Introducing G Philly’s Queer 6-Word Memoir Project

Your life in six gay words.

Several years ago, my great friend Larry Smith asked me to contribute to a book he was compiling, which eventually became Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure (Harper Perennial). The book kicked off what became known as the Six-Word Memoir Project®, now a cornerstone of the online Smith Magazine, where personal storytelling is truly an art form. My six-word memoir was thus: “Years in the closet. Why? Why?

The success of the enterprise had me wondering how we might adapt it here at G Philly. So today, in partnership with the Six-Word Memoir project, we are kicking off our own version: The G Philly Six-Word Memoir Slam. We’re asking you, our loyal readers and friends, to contribute your own six-word memoirs here on our site, or on our Facebook page. Our G Philly staffers were quick to rise to the occasion: our fab blogger Josh Middleton came up with “Kentucky booted me. Ding-Dong, Philly!” And the always-something-to-say Alex Kacala contributed, “Life is a party. RSVP yes.” (And if you know Alex, he always does.)

We hope you’ll join our party, and share your own six-word memoirs about your queer life here in Philly. Feel free to share as many as your creative heart desires in this comment section and on G Philly’s Facebook page and Twitter feed — but hurry, we’re taking submissions until July 6. Editors of G Philly and Six-Word Memoir creator Larry Smith will select the very best ones for inclusion in our fall issue, and we’ll be hosting a super-special event where people will share theirs (and the funny stories behind them) for LGBT History Month in October. Details to come!

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Have gay news you’d like to share with G Philly? Send tips to jmiddleton@phillymag.com.