Reading is an act of empathy, and in today’s world what could be more important?
Created by Violet Hour Literary Series & Book Club (Montreal) and Sapphic Arts and Letters (Toronto), Lire Queer Reader Fest is a grassroots initiative that brings together Montreal’s vibrant literary and queer communities around a shared love of LGBTQ+ literature. While most contemporary literary festivals focus on writers, Lire Queer centres readers, seeking to create moments of meaningful connection between our city’s book lovers. Join us at a meeting in Montreal from May 16-23, 2026.
Big thanks to our partners who continue to make Montreal, and our lives, full of rewarding cultural moments:
Argo Bookshop/
Dick’s Lending Library/
Drawn & Quarterly/
Gay Writes/
Hot Flash/
Joie de livres/
LATMTL/
Le Cercle de lecture/
Librairie n’était-ce pas l’été/
Librairie Saint Henri Books/
Lucioles et morilles/
Metonymy Press/
Mes pants de queer/
Pulp Books & Café/
Sapphic Arts & Letters/
Violet Hour Literary Series & Book Club/
For questions about individual events or activities, please contact our partners directly through the links above.
For information about Lire Queer Reader Fest, please contact Christopher DiRaddo at cd@christopherdiraddo.com.