“To have a space where young queer people can just come and read out of their journals, some of them for the very first time in public, is just inspiring,” said Boulder-based Aimee Herman, an author, teacher and performance artist.

While living in New York City, after attending Naropa University in Boulder, Herman created Queer Art Organics, a variety show open mic that offers the LGBTQIA+ community a platform to showcase music, comedy, poetry, performance art and more.

Herman has moved back to Boulder, fulfilling Niwot’s Curse, in the fall of 2021 with their husband, Trae, and teaches at the September School.

The next edition of Queer Art Organics takes place at Out Boulder’s east location on Mitchell Lane, at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Queer Art Organics’ first location in Boulder took place at Trident Booksellers and Café on Pearl Street, and now the LGBTQIA+ arts open mic has moved locations to Out Boulder and goes live the last Sunday of each month.

“It feels like a good home,” the nearly lifelong poet, and also musician, said. “It also helps bring more people to this great place. Some people come who’ve never been to any other Out Boulder events, and it gets them more aware of the various programming that exists there. I’ve had so much great support through Out Boulder. I want to keep it there.”

The theme is openness and experimentation, and Herman only asks that participants are either queer or share a work that’s relevant to LGBTQIA+ issues.

Although the host stresses that it’s not like they pry.“It’s not like I card people,” she laughs. “I don’t ask them to share a slideshow of their queer experience. I always say that whoever’s there is meant to be there. I’ve had students that’ve started coming, and that’s been really wonderful. Some of them have been starting to read, as well, on the mic.”

As for the work presented, Queer Art Organics lets participants do virtually anything — sing, dance, read a poem or story, even read found text.

“It’s mostly poetry,” Herman says. “We get some musicians sprinkled in, and sometimes the occasional performative, indescribable, there-is-no-category, it-is-its-own-box , and that’s what I love. That’s what I want more of.”

Herman and their Muppet-like shock of pink/purple hair were beloved at the now-defunct Folsom Street Coffee House during their time at Naropa University 15 years ago. Now, the passionate poet and is molding young minds at the September School and hosting Queer Art Organics, which is — as the saying goes — for kids from ages 1 to 92 years old.

“I love hosting events and putting on open mics,” Herman said. “It’s important to me. It’s always been part of my identity, or for a very long time.”

Each edition also boasts a featured performer, and this Sunday’s is Ren Dawe, a poet, author and playwright who’s also a stand-up comic.

Unlike many open-mic hosts, Herman strongly believes anyone qualifies for the “feature” role — not just performers with impressive resumés.

“I’m very glad to have a series like Queer Art Organics to add to the culture of this place,” Herman said. “We need more queer programming, and more programming for marginalized folks, because we do exist here in Boulder. It just feels as though…I don’t think we need to wait for June for Pride Month. Out Boulder has a significant presence in our community and are constantly thinking of broadening their programming. As much as I feel like an outsider in Boulder, whenever I go there I feel home.”

Herman said that their husband, Trae, rarely attends because of his job, but Trae is a talented poet and just “a wonderful presence.”

“My students still talk about the time he read a Safeway receipt on the mic,” Herman said. “My students still talk about this and it was five months ago: ‘Oh my God, that poem by Trae. He was amazing.’ I love him and I love when he feels inspired to go on the mic.”

Queer Art Organics is free, open to everyone and does not allow alcoholic beverages at the all-ages event. Head to Out Boulder County, 3340 Mitchell Lane, Boulder, the last Sunday of each month for the open mic, including this month’s 3-5 p.m. Sunday event. For more information, visit outboulder.org.