by Ephraim Churchill, staff writer
In light of the Charlie Kirk assassination, the English Department has rescheduled its Queer Lit Night, originally planned for Sept. 25, to Nov. 12 at the Downtown Studio Campus.
The event was postponed indefinitely after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, who was outspoken in his disagreements with the LGBTQ+ community. The decision to delay raised eyebrows among some who felt that canceling such an event only reinforced the very ideas Kirk stood for, sparking broader concerns about free speech and expression.
Queer Lit Night was organized as a celebration of creativity and diversity. English and creative writing professor, Brook Bhagat, spoke about what the event means to her and why she believes it is so important for the show to go on. “The purpose of the event is to celebrate the creativity and joy of the queer community at PPSC and beyond and give these voices a platform. Art in all its forms serves to crystallize emotions: when we listen to music or poetry or stories, it becomes easier to laugh, to cry, to hope or rage, or to dance. Art helps us feel, and it reminds us that we all feel the same things, that we are not alone,” Bhagat said.
As society continues to navigate an era of disagreement and division, Bhagat and her team aim to create space for connection. The event, she said, offers an opportunity to celebrate what unites people rather than what separates them. As Queer Lit Night gained traction, tragedy struck. Kirk was assassinated at a Turning Point University rally at Utah Valley University. After much deliberation, the event was postponed indefinitely due to safety concerns.
“Violence is always a failure; it means people have failed to see each other’s humanity. The killing of Charlie Kirk was one such failure. In the wake of this tragedy, which happened just two weeks before Queer Lit Night was planned in September, our event was postponed, like other local and national events, out of an abundance of caution,” she said.
Violence should never be the answer to one’s problems. Every person should be able to exercise their right to free speech without fear of being attacked for it. This is something Kirk himself believed in and supported—even for those he disagreed with. The right to free speech is something every person is owed.
Kirk was an American right-wing political activist who founded the organization Turning Point USA. Among many of his opinions on the LGBTQ+ community were his views on its place in schools, which he strongly opposed. Kirk came under considerable criticism for those views many times. Some have questioned whether canceling Queer Lit Night was the right decision, given that Kirk’s response, had he been alive and involved in such an event, might have been to speak out against it. Isn’t canceling the event only playing into the ideas Kirk shared? Doesn’t silencing ourselves out of fear allow fearmongering to gain more ground? Shouldn’t we push ourselves to speak up for what we believe, especially when we fear how others might react?
“LGBTQ+ folks, especially young people, suffer higher rates of abuse, addiction, suicide, and hate crimes. Self-expression through visual art, music, writing, theatre, etc., is a kind of magic—it makes us feel alive and helps bring meaning to life. Conversely, rescheduling Queer Lit Night feels like a small triumph. It is a sign that we are once again on the path of finding common ground, recognizing, and celebrating the light in each of us—the building blocks of making this world a better place,” Bhagat said.
We already live in a world overrun by fear. Fear of what others might think of us, or do to us, when they disagree with us. What matters most is how we treat those we disagree with. Despite our differences with political figures, violence toward them is not the answer. Despite our differences with those who live different lifestyles from us, violence toward them is not the answer. Love is. To love those we disagree with is to look evil in the eye and refuse to fall victim to its trap. We must live in love, not hate.
So, exercise your freedom of speech like there is no tomorrow, make art that celebrates who you are. Dance. Sing. Laugh. Cry. And above all else, love.
Attend Queer Lit Night on Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. to support those who do the same.
