Against Ageism: A Queer Manifesto Book Launch with Simon(e) van Saarloos
- Date
- 2025-04-05
- Location
- Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Host
- Well Read
About this event
Age is one of the most normalized forms of exclusion in public life, and it often goes unchallenged even inside spaces that see themselves as progressive. This book launch for Against Ageism: A Queer Manifesto with Simon(e) van Saarloos opens up that conversation directly: sharp, social, and grounded in the urgency of how age shapes belonging, desire, care, visibility, and power. If you are interested in the politics of community, the limits of respectability, or the ways queer thinking can unsettle dominant ideas about youth and value, this is a room worth being in. Expect an evening that treats a book launch not as a formal presentation, but as a live exchange of ideas among people who want to think critically and be in conversation with others doing the same. About the Event This event centers the launch of Against Ageism: A Queer Manifesto, bringing readers, thinkers, organizers, and curious newcomers together in person in Lisboa. At its core, the evening is an invitation to engage with ageism not as a niche issue, but as a force that shapes everyday relationships, institutions, culture, and who gets taken seriously. The framing of the event matters. By pairing the book launch with an explicitly queer manifesto, the conversation opens beyond a standard author talk. Rather than treating age as only a demographic category or a private concern, this event points toward a more political and imaginative discussion: how norms around aging, productivity, desirability, adulthood, care, and generational hierarchy affect all of us. Because the event is tagged across community, networking, meetup, and social, you can also expect a gathering that values presence and exchange. This is likely to appeal to people who want both intellectual substance and a sense of shared atmosphere — a chance to hear ideas articulated clearly, then continue the conversation with others in the room. Whether you come because you already know Simon(e) van Saarloos’s work or because the title itself raises questions you want to explore, the event offers an accessible entry point into a bigger debate. You do not need to arrive with a fixed position; curiosity, attention, and openness are enough. What to Expect The evening begins Saturday, April 5 at 6:00 PM GMT+1 and takes place in person in Lisboa, Portugal. As a book launch, the event will revolve around the publication itself, but the experience is broader than simply hearing about a new release. You can expect a format that likely includes: An introduction to the book and its central arguments A live conversation, reading, or presentation with Simon(e) van Saarloos Space for reflection on the themes raised by the manifesto Informal social time to meet other attendees before or after the main program What makes this kind of event compelling is the mix of structure and openness. There is a clear focal point — the book and its intervention — but also room for the audience to bring their own experiences and questions into the atmosphere of the evening. Because the topic touches lived realities across generations and communities, the discussion may resonate in multiple directions at once: personal, political, cultural, and collective. You may leave having thought differently about language, institutions, intergenerational dynamics, or the assumptions that quietly shape how age is discussed in queer and non-queer spaces alike. Why Attend Some events are useful because they give you information. This one has the potential to do more: to shift your framework. Against Ageism: A Queer Manifesto suggests a critique that is not only about prejudice toward older people, but about the deeper systems that assign worth according to age, pace, appearance, dependence, and compliance. That makes the event especially valuable if you are interested in the politics of identity and community beyond surface-level inclusion. You will be in a setting where ageism can be discussed as a structural issue — one connected to ableism, capitalism, social norms, and the pressures placed on bodies and lives to move in approved timelines. Attending also means being in a room with people who are likely asking related questions: How do communities reproduce exclusion? What does queer critique make visible that mainstream discourse misses? What kinds of solidarity become possible when age is not treated as an afterthought? You might come away with: A stronger language for recognizing and naming ageism New ways of thinking about queer politics across generations Insight into the book’s core intervention and why it matters now Conversations with others interested in culture, theory, activism, and community life A sense of connection that extends beyond the event itself Practical Details This is an in-person event in Lisboa, Portugal, making it a good fit for local attendees as well as visitors who want to plug into the city’s cultural and community-facing events. Being there physically matters: the social and conversational dimension is part of the draw. The event starts at 6:00 PM GMT+1 on Saturday, April 5. An early evening time slot makes it easy to treat this as the anchor of your night, whether you plan to arrive ready to listen closely, meet people afterward, or continue the discussion elsewhere once the event wraps. Since this is a live book launch and community gathering, it is worth arriving with enough time to settle in and take in the room. If you like events where the energy comes as much from the people attending as from the formal program, this one is likely to reward that approach. If this topic has been on your mind — or if you have felt the limits of how age is usually discussed and want something sharper, queerer, and more politically alive — this event offers a timely place to start.
Who should attend
If you want an event that combines serious ideas with a live, social atmosphere, this is likely for you. - You are interested in **queer thought, cultural criticism, or political writing** and want to engage with a book that challenges familiar assumptions about age and value. - You care about **community, solidarity, and exclusion inside progressive spaces**, and you want a sharper conversation about how ageism operates in everyday life. - You work in or around **arts, publishing, academia, activism, social organizing, or community-building** and are looking for ideas that can deepen your perspective. - You enjoy **book launches, author conversations, and thoughtful in-person events** where the discussion continues beyond the formal program. - You are drawn to **intergenerational questions** — whether personally, politically, or professionally — and want language for thinking beyond stereotypes about youth and aging. - You simply want to be in a room with **curious, engaged people in Lisboa** who are up for a meaningful conversation and a strong social-intellectual evening. You do not need to be an expert on the topic to belong here. If the title makes you pause, question, or lean in, that is a good sign.