Affinity Lit Collectives - Bay Area Book Festival

Official Launch: June 1, 2025 | 2:00 PM | Downtown BART Plaza

In June 2025, we are officially launching Bay Area Book Festival’s three affinity lit collectives: LGBTQIA+ Lit, Mixed Race Lit and Women Lit (final collective names to be decided in the first meetings of the collectives). Whether you are a writer, reader, or just a lover of all things literature, these collectives are free and open to join with donations encouraged to support programming and pay the lead member for each collective for their time in organizing activities and events with (and for) each collective.

In alignment with the Bay Area Book Festival’s mission to change the narrative by platforming historically marginalized voices, these three Affinity Lit Collectives center connection, creative community, and the power of underrepresented stories. Each collective will host meetups, workshops, and special events and programming throughout the year, all supported by the umbrella organization, Bay Area Book Festival.

The LGBTQIA+ Lit Collective exists to celebrate and support LGBTQIA+ readers and writers—this collective offers a safe, affirming space to explore your stories and layered identities through community gatherings and collaborative programming.

The Mixed Race Lit Collective honors the layered identities of people who identify as multiracial, multiethnic, or as part of a mixed cultural heritage. This collective is a space for navigating in-between places and creating new ones—through writing, dialogue, reading, events, and community.

Women Lit was created in 2018 during the #metoo movement to elevate the voices of women and all those who identify as women, including trans and nonbinary individuals. Members are a vibrant community of writers and book-lovers—gathering in beautiful places to connect, share stories, and meet renowned authors.

📍 Where: Downtown BART Plaza
📅 When: Sunday, June 1, 2025 | 2:00 PM

Celebrate the official launch of our Affinity Lit Collectives at the 2025 Festival. Here you will learn more about the collectives, meet other potential members, and sign up to join the one that you connect with the most. You can join more than one, too!

You can pre-join one (or more) of the collectives today by signing up here for free or while donating to become a Friend of the Festival! At checkout you will have the option to select the collective that interests you most. Your donation will support the collective-specific programming throughout the year as well as the work of the lead collective member, who will be our main point of contact in organizing activities for the collective. With a donation you also receive year-round perks, including early access to events and exclusive invites.