Queerfest 2022: Born This Way

Make sure to be following @wadhamentz on Instagram to be up-to-date with all the information as it comes out.

Please, please, get your wristband as early as possible, especially if you live in college. You'll be able to do this from 6pm. This will help us limit any long queues. To do this, go to the Gardens and your ticket will be scanned and ID checked, and then you'll be given a wristband. Once you have this, you can come and go from Queerfest until last entry which is 9:30pm. After that, if you leave you won't be let back in.

We are planning to do a wristband drop at DWB for second years on Friday the 18th, 8pm-9pm in the garden rooms, so come get them then!!!

Please dress however you feel comfortable! We have only two rules: no full-frontal nudity (that's from college) and nothing culturally appropriative/insensitive. With the theme being Born This Way, we want everyone to dress as they feel fit, whether that be your "true self" (baby you were born this way🤩) or a Lady Gaga interpretation outfit - Just have fun, wear what you want and look amazing!

We will provide a space to leave any coats. It will be £1 to leave items. This is intended mostly from those out of college, and everyone must be aware that you put your items at risk by leaving them in the cloakroom as we cannot guarantee it will be manned the whole time.

Marvellous Medicine will be providing food for the event, which is pizza! There will be both meat, vegetarian and vegan options, and your token will get you three slices of pizza included in the price. You will receive this token when you come to get your wristband, and PLEASE don't lose them in the interim as you will not be able to get any food included with your ticket without it!

We have a zero-tolerance policy to drugs. Anyone found with any on them will be removed and not be allowed back into the event.

Water bottles will be provided for free, please ask at the bar if you need one.

Drinks will be provided by a college bar. Please be careful with the amount you drink for your own safety, however if you or a friend need assistance:

There will be a welfare space in the antechapel, staffed by student volunteers. There will be air beds and food/water, as well as blankets to keep warm. Medical help will be provided by St Johns Ambulance staff if you need it.

Please be patient and kind to the amazing people running the welfare space and treat the space itself with respect - we will have no tolerance for rude or inappropriate behaviour.

College will close the Undergraduate Centre for the duration of Queerfest, including the cafe, bar and laundry room. Only those who live in the Access Centre will be able to use the stairs to get into their rooms. It will not re-open until Sunday morning, and the MCR is also likely to be closed.

If you have a disability that you think may hinder your ability to evacuate in case of an emergency, please get in touch so we can make an appropriate support plan and let you know the route you should take. Alternatively, if you have a more personal or intimate question in terms of your disability, message our Disabilities officer Betsy McGrath.

Tickets are on your phone so please make sure it's charged!

It's best to be careful and make sure that no one is infectious, so please if you do not feel well take all cautions necessary to make sure you do not spread anything to other students and guests.

Queerfest is an over 18s event. Your bod card is not an appropriate form of ID to enter Queerfest, so do not forget to bring a form of ID such as your driving/ provisional licence or passport. Reminder that we cannot be held accountable for any losses both in the event or the cloakroom so keep everything safe (bring a small bag!)

Plush will be hosting the official Queerfest afterparty!! They have extended capacity and opening hours just for us (6am!!). Your Queerfest wristband will give you a small discount! Once the event ends (the final chimes of Nelson Mandela are played) you MUST leave the site as soon as possible (and get yourself to plush!!!)

Its super important we all do our bit and avoid as much littering and mess as possible in the garden. There will be many bins around the event for you to throw things away into, make sure to recycle and DO NOT put non-recycling waste into the recycling bins, this contaminates the batch of litter the waste goes into. We want to be as sustainable as possible, so recycle what you can and DO NOT LITTER!

Our lovely E&E officers have put in an order for biodegradable glitter to add some sparkle to your outfits, and they are selling it at 50% off for students! The prices are £2 for 10g or glitter, or £1 for 5g, and they have the colours silver, blue, green/gold and multicolour!

Email either grace.stephens@wadham.ox.ac.uk,

or rebeccatekleyesus@wadham.ox.ac.uk if you would like some, they are no longer selling any after 6pm on Friday, or once they run out.

As you can imagine, setting up and taking down this event is not a simple job, so any help would be greatly appreciated from you. On Friday we would really appreciate as many people coming to help with fencing and matting as possible so that the event is ready in time for you all on Saturday!!!

As a student body from a college that proudly holds itself to be progressive, and Queerfest being an event aiming to bring the community together, we hope that people will help clear up the gardens on Sunday the 20th to pick up any rubbish and return the garden to its previous state, in order to look after the environment and make college pretty :)

A reminder to our Wadham SU committee that it is mandated that every member turns up for clean up the day after Queerfest; a google spreadsheet will be released in the coming days of timings.