This July, we’re hosting a Disability Pride Month showcase in partnership with Coalition of Texans with Disabilities (CTD), Alienated Majesty Books, and Thunder & Lightning Poetry Collective.

For over ten years, CTD and Art Spark Texas have hosted monthly Lion & Pirate open mics to celebrate writers and performers with disabilities. Open to everyone in the community (with and without disabilities), this month’s L&P at Alienated Majesty Books will be hosted by Sueitko Zamorano-Chavez and feature a line-up of local poets and authors with disabilities to present an hour and a half long reading.

✦✦✦ ABOUT THE GUESTS ✦✦✦

Sueitko Zamorano-Chavez (elle/they/them) is an Indigi-Latine, Two-spirit, Queer, 2 time cancer surviving, chronically ill, neurodivergent multidisciplinary storyteller, event producer, host, and healer dedicated to highlighting experiences of the QTBIPOC community. Their upbringing sparked their creative and community work that has been featured and published in multiple zines, blogs, and anthologies. Earning a Bachelors and Masters in mental health focuses inspired led healing circles and various workshops on mental health awareness , creative healing and expression, as well as awareness of injustices toward often marginalized groups. Sueitko is a humble member of various local organizations and projects dedicated to empowering and enhancing our community. Follow them on Instagram for virtual open mics, variety hours, and TLPC events!

Jennifer Toon is a passionate prison abolitionist. As a formerly incarcerated woman, her experience with the criminal legal system began at age 15 when she was adjudicated under Texas determinate sentencing laws. Her conviction started a long journey through 27 years of criminal justice involvement. Jennifer has been published in The Texas Observer, The Marshall Project, The Guardian and is also the co-host of On the Rec Yard: Women’s Prison Podcast. She is also a JustLeadershipUSA Leading with Conviction™ (LwC) graduate. As the Executive Director for Lioness, Jennifer aspires to use her lived experience to bring attention to the voices of other system-impacted individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+, youth, and people with disabilities. She lives in Austin, Texas with her cat Taylor, who embodies the mischievous energy of Taylor Swift.

Born Benjamin Joseph Kolbeson, Benny Kolbeson is a native Austinite. After moving around Texas while struggling to find meaning in education and employment, he came back to Austin in 2017 and received his ASD diagnosis at the age of 37. Since then, he’s gone mostly crazy while trying to be creative, focusing mostly on writing poetry and song lyrics, making melodies, and composing a few simple songs for piano. He also enjoys singing, painting, balloon art, cooking, and volunteering to an extent. Benny has been involved with the local autism community in Austin through organizations including ArtSparkTX, Autism Society of Texas, and Greenleaf NCC. He recently completed UT’s ACT LEND program for autistic self-advocates.

Christina Culverhouse is a passionate and dedicated artist, jewelry designer, and poet/writer with over 20 years of experience in the arts. Christina has an eclectic body of work. She has showcased her art at multiple venues in and around Austin, Texas as well as with an online gallery through Artlifting. In addition to her art, Christina has published three books containing her poetry and artwork that are available on Amazon and Lulu.com. Christina holds three degrees from St. Edward’s University: Bachelor of Arts in Art, Master of Arts in Teaching, and Master of Arts in College Student Development.

✦✦✦ ABOUT THE ORGS ✦✦✦

Coalition of Texans with Disabilities is an Austin-based advocacy organization working to ensure that persons with disabilities may work, live, learn, play and participate fully in the community of their choice.

Art Spark Texas challenges perceptions of how people contribute by creating an arts-inspired, inclusive community of individuals with and without disabilities.

Thunder & Lightning Poetry Collective is a collective for disabled BIPOC & queer poets, working to foster creative, accessible community spaces that celebrate creativity within the chronically-ill, neurodivergent and disabled community.

✦✦✦ WHERE TO PARK ✦✦✦

Alienated Majesty is located at 613 W 29th St. There is (limited) free parking in our lot, as well as free street parking in the surrounding neighborhood.

✦✦✦ ABOUT ALIENATED MAJESTY BOOKS ✦✦✦

Alienated Majesty Books is a bookstore and community space that specializes in small presses, works in translation, comics, and the weird and radical. In 2024, AMB was voted Best Obscure Literature Collection by the Austin Chronicle.