Some people head to the pub and, after a few pints, have changed the world, cured poverty and remembered the theme music to Macgyver. Then head home and it all falls out of their ear. Not talking from experience or anything.

Other people sit down and come up with a constructive kick-ass idea and then actually follow it through. This how Queer Spraoi came about.

According to the lovely Ariel, who I spoke to about their upcoming event:

Queer Spraoi is a bit of a loose collective of queer activists and troublemakers based mostly in Dublin (although we have a Cork member). There’s no strict membership per se, and the group has been a bit scattered in the past few months, but mainly, Queer Spraoi is whoever comes to meetings and gets things organised! We mean queer in the widest, most radical sense of the word: anyone who’s L, G, B, T, Questioning, Intersex, and everything else besides!

We were hanging out one day and went ‘you know what? There’s queers all over the activist scene, you see them all the time, it’s time we had our own group’. The idea was to organise meetings, discussion groups and socials for queers who wanted a bit more substance, you know, intelligent conversation as well as kickass parties for those who don’t conform to the mainstream ‘gay’ culture in Ireland.

It’s gone from strength to strength, although it can be tough as, by its very nature, a group like this changes all the time with people coming and going. However, each year Queer Spraoi organise one big event, a festival of film events, a big night out and lots more besides. Last year they were behind the hugely successful Queer Ball and the popular Culchie Night. This year, as part of the Spring Saturnalia, there will be screenings of Bruce laBruce (right) films, ‘avante-garde indie pop’ group Theatre Royal as well as a night on the tiles with some serious music from a selection of queer DJs.

I think queer people of all stripes wil [enjoy Queer Spraoi]l. We’re a very diverse group, as far as identities go, so it’s not dominated by one particular subsection of the community. We hosted the Queer Ball last year, our most successful event, which was enjoyed by lesbians, gays, trans people, bi people, the monogamous, the polyamorous, the cross-dressers and the heterosexual alike! We’re hoping the Spring Saturnalia will be much like that.

On March 24th we’re gonna have our first Queer Reads event. It’s gonna be a monthly book club where we read a chapter from a book, then meet up and talk about it. We’ll also email you the chapter so you don’t have to go killing trees or stealing from your local community library. For more info on that, e-mail queerspraoi@gmail.com

I also want to organise a queer geek night once every two months. You know, show some Buffy episodes, some Glee, that sorta deal.

Glee? Buffy? Queer education? Are you hearing me people!! This sounds like a group to watch out for; dedicated, informed and willing to go out on a limb.

I think it’s crucial we have more DIY stuff in the community. Pantibar’s great for that sort of thing, Rory is always up for helping out the community through his business. Outhouse provides a great venue for LGBT events that are more grassroots, and I think we need more of that, and less stuff in the corporate-owned side.

See how, with a lot of energy and passion, you can actually change the world?

The Spring Saturnalia takes place in Seomra Spraoi, 10, Belvedere Court (off Mountjoy Square) from 7.30pm on March 6th. BYOBAC – Bring Your Own Beer and Cake. Cake people! It’s free but the least you can do is donate, maybe a fiver? For more info click on www.seomraspraoi.org

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