Community United Against Violence, a SF-based social justice nonprofit that works towards ending violence against the LGBTQQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning) communities has enlisted the help of local queer and transgender people-of-color performance group Mangos With Chili to start up this year's safetyfest on April 8 at longterm Oakland institution the Bench And Bar.

safetyfest's goal is to raise awareness of the ways people can stay safe and share the tools people already have to prevent violence and increase understanding. The free festival continues with workshops, fun events, and performances on both sides of the Bay through April 18.

The event on April 8's is dubbed Freedom Dreams and MWC co-director Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha says "We'll celebrate as only Mangos With Chili knows how, with burlesque, spoken word and performance about our freedom to live our desires, a sex toy raffle, a Femme Shark and Sea Creature Ally Kissing/Spanking Booth, good music, space to chill, space to dance, and much more."

Freedom Dreams

A Mangos With Chili launch party for CUAV's Safetyfest

Thursday, April 8, 2010
7-10 PM
$5-$20, no one turned away for lack of funds
Bench and Bar
510 17th Street, Oakland CA (two blocks from 19th St Oakland BART)

Performances by:
Chan Dynasty
Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
Kirya Traber
Manish Vaidya
and more t.b.a.

Plus:
Sex toy raffle with prizes from Good Vibrations, Babeland and Pink and White Productions
Femme Shark/ Sea Creature Ally Kissing/ Spanking Booth
Self Defense for Self Determination Queer Self Defense demo!
Sneak Preview of The Fire This Time: The Case of the NJ 4
ASS (Always a Safe Space) Consent is Sexy Nurse Posse!
delicious libations
Music by DJs Black and Durt