Join us for an evening of queer love readings—expect the gushy and the shattered and the poetic and the messy and everything in between.

RSVP is not required, but appreciated. To guarantee a seat, you may donate what you can to our events program (sliding scale starting at $3).

About the readers:

Reggie Edmonds-Vazquez Reggie Edmonds-Vásquez (they/them) is a poet, educator, and cultural curator from Richmond, CA. Their work explores Black, queer, and gender-diverse identities and has earned recognition from Nomadic Press, Afro Urban Society, and the Museum of the African Diaspora. A two-time Berkeley Grand Champion and national finalist, they direct programming at Rich Oak Events.

Olivia Berriz is a queer writer, educator, and MFA graduate from the University of San Francisco. She also enjoys cutting hair and swimming in cold water. 

Samantha Stevens (she/they) is a queer, Black, disabled writer and educator from the East Coast living in California on occupied Coast Miwok land. They have received fellowships from The Watering Hole, Community of Writers, Trillium Arts, Esperimento Sul Respiro, Loft Literary, The Ruby, Kearny Street Workshop, and others and are a graduate of the MFA in Poetry at the University of San Francisco. They are the recipient of the 2022 Deathrattle/Oroboro Penrose Poetry Prize. Their work is forthcoming or featured in The lowa Review, The Seventh Wave, Foglifter, Fruitslice, and others. Working to dream and exist in new ways, Samantha seeks to build an integrative liberatory practice centering writing, movement, meditation, and ritual. Their first collection, "There is joy here, I promise.", explores the body, mental health, illness, loss, ancestral inheritance, and queerness and was a finalist for the 2025 CAAPP book prize.

T. S. Leonard  is a poet, performer, and author of works published in Foglifter, Frontera, and Fourteen Poems. Leonard’s debut poetry collection, Another Anthem of Fabulous Survival (Fordham University Press, 2026), was selected for the 2024-2025 Poetic Justice Institute Prize. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, he lives and teaches in San Francisco.

Cal Calamia (they/he) is a trans marathoner, inclusivity activist, poet, educator, and community builder. After advocating for non-binary divisions globally, including in all of the World Major Marathons, they became the first athlete in history to podium in all six races. In addition, they are the founder of 2 Hot 4 Hoodies and non-binary+ run club, the author of the poetry collection San Franshitshow, and the star of "Out of The Dark: Cal Calamia." Cal is committed to increasing trans visibility and uplifting queer joy, and became the first ever Transgender Trailblazer award recipient in 2024. Follow along on Instagram @calcalamia 

About the bookstore

The Booksmith is an independent bookstore located in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco since 1976.

Please note:

• Space at the door on the day of the event is usually available, but not guaranteed.
• ADA accessible. Bathrooms on site during event hours.
• Events typically end between 8:30 and 9pm.
• Questions? [email protected]