A poem by Bryan Borland on the occasion of being infected with respiratory gunk at the hands of nephew Oliver. (Click this link to hear this performed in full-on sick voice.) OLIVER’S GERMS   I am holding the child, his small body warm as fresh bread, his breath rough in his chest, a little animal trying to catch its own shadow.   We’ve been running through rooms as if joy were the cure the body never rejects. But now he sags against me, and I feel the fever in the place wher

I recently said I wanted Assaracus, my journal of gay and queer poetry, to feel like a dive bar—a hangout and safe space for LGBTQ+ poets across styles and identities to come together, to be in conversation with one another, to showcase the power of queer poetry in all its diversity, danger, love, and humanness. In that spirit, the poets of Assaracus 26 recently gathered to do just that. And the good news for you? I recorded it, and you can watch it here . So pour your fav

On Saturday, November 1, I had the joy of taking part in the Hot Springs Poetry Festival Launch Party at Kollective Coffee + Tea , alongside a strong lineup of poets: Kai Coggin, Samyak Shertok, Greg Brownderville, Sandy Longhorn, Acie Clark, Kalina Smith, and Toni Garcia-Butler . The evening was alive with language, laughter, and the hum of community. The air in Kollective, a space that has long championed poetry and the arts in Arkansas, felt electric with connection and

5:00 PM / Festival Launch Party / Kollective Coffee + Tea featuring Kai Coggin, Bryan Borland, and Samyak Shertok From the organizers: "We're so excited to announce our featured poets for the Kick Off and Zine Launch party! Our first spotlight is Bryan Borland (he/him), the author of multiple books, including Brotherful and DIG , a Lambda Literary Award finalist in Gay Poetry and a Stonewall Honor Book. He is the founding publisher of Sibling Rivalry Press and the founding e

The Publishing Triangle Presents LGBTQ+ Publishing 101: A Virtual Panel Discussion Thursday, November 6, 2025 | 6:00–7:30 PM EST Register to attend Join The Publishing Triangle for an engaging conversation that breaks down the basics of how publishing works, with a focus on supporting and uplifting LGBTQ+ writers. Our panelists will share insights on getting published, working with editors, and navigating today’s literary landscape. Moderator: Dan Hendrick Panelists: Edgar

Last night I had the honor of taking the stage at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival’s True Stories storytelling event. It was one of those nights that reminded me why we make art in the first place, and why we keep telling our stories even when the world feels heavy. I want to thank Kai Coggin , Poet Laureate of Hot Springs, Arkansas, for inviting me and for creating such a generous, electric space. Kai’s work in Arkansas and beyond, building community through poetry

My recent reading at the Bureau of General Queer Services (BGSQD) was something I will carry with me for a long time. I want to thank...

I’m holding the proof copy of Assaracus Issue 26 in my hands right now. It’s heavy in the best way, and it's alive, humming, electric....

Slip into something comfortable and join us for an Easy Sunday that’s equal parts poetry, pleasure, and provocation. Bryan Borland, poet,...

Afternoon summer rain. The first breath after good sex, that release after the release. A hummingbird returning from half the world away,...

As I ran this morning: News Alert: Inflation rose in July as President Trump’s tariffs intensified price pressures across a wider range...

Jerry Wheeler at Out in Print , an unparalleled su pporter of LGBTQ books for longer than I've been publishing, recently shared his...

When I founded Assaracus: A Journal of Gay Poetry , I wanted a place where our voices could exist without apology. A place for the...

The Reel Queer Film Festival returns to Central Arkansas on August 21, 2025! Help us celebrate the evening before the festival by...

I've often wondered had I lived in NYC during Stonewall or the height of the AIDS crisis, would I have stood with my siblings in the...

Today, the Supreme Court ruled that parents, on religious grounds, can opt their children out of exposure to any books with LGBTQ+...

I'm full of gratitude to be included in the 2025 Catalyze Grantee Cohort. From the official announcement : Twenty-five artists in...

In 2016, I published DIG through George Mason University's Stillhouse Press, run at the time by the wonderful Marcos Martinez as...

I uploaded Brotherful to the printer yesterday, and I’ve put it up for pre-order on the SRP site . (Rob J. – don’t you dare. I’m sending...

Last summer, I was hosted by The Desert Rat Residency for Writers in Palm Desert, CA  - and during my stay, the dam broke, and I wrote a...