GOT QUESTIONS?

We’ve got (some) answers…

Do I have to be queer to attend? What if I’m questioning or am new to my queer identity?

We welcome those questioning or newly in recognition of their LGBTQIA2S+ identity! 

Will I be expected to participate in sexual activities?

Absolutely not. Throughout the festival there will be different workshops happening concurrently, with varying degrees of “spice”. Each workshop is labeled: 

Yellow Spice level 1: mainly focused internally, without physical or emotional connection required

Orange Spice level 2: incorporates partner or group interactions, can include touch or deeper emotional processing

Pink Spice level 3: explicitly invites in erotic energy, can incorporate partnered or group interaction

As organizers, we chose facilitators who are practiced in holding care around consent, with a variety of options in participation. In addition, we’ll always have a low-stim room open for those who need some down time away from the hubbub. Participants can choose their own adventure! 

Do I have to go to all three days or can I come to just one?

If it’s possible to attend all three days, we encourage participants to do so. We will be building on each day, deepening trust and intimacy together, starting with a foundational Friday morning exploring embodied consent. We intend to anchor this culture of care, self-sovereignty and adventure within the programming and space holding. If you need to arrive later than Friday morning at 10am, we invite you to feel the cultural fabric and ask questions if you’d like more support in jumping in. 

What if I get overwhelmed or triggered during a workshop?

This is a very normal reaction to something that brings up old memories, or feels too much, too quick or too slow. We have a low-stim room for those who need downtime away from the stimulation of the festival. We also will have at least one volunteer at any given time to support people who need an extra ear or hug for something that comes up, though they will not be offering therapy.

What are your covid policies?

We ask all participants to take a test before arriving. We’ll have a limited number of tests on hand for people if they weren’t able to procure a test before coming. For anyone who has symptoms of sickness or known exposures, we strongly advise them to stay home and not put participants at risk. Masks will be optional, though some facilitators may require all participants in their workshop to wear masks. 

In the weeks leading up to the festival, we invite you to bring the safety and well-being of your community into your consciousness as you make decisions about activities that could lead to potential exposure. 

Is this festival accessible to all? In what ways? 

Our festival venue is able to accommodate individuals with mobility challenges. All of the festival spaces, including restrooms, are accessible by ramp. We offer on-site assistance for those who need it, including a team of organizers and volunteers able to support attendees with disabilities. 

If you need specific assistance, our team is available to help you.

We anticipate that this festival might be overwhelming for many, so we have designated quiet zones and sensory-friendly spaces for those who may need a break from the noise and crowds. These areas provide a calm environment for relaxation and rejuvenation.

All bathrooms during the festival will be gender-neutral. 

We have seating options to accommodate people of all sizes. 

Many of our workshops focus on topics of gender inclusivity, body positivity, and acceptance.

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy the festival experience, and we are dedicated to removing barriers to participation. If you have specific accessibility needs or concerns, please reach out to our team in advance (interplayfestival@gmail.com), and we will do our best to provide the assistance you need. 

We are always looking to improve our accessibility. We encourage feedback from our attendees to identify any areas where we can do better. Your input is valuable and helps us create an even more inclusive environment.

What should I bring with me? 

We recommend wearing comfortable clothing, and bringing a water bottle and journal. Please bring your own yoga mat if you plan on participating in any yoga/movement workshops. Please bring a mask as well, as some facilitators may request masks in their workshop.

We are not providing meals, but refrigerators are available for your use if you would like to bring food. 

If you’d like to contribute something to the festival, we invite you to bring snacks! We’ll have a snack table that participants can add to throughout the weekend.

How many people are going to be there?

We’re aiming for 100-120 people, which includes 40 facilitators, organizers and volunteers..

How will you make sure people’s sexual health is protected? 

We will make sure that condoms and other forms of protection are readily available and accessible to everyone. This helps prevent the transmission of STIs and supports safe sexual practices. We encourage participants to know their STI status and be able to engage in conversations about risk with any potential partners during the festival. We invite you to help us co-create a festival culture where everyone feels safe and respected with clear procedures in place for reporting and addressing any concerns.

Where do I park or how do I get to the Den?

The Den is located at 116 SE Yamhill St. in the Buckman neighborhood of SE Portland. The venue is three blocks from the SE MLK & Taylor Light Rail station and is easily accessible by bike and car. The venue has a small number of bike racks within a secure gated area. There is also limited on-street vehicle parking in the vicinity. If you have access needs or questions, please reach out to interplayfestival@gmail.com. 

What if I’m in a monogamous relationship? Do I have to be polyamorous to attend?

This festival is open to all relationship styles! There are no requirements to connect intimately with others if that’s not what you’re interested in or available for. For those who have partners and are excited to explore sexuality with others, consider checking out “Clarifying Agreements Before You Go Play!” from Zahava. 

What range of ages/genders are you expecting to attend? 

This festival is for LGBTQIA2S+ people of all genders over 18 years old. We hope to attract people across the spectrum of age and genders, because we are stronger together. Check out our vision page for more on this.

Will there be food/drinks provided? 

We will have water and intermittent snacks, but won’t be serving lunch or dinner. We will have a fridge if you need to store a meal. Here's a list of restaurants within 10 minutes walking distance from the festival!

Can I be high/on substances during the festival?

We won’t be serving alcohol, and ask everyone to maintain a sober consciousness throughout their time at the festival. What does a sober consciousness mean? Doing your best to show up in community care, able to connect with others in negotiation practices, and understand what your limits are in a group space. It is your choice how you show up and what you take in. We will intervene if we notice someone is overstepping someone else’s boundaries, or not able to engage consensually, or appears altered in a way that doesn’t support community agreements. Due to the limited opportunities for sober connection in queer life, we are excited to offer this space free of substances and alcohol consumption.

Will there be evening entertainment? 

Yes! Check out our schedule for the latest programming options. 

Why the Den? 

The Den was selected as the venue for our event due to its convenient location, flexible layout, participant capacity, and availability for our preferred dates. We were also excited to partner with a BIPOC-owned establishment that has repeatedly demonstrated support for LGBTQIA+ communities and their events, and whose staff expressed excitement for and resonance with the themes and purposes of InterPlay. 

After we paid our deposit to secure the venue, the Den’s co-owner Manoj came under scrutiny for banning local artists DJ Anjali & the Incredible Kid from performing at the Den following a pro-Palestinian statement made during the artists’ New Year’s Eve performance. DJ Anjali’s account of the event and the subsequent ban from the Den can be found on their social media pages. 

These events caused us to question our decision to produce InterPlay at The Den, and so we reached out to The Den staff to express our concerns and add our voices to other event producers and promoters wanting to ensure that our festival will take place at a venue where self-expression is honored and where our most vulnerable community members are safe. 

Manoj and the Den have since retracted the ban and offered a public apology*. DJ Anjali and other concerned artists and advocates asked for more substantial action and reparation from the venue and its owners, including donations to organizations providing direct aid to Palestinians. The Den staff noted that a good faith effort was made to meet these requests, and that the requested donations were paid in full by Manoj and other Den staff. According to the Den, DJ Anjali has not responded to numerous invitations for a mediated conversation. 

The Den has assured us that all artists and event hosts are permitted to state their political stances to the public during their events (with the exception of harmful or bigoted statements). As the organizers of InterPlay, we will use this privilege to advocate for peace and remediation.

We do not endorse the initial actions taken by Manoj on behalf of the Den, but we do believe that when harm is perpetrated, reconciliation is attainable through transparency and accountability, and we hope to use our relationship with the owners of The Den to work towards a more inclusive and liberated world. 

The InterPlay team is committed to having this 3-day panqueer festival go forward in ways that build community with longevity. We understand that not all people will agree with all of our decisions, though we have strived earnestly to hear all sides and look into all of the facets. We’ve made this decision to the best of our current abilities and remain open to altering our decisions as necessary. We are sending trust ahead in our relationship with The Den, with the knowledge that, if we are not able to establish relational culture at The Den,  we can select another venue(s) for subsequent events that better meets the needs of our communities. 

*Copied from a Facebook post from The Den:

DJ Anjali and The Incredible Kid, we see your passion and we hear your pain. We made a mistake. We are deeply sorry to impact you by the lack of process at the Den. 

We have taken steps for the safety of our community by developing a robust process for investigating complaints and hearing grievances in the future. The Den acknowledges that we have damaged the relationship between us and we will work harder to prevent this type of miscommunication in the future. 

The Den wants to be a venue where artists and participants can come together that share different beliefs. We want our venue to be built upon a foundation of mutual respect amongst our community members. We are imperfect. We will learn from our shortcomings and we are deeply sorry that it was at your expense.  

We also want to apologize to our staff, artists, and vendors for not having our process in place that has impacted you and your livelihoods.

The Den is looking at our organization and how to move forward as a collective business as opposed to the actions of an individual; we know it will take time.  

We would like to meet with you in person to discuss your requests and share in the ways that we can collaborate towards these goals. We extend an open hand to you both.”