Thanks to pioneering voices like Allen Ginsburg and Mary Oliver, LGBT perspectives were gaining prominence through poetry long before they had in other artistic mediums. This past Friday, West Hollywood’s esteemed Poet Laureate Jen Cheng paid homage to these trailblazers. She curated some of today’s most compelling queer voices who performed these classic works, then debuted their own response poems that were directly inspired by them. 

 Stories of joy and sadness, self discovery and defiance, crossed over from past generations to resonate with new audiences in the present. It felt like a history lesson and a séance at once. Our poets delivered their lines with passion and gravitas, with some deeply personal topics moving the audience to tears.

 Preserving bold voices was an integral theme of the evening, as Jen also hosted a giveaway of banned books to kick off the show, which the audience also loved. Grand Performances is grateful for the opportunity to host these spoken word events. We know the traditions it helps uphold.