The hybrid 6th Annual BAQZF took place from September 13-20th, 2023!

The fest featured virtual tabling over the course of a week, and an in-person event at 924 Gilman in Berkeley on September 16th. Face masks were required at the in-person event!

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Bay Area Queer Zine Fest 2023 Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Berkeley, CA– Bay Area Queer Zine Fest is pleased to announce its return for the 6th annual in-person event plus a week-long virtual fest for 2023. This year’s hybrid event will host online vendors on the BAQZF website from September 13th through September 20th, coinciding with an in-person event Saturday, September 16th featuring local and national exhibitors at the historic East Bay music venue, Berkeley’s 924 Gilman. 

Embodying the self-reliant ethos that drives the zine-making community, the Bay Area Queer Zine Fest’s theme this year is Do-It-Yourself (DIY) culture. At the core of what inspires BAQZF is the unrestrictive and experimental nature of the zine medium and how it elevates the visions of LGBTQIA+ creatives. The symbiotic spirit of independent publishing and DIY art connects and amplifies the narratives of and created by queer, trans, Black, indigenous, people of color, femmes, disabled community members, and other marginalized groups that are silenced by prejudice, ableism, and the status quo. In its 6th year, BAQZF is proud to bring another inclusive, community-oriented event celebrating contemporary LGBTQIA+ voices in visual and literary arts, comics, and, notably, independent publishing to volunteer-run punk venue, 924 Gilman, occupying space as a means to galvanize peers and aspiring zinesters alike to create a world reflective of themselves.

More information including event details and confirmed exhibitors are to be announced soon.

Bay Area Queer Zine Fest is free and open to the public. Masks and social distancing will be enforced throughout the in-person event and an archive will be available on bayareaqueerzinefest.com after September 20th. For press inquiries or more information on this year’s fest, please email baqzfest@gmail.com.