Universities across the UK are hosting events to explore key ideas and celebrate the lessons we can learn from LGBT+ histories, both collectively and personally. The University community has organised the events below which are open to all. While some events have already happened, you can still attend the online events later this month.
Upcoming events
Bi+ Histories
The Staff Pride Network (SPN) has organised this event for 23 February at 5pm. Hosted on Zoom, it will see several bisexual members of University staff share their own experiences.
Sue Fletcher-Watson, Dave Berry and Winnie Lam will each share their own story, in celebration of LGBT+ History Month, before they then explore the similarities and differences in their experiences.
This event is a great way to learn from each other’s experiences, and understand another point of view.
With the panel, the SPN has sought to represent Bi+ identities that are often in the minority in Bi+ spaces.
You can sign up to this event through Eventbrite.
Coming In – Being Out with OurStory Scotland
The SPN has organised this event for 24 February at 6pm.
OurStory Scotland is a national LGBT+ charity dedicated to collecting, archiving and presenting the life stories of the LGBT+ community in Scotland. The theme of Coming In – Being Out mirrors the LGBT+ History Month Scotland theme Blurring Borders.
In this event, participants are invited to share their own LGBT+ experiences which can be discussed. These stories will be recorded and archived at the National Library of Scotland. These recordings can be made anonymously and contributors are able to give a pseudonym instead of sharing any personal details.
Due to recording requirements places for this event are limited. There will be a waitlist in place, and more sessions may be organised depending on demand.
Staff Pride Network and EUSA Safe Space Policies will apply.
You can sign up to this event through Eventbrite.
Find out more about OurStory Scotland.
Inclusiveness in internationalised classrooms
Staff are invited to take this 10-minute survey, Developing a Framework of Inclusiveness in Internationalisation. In it, you will be asked about your perceptions, awareness, and enactment of inclusive practice in internationalised classrooms. This survey is open to all academic staff, PhD students, and staff with teaching roles across the University until 24th February 2022.
For any questions about this project, please send a message to inclusive.internationalisation@ed.ac.uk
Earlier this month
What is Queer Theory?
This SPN event saw University experts examine and explain Queer Theory and how it permeates our lives. We might not notice how Queer Theory can influence our lives, relationships, intersections of race, gender and sexuality, the body and the state. University experts, Dr Ale Boussalem, University Teacher in the School of GeoSciences, Sharon Cowan, Professor of Feminist and Queer Legal Studies in Edinburgh Law School, and Rae Rosenberg, Lecturer in the School of GeoSciences, explored what Queer Theory actually is and why it matters.
Blurring Borders: A World In Motion: Poetry reading and Conversation with Andrés Ordorica
In partnership with Edinburgh Race Equality Network, this SPN event saw Andrés Ordorica, an Edinburgh-based queer Latinx poet and writer, reading from his new poetry collection, At Least This I Know. The work is an exploration of Andrés’ life, examining his heritage, activism and queerness, ultimately looking for his own sense of belonging.
Andrés is a member of staff at the University, an Instructional Designer, he is part of the Educational Design and Engagement team in Information Services.
Etzali Hernández and Carl Alexandersson joined the event for an evening of readings, discussion and performance.
Pronoun campaigns
The College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (CMVM) and Edinburgh University Students’ Association are both running pronoun campaigns throughout the month focusing on increasing awareness and understanding. For more information visit their social media channels.
CMVM will also be sharing LGBT+ experiences of members of their community.
Find out more about planned events on the SPN website.
Image: NickyEbbage/GettyImages