Sweethearts, let’s have a heart-to-heart.
Something Queer was born in the midst of the Covid Pandemic from a simple but radical idea: that queer people deserve a sanctuary to re:connect with one another. We foster a place where art, music, and liberation don’t just coexist, they collide. For six years, we have gathered in the woods, on the dance floor, and with each other to build something that belongs to all of us. A chosen family. A living, breathing collective of queer magic.
And because this space belongs to all of us, we have a responsibility to listen to all of us.
What we heard
After last year’s gathering, you spoke up. We heard you loud and clear. For some of our community, the boundary between private expression and shared space got blurry. Public “play” in communal areas like the pool, the dinner line, and the snack table left some members of our chosen family feeling like they didn’t fully belong. Our trans sisters, lesbian siblings, non-binary loves, female-identifying fam, and every queer soul in between deserve to feel held and nurtured in every corner of this space, not just some of it. And, here’s the thing – something queer has always been a place for sex positivity. However, something queer has never been a sex party. For all of our times at Saratoga Springs, things just seemed to work out and the move to Deloro last year changed the feel of the space a bit.
We are here for the joy, not just the juice (but, we love the juice too!). And joy means everyone gets to breathe easy.
Sex positivity, body positivity, and inclusiveness have always been a key feature of our Social Contract.
What is changing and why?
We want to be clear: this is not about shame, and it is not about policing desire. Something Queer has always believed in bodily autonomy, radical consent, and the full, unapologetic expression of who you are. That hasn’t changed.
What is changing is how we hold space for that expression. We are trying to incorporate more intention, more care, and (a tiny bit) more structure so that freedom feels like freedom for everyone in the room. Here is what that looks like in practice (we are working on this together, so please let us know your feedback!):
Recognize where play is happening
Communal spaces are for everyone. Save the play for spaces designed for it.
Visual consent is key
When you are in open shared space, everyone around you is part of your scene, whether they chose to be or not. Let’s call each other forward with respect.
Dedicated play spaces
We are curating intentional, sexy spaces specifically designed for you to get down. We are doing this so others can get their dance on without the side-eye. We will not be using the tent that we used last year! Our intention is that the play spaces will be close to the action in a way that doesn’t completely disconnect you from everything. We will have come clearer pre-event communication and information when you check in check.
Community Support
We will have team members around to help support. We have had conversations with some folks from last year, who may have not fully lived up to our Social Contract and we will continue to have those engaged conversations going forward. We will also host a special workshop on this topic.
Health and Safety
Something Queer will continue to have harm reduction volunteer shifts throughout the night. We have also contracted with Mutual Aid Response Services, a leader in event health and safety, to have licensed medical professionals available 24/7 for the safety of everyone.
Help us shape this space
Here is the thing about a community-powered space: it only works when the community is in the conversation. We don’t have all the answers. We are a small, scrappy nonprofit run by people who love you and are figuring this out in real time, just like you are.
If you have thoughts about how we can make Something Queer more inclusive, more nourishing, or more joyful for every body, then we genuinely want to hear from you. Reach out at [email protected] or find us on Instagram at @something_queer. Your voice shapes this gathering as much as ours does.
We are growing up together. And we are so glad you are growing with us.
With roots and love,
Something Queer