No gay bathroom is complete without a bottle of Aesop body cleanser (even if you have filled up an empty bottle with Sainsbury's own) but even more importantly than smelling of geranium, Aesop in Soho is back with its Queer Library to help amplify diverse voices within the queer community.
To curate this impactful narrative, A Vibe Called Tech has once again been engaged, showcasing the works of three remarkable queer writers. Osman Yousefzada's memoir, The Go-Between, spins a poignant coming-of-age tale set against the backdrop of a close-knit immigrant community in 1980s Birmingham. Jason Okundaye, in his debut work Revolutionary Acts: Love & Brotherhood in Black Gay Britain, gathers intimate narratives from elder Black gay men, offering a vital perspective on their experiences. Meanwhile, Liv Little's novel Rosewater takes readers on a journey through the life of a young Black woman as she navigates her exploration of sexuality and friendship. Excerpts from these groundbreaking works are now available for eager readers.
Ahead of this year’s temporary Aesop Queer Library, a thought-provoking panel discussion was hosted by A Vibe Called Tech, delving into the theme of intersectionality, where different minorities cross over. The dialogue focused on how queer and racial identities intersect, exploring diverse perspectives within queer spaces and literature. This conversation was led by founder Charlene Prempeh and creative director Lewis Dalton Gilbert, featuring contributions from the three highlighted authors: Little, Okundaye, and Yousefzada.