Greg Wharton and Ian Philips, the guys behind Suspect Thoughts Press, publishers of a huge chunk of the Bay Area’s (and nation’s) queer, trans, and transgressive writers, are moving to Cleveland, Ohio to continue their work and also open an independent bookstore there (map).

According to Philips’ blog, the move comes after the couple was evicted twice in two years from their Bay Area rental unit — once from Valencia Street, once from east Oakland. Thus the Bay Area loses two more artist-entrepreneurs.

Philips writes:

After we got Ellis’ed in 2006 from our apartment along the TIC landing-strip that is also known as the Mission’s Valencia Street Corridor, Greg and I and our little press too found a lovely place to set up shop and keep making queer books in the fruit hills of Oakland. But that rental house, in little more than a year, is now going on the market.

So, after two evictions in two years, we’ve decided to take Suspect Thoughts Press and head east on October 1–to Cleveland, Ohio. (Yes, Cleveland, Ohio. It’s the new East Bay.) We’ve found an entire building for what we’d pay for a broom closet in the City, and we’re setting up an alternaqueer bookstore there as well. Thanks to many of our fellow alternative and queer publishers like Manic D and Cleis Press, we’ve got it nearly fully stocked. So, whenever in Cleveland, please come say hello at Suspect Thoughts Books (4903 Clark Ave or www.alternaqueerbooks.com).

Thanks, Marilyn!