeting . To apply for a scholarship\\, please fill out this form.\\nhttps://www .gayout.com/usa-canada/united-states/new-york/events/in-short-black-femme -transformation-in-8216-pemi-aguda-8217-s-8220-manifest-8221-with-magenta -naaku-2026-08-29 LOCATION:gomag.com URL:https://www.gayout.com/usa-canada/united-states/new-york/events/in-short-black-femme-transformation-in-8216-pemi-aguda-8217-s-8220-manifest-8221-with-magenta-naaku-2026-08-29 STATUS:CONFIRMED END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR