In its second year, Circa: Queer Histories Festival celebrates the theme of LOVE and (R)EVOLUTION, centering narratives of community care and political organizing throughout LGBTQ+ history. The first and only festival of its kind, Circa honors the broad and dynamic queer artistic talent of Los Angeles. One Institute is proud to welcome back prominent LGBTQ+ organizations such as Celebration Theatre, APLA Writers’ Workshop, Cruise LA, The Outwords Archive (OUTWORDS), Drag King History, and Gender Justice LA, in addition to festival newcomers Trans/gressive Writers’ Workshop, Whacking Los Angeles, Team Puro Pinche Papi, Sinister Wisdom, and many more.
“Artists and activists are often at the vanguard of LGBTQ+ communities in our pursuit of justice in a world that still persecutes us for who we are,” said Tony Valenzuela, Executive Director. “At Circa this October, audiences will find cultural programs that shed light on the nuances of our diversity, our struggles and joys. I invite you to come to Circa Festival programs to learn and to be inspired.”
As the United States approaches a historic election, Circa’s many individual programmers provide diverse insights, concerns, and hopes on queerness in the past, present, and future. Notable participants include current Lambda Legal CEO and GLSEN founder Kevin Jennings, Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker Dr. Dee Mosbacher, NBC Out Editorial Director Brooke Sopelsa, transdisciplinary artist and filmmaker Devyn Galindo, Dyke Dive podcast producer Kimberly Esslinger, award-winning director and writer Gregorio Davila, artist and activist Mars Wright, writer and cultural worker Walela Nehanda, poet and Lambda Literary Award-winning author Federico Erebia, and more.
Circa: Queer Histories Festival 2024 will also debut “Reel Resilience: The Circa 2024 Short Film Festival.” In a first for the festival, “Reel Resilience” will feature 4 short films by filmmakers A. Allegra, Carin Jacobs, Meghan McDonough, and Betsy Kalin for two 90-minute screening and Q&A sessions. The festival hopes to move audiences to care for their communities through action and celebrate the enduring power of love.
As part of One’s commitment to making LGBTQ+ history accessible, Circa will once again feature events at low to no cost to the public and host events for all ages and audiences. Circa is made possible by the 2024 festival sponsors: Los Angeles County Third District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, the City of West Hollywood, California Arts Council, Los Angeles County Department of Arts & Culture, and Ares Management.
“LGBTQ histories & culture are so often ignored or erased, but our community connections truly are rooted in our stories,” said activist, writer, and radio producer Lynn Ballen. “This year, Circa presents another amazing set of programs that bring creative storytelling to venues all over the city, in a uniquely L.A kind of way! I’m proud to once again be a part of the steering committee helping to offer L.A. queers a whole month of brilliant community-created programs this October.”
As previously announced, Circa’s opening week of programming will feature One Institute’s headlining exhibition Our Patch: LGBTQ+ Life from Cradle to Grave, showcasing never-before-seen materials from newly cataloged collections at ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, co-curated by Andy Campbell, Jessica Carolina González, and Robert Brady. The exhibition will be on view to the public September 29-October 31, 2024. The opening reception will take place on Sunday, September 29, 2024, 5-8 p.m. at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Advocate & Gochis Galleries. Additionally, One Institute’s opening plenary, “Our Queerest Century: A Conversation with the Los Angeles Times,” will include a discussion moderated by Kevin Rector on The Times‘ groundbreaking retrospective of the last 100 years of queer politics, life, and culture, published in June 2024. The opening plenary will be held at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre on Friday, October 4, 2024, 8-9:30 p.m.
The festival will close with One Institute’s closing plenary, “The Future of Queer History: LGBTQ+ Writers on the Election,” a candid discussion about what’s at stake for queer people, life and culture, in the climatic race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. The panel will include award-winning writers and artists, including Tre’vell Anderson, Roxane Gay, and George M Johnson with moderator Dr. Eric Cervini. The event will take place just one week before the election on Sunday, October 27, 2024, from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre.
Tickets to all events at Circa: Queer Histories Festival 2024 are now available. Attendees can view the full schedule of the 65+ programs and reserve their spot at circafestival.org.
Circa: Queer Histories Festival is presented by One Institute. Generous support for the festival comes from the Third District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, California Arts Council, the City of West Hollywood, Los Angeles County Department of Arts & Culture, and Ares Management.
About One Institute
Founded in 1952, One Institute is the oldest active LGBTQ+ organization in the United States. One Institute produces one-of-a-kind exhibitions and public programs that elevate queer and trans history and embrace emerging stories. Through K-12 teacher trainings, lesson plans, and youth mentorship programs, One empowers the next generation of teachers and students bringing queer and trans history into classrooms and communities. Additionally, the Institute assists in promoting the materials within ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, which houses the largest collection of LGBTQ+ materials in the world.
The curatorial and educational choices made by One Institute are guided by our commitment to social equity and justice. We engage with the complexity of LGBTQ+ history and representation through highlighting the intersectional and authentic narratives of Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), women, gender-nonconforming and transgender people, people of various abilities, youth, and elders across all socio-economic classes. Learn more at oneinstitute.org, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @oneinstitutela.
About Circa
Debuting in 2023, Circa: Queer Histories Festival is the first-ever LGBTQ+ History Month festival in the United States. This month-long celebration showcases an array of programs from hundreds of queer artists, writers, filmmakers, activists, and community organizations throughout October. With sections including conversations, screenings, exhibits, and more, the festival offers a unique and enriching experience for attendees across Los Angeles County and beyond.
