Desire de la Hoz is a lesbian femme woman from Philadelphia, PA. Since 2009, she has taken a special interest in lesbian literature and writing. She wanted to hear from some of her favorite writers, so took matters into her own hands and started a literary salon in Philadelphia. Desire sat down to talk with us about her production company and why she does what she does.
Tell me why you decided to start a queer literary production company in Philadelphia?
Philly is my hometown. I came out in Philly and, at that time, the only place to go and be gay was the bar scene. I’m not a drinker so the scene never much appealed to me. I didn’t feel part of the community because I was a self-proclaimed femme. While my friends and acquaintances were deep in assimilation, I was exploring and yearning for a more subversive and edgy queer life. I had always been attracted to masculine women and no one I knew would even claim the butch ID, let alone say the word. To me butch was the most beautiful, powerful and intense describer. I longed to meet someone who saw it for what I saw it as-perfection.
In 1999, I met my butch wife and we both sort of did the traditional lesbian relationship thing where you move to the suburbs and tuck in for a few years exploring each other. My partner was new to Philadelphia and I had walked away from the scene due to past relationship drama. About four years into our relationship, we decided it was time to start a family and very soon I became pregnant with our daughter and then four years later with our son. Right there 10 years moved passed me and I missed a whole generation of new queerness and gender subversion.
I was feeling a need to reconnect back into the community because, as a femme, I was invisible everywhere and was walking through life as your average mom and wife (which I love) but I am also a fierce femme with a big agenda for visibility and community. In 2009, I decided that if I was going to step back into the community, I would do it under my terms. I wanted to give voice to the places I found myself, quietly building and cultivating my identity through the words of my heroes. Those heroes included authors like Joan Nestle, Ivan Coyote , S. Bear Bergman, Judith Halberstam, Tristan Taormino, and Leslie Feinberg. These and so many more amazing artists spoke my pains, my desires, my longings, my experiences. I decided that what I wanted is to find a way to bring their voice to the community.
Who are some of the writers you’ve brought to town?
My first show was September 2, 2009 with a femme poetry and prose collective of Kathleen Delany’s Body Heat Production. In 2010, I went to see Ivan Coyote speak at a local College and walked up to her after the show, introduced myself and told her about what I wanted to do in Philadelphia. About four months later, she contacted me and I began to produce Dangerous Mammals: Ivan Coyote and S. Bear Bergman Show. While working on the Dangerous Mammals show, I came in contact with a writer that my partner loved and who I was familiar with through twitter. Erika Lopez.
I rekindled a book reading that got cancelled for lack of promotion, and produced Erika Lopez: The Welfare Queen. In Late 2011, I co-produced and performed in a 2 night showing of Eve Ansler’s The Vagina Monologues which were a V-Day endeavor to generate support for the fight to end violence against women and girls. Our production benefitted two organizations, one of which was Lisa Regina’s “A Write to Heal”.
What has been the response of the community to your literary events?
The community has been very supportive of my endeavors. There is a surge of queer themed events going on in the city, such as drag and burlesque shows, transgender arts festivals, film festivals, but from what I’ve seen I am the only person targeting events that are directly related to queer literature and the writers. My events are usually held at William Way LGBT Community Center so they are nonalcoholic and are 18+. I am always on the lookout for unique writers and spoken word performers to produce.
What have some of the highlights been?
To be honest, it is a huge highlight to get to meet some of the writers that have been heroes to me throughout my coming out process, both as a lesbian and as a queer femme. Being somewhat of a ”wannabe” artist, it is such a magnificent learning experience getting to know the artists as we are planning the event and hearing them read out loud/storytell or perform. I dig the planning phases as well, especially when it all comes together beautifully.
Who are your literary influences?
My number one influence was Joan Nestle. Her writing spoke to me from a core place of rebirth and discovery. In addition to Joan Nestle I am influenced by many artists, whether visual, writers, photographers, etc. I would say that I absolutely love the storytelling style of Ivan E. Coyote: Alysia Angel’s poetry with its raw honesty and cathartic healing; Erika Lopez inspires me from a place of inner chaos and sheer gut wrenching expression: Tristan Taormino and her queer erotic literature have kept my bedroom library overstocked for years.
I know you identify as a femme. What does that mean to you and your lesbian identity?
My femme identity and lesbian sexuality means to me that I, regardless of political views, feminist opinions, social norms or community consensus, will be who I am in my core. Being a femme to me means that I am transgressive in that I deliberately present in the way that feels right in my soul, yet kick the patriarchy in the ass because I seek a butch to shower my passion and love on. I break boundaries with my uncomfortable politics, with my constant coming out, with my fight for visibility. I am sexual, deviant, a mother, and wife. I am a powerful warrior who seeks to not only expose my own invisibility, but the invisibility of all things affecting our world that need light shed upon them.
Besides your literary salons, where are some good places to meet lesbians in Philadelphia?
Philadelphia is rich in culture and community. There is Sister’s Nightclub which is lesbian owned and a wonderful contributor to the community. Tabu Lounge features a bi-monthly all queer drag and burlesque cabaret called Vixens and Vagabonds which is produced by Liberty City Kings Drag and Burlesque. Elements LGBTQ Organization produces parties, conferences and events for women of color. Stimulus is one of the largest and most diverse monthly women’s parties, along with Ladies2000 which have been producing parties in Philadelphia since the early 80s.
Where can people find out more about you and your events?
The best places to find me would be through my facebook account – Desire DelaHoz, My Page – Desireunbound-Queer Lit Productions , my twitter account @femmewarrior.
{ 0 comments… add one now }