Writing & Representation

Moderated by Rayceen Pendarvis. Panelists include Xemiyulu Manibusan, Divya Sood, Victor Yates & Catalina Sofia Dansberger Duque. XEMIYULU MANIBUSAN is a Salvadoran Nawat Two-Spirit Non-Binary Transgender Womxn. She is a poet, playwright, director, actor, educator, and the Artistic Director of Teatro de la Septima/Seventh Generation Theatre. Xemi has presented with GALA Hispanic Theatre, New Native Theatre, The Puppet Company, Smithsonian’s Discovery Theatre, Faction of Fools, Adventure Theatre MTC, Forum Theatre’s ReActs, NextStop Theatre Company’s DarkNights, and Kennedy Center’s PAGE TO STAGE Festival. Xemi writes social commentary on DC Theatre, Instead of Redface, Latinx Theatre, and other issues affecting Indigenous Transgender and Two-Spirit artists. Her first poetry chapbook, METZALI, will be released soon. Victor Yates is the winner of the 2017 Judith A. Markowitz Award for Emerging LGBTQ Writers. He won the 2016 Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Debut Fiction for his book, A Love Like Blood. His novel also won Honorable Mention at The New England Book Festival. Recently, he was awarded a grant from the City of West Hollywood to record narratives of older gay men to preserve for younger generations. Divya Sood is the author of the novel NIGHTS LIKE THIS. She has written most of her life and loves the creative process. Her writing delves into issues of love and heartbreak and sometimes happily ever afters. Divya’s work deals with the sensual, the taboo, and the raw underside of love. She loves exploring relationships in all their facets. Divya resides in New York. Her website is www.divyasood.com. Drop her a note. Catalina Sofia Dansberger Duque is the founder of @writeidea8, a writer with @thrive global, a contributor to @MsMagazine blog & @HuffingtonPost Interviewer. She has recently launched Treetop Suite Publishing. Learn more here: https://www.patreon.com/treetopsuitepublishing _______________________________________________________ Rayceen Pendarvis is an emcee, entertainer, social media personality, SWERV magazine columnist, activist, former ANC Commissioner, and lifelong Washingtonian. For over four decades, Rayceen has hosted numerous fundraisers, pride festivals, arts festivals, talent showcases, fashion shows, balls, and other events. Rayceen also frequently moderates panels and appears as a panelist at various conferences dealing with social justice and LGBTQ equality. In addition to a regular column in SWERV, Rayceen has written articles for Tagg, Q Virginia (formerly Unite Virginia), and TUV magazines. The community has honored Rayceen many times over the past several years, including awards from NYC’s Latex Ball, The DC Center for the LGBT Community, Casa Ruby, Empowerment Liberation Cathedral Church, and the Community Church of Washington, DC. In 2016, Capital Pride selected Rayceen to be a recipient of the Heroes Award and appear in the annual Capital Pride Parade. Later that year, despite not being ordained or ministering in a traditional capacity, Rayceen’s reputation as the “High Priestess of Love” resulted in Rayceen being voted Best Clergy in the Washington Blade’s 2016 Best of Gay DC Awards. A tireless advocate, promoter, and champion of various causes, Rayceen has also earned the monikers “Queen of the Shameless Plug” and the “Goddess of DC.” Rayceen can be seen regularly as the host of THE ASK RAYCEEN SHOW, a free, monthly, live event on first Wednesdays (March-November) in DC. In addition to live music and other performances, show segments include panel discussions, interviews, competitions, improv comedy, and audience participation games. All are welcome and admission is always FREE. You can follow Rayceen Pendarvis, Team Rayceen, and The Ask Rayceen Show on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. For more information, visit AskRayceen.com