Bristol's radical and anarchist community centre, BASE, at 14 Robertson Road, in the Easton district, has supported many LGBTQIA+ issues over the last thirty years since it was first opened as the Kebele Squat project in 1995. In a new press release, the centre says that it is welcoming a periodic book group which will link the themes of queer liberation and ecological preservation, building on the fact that even the most moderate LGBTQIA+ people are more likely to be recyclers, supporters of independent and co-operative businesses, and more likely to be vegetarian or vegan than their heterosexual colleagues. Here's what BASE have to say:

A monthly Queer Ecology book group run by Nature Queerdos CIC, by and for queer people in a relaxed, wheelchair accessible and neurodivergent affirming environment. 

The first book we’ll be reading together will be the wonderful Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian, which is a part-memoir and part-science ‘love letter to the messy, wondrous, complicated, binary-defying nature of the natural world’ (Ed Yong). 

The idea is to work our way through the book over the next few months by reading excerpts and discussing them together. There’s no need to read the book in advance (though of course you can!). This will be our second meeting, we will likely be a few chapters in- email us if you want an update. You’re equally welcome to come along and just listen to the storytelling and discussion, speaking optional and no knowledge of queer ecology is required! The group will be facilitated by El and Laura, and we’ll be learning about this fascinating subject together. Come as you are – you are welcome to doodle, stim, take breaks etc. 

When: Thursday 26 November (last Thursday of each month), 7.30-9pm 

Tickets are free with the option of PWYC donations which help us cover the space hire at BASE, photocopies of the chapters etc.

Access:

• If you need a personal assistant/carer they can come for free.
• If the cost of transport is a barrier for you, we have a limited amount of funding to cover costs. Please email us at least a week in advance if you would like assistance with this.
• Both Bristol Beer Factory Tap Room and BASE centre are wheelchair accessible with wheelchair accessible toilets. 
• The book is also available as an audiobook. 

Mental health/illness and neurodivergence:

• Come as you are! It’s always OK to take breaks away from the group if needed, wear headphones, stim etc. 
• Please let us know if you would like a plan of timings and activities or need anything else to engage. 

For any access related needs or queries please email:

naturequeerdos@gmail.com 

Follow @nature_queerdos for updates