Queer Pleasure During Unpleasant Times: A Panel Discussion

Join us at Madame X for a conversation around queer pleasure as a form of healing, resistance, and self-preservation. We will discuss how pleasure (of any kind) is an act of autonomy and connection in the face of systems that seek to diminish. We aim to have a discussion around this question: In particularly bleak times, how do we hold onto what brings us pleasure, and why does it matter that we do?

We’ll explore how our panelists cultivate pleasure in their everyday life, and communities and how creating fulfillment doesn’t always have to be profound or complicated, as it may seem.

Panelists:

Sara Elise (she/her) is a Black, queer, neurodivergent author and community cultivator focused on pleasure, healing, and decolonized well-being. Her work explores the intersections of joy, embodiment, and personal growth. Find her on Instagram @saraelise333

Sara Youngblood Gregory (she/they) is an award-winning lesbian journalist and author who writes about power, identity, and culture. Their work has appeared in major outlets like The New York Times and The Guardian, and their poetry collection DEAD BOYS IN SPACE won the 2023 Pamet River Prize. Find her on Instagram @sinister.spinster

Keanu M. Jackson, LCSW (he/him) is a therapist and educator focused on the emotional well-being of queer and trans people of color. He centers decolonizing mental health, intimacy, and building lives rooted in care, agency, and connection.

Yohon Tatum (he/him) is the Community Engagement Coordinator at The LGBT Center in NYC, where he has spent the past five years creating affirming, resource-rich spaces for LGBTQ+ communities. With over two decades of experience in community advocacy, Yohon is a driving force behind initiatives like Visions of Pride at the High Line and the Annual World of Red Ball—a World AIDS Day event honoring and uplifting the Ballroom community. A proud icon in the Ballroom scene and the NYC Father of the Impeccable Haus of Ticsi, Yohon also leads critical sexual health efforts supporting BIPOC and TGNC individuals in accessing PrEP, PEP, and care. His work is rooted in lived experience, relatability, and the belief that queer pleasure is not only joy—but also healing, resistance, and survival.

Tier One Ticket: FREE entrance into the event.

Tier Two Ticket: FREE entrance into event + SIGNED copy of panelist Sara Elise's book, A Recipe For Change = $19

This is a FREE ticketed event. Please sign up to attend, as there is a maximum capacity the venue can hold.