Who we are
Legal structure
We chose to create a 1901 association for ease of use and for legal reasons (organization of festive events with bar and music, site rental, etc.). But we see ourselves more as a collective than as an association. The association part is mainly a showcase for the penpushers and a way of doing what we want to do…
Sociological profile
At the root of this project, we’re a group of queer cis and trans people (masc, fem, nb), mostly from the dyke culture (but not only). We’re mostly white, middle-class or well-off, physically « able-bodied », neurotypical and neuromineralized, slim, dyadic… We are aware that this can lead to bias, and we try to be vigilant about it. Any critical feedback on this subject will be greatly appreciated.
Collective not set in stone
We want people who want to join the core project to be able to do so, and to find a way to make it easy to feel legitimate to do so… We want to be able to take vacations or even leave the collective, and other people can continue the adventure even if the people who launched the original initiative are no longer part of it. We want nothing to be set in stone, and for the collective to be able to evolve and transform according to the needs of its members. Any gendered* queer person who shares the collective’s values can join Les Déviantes. To facilitate self-management of the collective, we have set up a commission system. A commission corresponds to an identified need or a desire to work on a subject. Anyone can propose a new commission if they feel the need or desire, and anyone interested can join an existing commission. A Discord Server has been set up and text chat rooms created for each commission. People who express the desire to participate in the organization of the festival or in the self-management of the collective are added to the Discord. We try to operate by consensus as much as possible. We want everyone to feel comfortable with all the decisions made. We’re a very new collective and still in the process of being structured, so if you’d like to set up a committee to think about group decision-making processes and how to manage disagreements, we’d love to hear from you!
*see page chosen mixity
What we care about
Breaking down oppressive systems
We want to question all oppressive systems—not just the ones tied to gender and sexuality—without falling into hierarchy traps. Learning from each other is key: responsibility, yes. Blaming, no.
Anti-capitalism
We’re all about trying out new ways of doing things. We know compromises will be necessary, but we want everything to be transparent—whether it’s the financial side or decision-making. We’re thinking pay-what-you-can, with any funds going to cover costs and pay artists.
No call-out or cancel culture
Instead of excluding, we believe in supporting each other through tough conversations. Everyone’s got the potential to mess up, but supporting people to do better is way more powerful than writing them off.
Looking inward
Fighting the system also means self-reflecting.
Getting local
We want to collaborate with the local community—residents, farmers, artisans, and ofcourse, the local queers.
What we are about
We’d like Les Déviantes to be an event as DIY as possible, where anyone who wants to participate can bring their own touch and ideas to the project. The format is a 3-day gathering where anyone can come and camp.
A little music in the evening for dancing, and a mix of different shows on stage (music, stand-up, theater, open mic, anything goes). There will be a space for workshops during the day and evening, booths and activities related to our lives, our struggles or just for fun.
We want this to be a space that’s political but also caring. A place with good energies, decent (cheap) food and plenty of laughs. A place where we can reflect, be in the forest, connect with and learn from each other.