How I Met Your Queer events are organised by Društvo DIH with help from Legebitra to let people find new friends, dates, or just chat to new people. We usually meet every 2 months at MC Legebitra (Trubarjeva 76a).
If you have never been to the place, you need to ring the doorbell saying “Legebitra” and wait for someone to open the door, then you go straight through the inner yard and you will see the entrance on the right side. If you want, you could also send us an email or a direct message in advance and ask to meet you outside.
It is better to come right on time, as the event has a structure and it might be harder to join during the process. But you come anyway and just wait to join during the next round or after the break. Also, feel free to come earlier and just chill or meet some people beforehand.
We usually keep the same structure:
-15 minutes for everyone to gather and make name tags: you can write your name and pronouns for everyone to communicate comfortably;
-15 minutes to explain the rules and have a little opening activity to split people into pairs/groups: the activity usually helps to get to know some facts about people in advance, so you have something to help your future conversations to start;
-30 minutes for the first round of conversations: people find a person they haven’t talked to yet and find a place to sit down, where they have prepared cards with questions or conversation prompts. The timer starts and people talk until they have a 1-2 minute warning from the organisers, then it’s time to wrap up and exchange the contact information, if the participants want to. When the time is up, organisers will ask people to switch and find another person they haven’t talked to yet;
-30 minute break: everyone gets a chance to get some rest, have some drinks and snacks, use the bathroom or just talk to others without having the time limit. We usually prepare vegan and gluten-free options for the snacks, but feel free to write us a message if you need something specific. Also feel free to bring something to share, but it’s completely optional;
-20 minutes for the second round of conversations: we start again, but with less rounds;
-10 minutes for conclusion and closing activity: we like to close on a positive note and ask others to choose 2-3 people to give them a compliment. It doesn’t have to be very serious or deep, just say you like someone’s outfit or thank them for a nice conversation. You don’t have to do it if you’re not comfortable speaking in front of many people.
We have some rules that help everyone to feel comfortable and safe. Please, be respectful, use correct pronouns and don’t mention topics that might make someone uncomfortable. When paired up, you can write your contact information (phone number or social media name) on a piece of paper and give it to the other person, but don’t ask for it in response, so the person doesn’t feel pressured. If you get overwhelmed or tired, take some time to chill in a dedicated quiet zone.
Also, please, respect the time limits and switch partners when the round is over, so the event goes as scheduled. Usually there is still some time in the end to talk to others in a more relaxed atmosphere and exchange contact information or even to invite somebody out right away!
The event is usually facilitated by Serena and Mykyta with the help from volunteers from Legebitra. The activities are facilitated in English, but you can speak any preferred language when paired up. If you have any specific questions, accessibility requirements, or other needs, feel free to reach out via email or direct messages.
Also sometimes we would take some pictures of the process, but we ask everyone’s consent and try to take it in a way that it doesn’t overexpose anyone. But you can also ask to not be in the pictures at all!
