Join us for this queer activism and mental health event, a creative afternoon of talks, workshops and queer solidarity!
Date: 17th February 2024
Time: 11am to 4pm
Place: Quaker House, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2JL
Who it’s for: people who identify as LGBTQIA+
How to book: It’s free to attend – sign up here or email ellis@capsadvocacy.org.
The LGBTQIA+ Collective Advocacy Group is inviting queer people to get together in order to learn from one another and get inspired to work collectively on change.
2023 was a difficult year for the queer community. The year began as the British government blocked the reform of the Gender Recognition Act in Scotland. We witnessed endless delays and U turns regarding the pledge to ban conversion therapy. We saw countless discriminatory comments coming from the highest rungs of government. And the year ended with new government guidelines telling schools they do not need to respect trans students’ pronouns and identity.
What comes next for queer activism in this increasingly hostile climate? How do we continue our work, while preventing burnout and looking after ourselves and each other? What can queer activism and mental health activism learn from each other?
The programme for the day includes a roundtable discussion between inspiring grassroots activists, badge making, a wellbeing session, and an activist workshop with (optional) zine-making. Lunch and refreshments will be served. The collective advocacy group will also use learnings from the day to produce a qualitative report to better understand the issues affecting LGBTQIA+ community.
We believe that by working collectively to challenge injustices while learning to look after ourselves and each other, we can all make a difference. So, whether you’re a seasoned activist or have never done anything like this, this event is for you!
Please note this event is organised for, and by the community. Allies are kindly asked to wait for future events.
It’s free to attend – sign up here or email ellis@capsadvocacy.org.
Schedule for the day
11am – Welcome: tea and coffee & badge making
11.30am – How Do We Keep Going? A roundtable on queer activism and mental health
12.30pm – Lunch
1.15pm – Activist workshop part 1
2.15pm – Wellbeing session
2.45pm – Break
3pm – Activist workshop part 2
4pm – Finish and networking
The event is organised by the LGBTQIA+ Collective Advocacy Group at CAPS Independent Advocacy (more information can be found at: https://capsadvocacy.org/collective-advocacy/lgbtqi/).
Speakers
Esraa Husain (all pronouns) is a freelance creative writer, community curator, researcher and facilitator based in Glasgow. They are the founder and director of @UBelongGlasgow, a multilingual community platform that features LGBT+, BPOC and disabled creatives, est. 2020. Esraa is part of the Curating Discomfort Intervention team at the Hunterian Museum. Esraa is also a PhD student researching Migrancy, Political Agency and decoloniality at the University of Glasgow. Their publications/writings can be found online and in print in The Skinny, Scottish BPOC Writers Network, Gutter, Somewhere for Us, The Bottle Imp and more.
Indigo Korres (she her) is a trans and queer multi-media artist as well as the Director of the Scottish Queer International Film Festival (SQIFF). She has also created and produces some of her own projects such as the podcast Changing the Frame, focusing on trans and/or non-binary people working on the film industries, and Yo Perreo Solx, a clubnight in Glasgow with Latin music for people from marginalised genders.
Rest of the speakers tbc.
Statement for a safer space
The LGBTQIA+ Collective Advocacy Group is committed towards working to be a safer space for our members and the wider community. We want everybody to feel welcome in our meetings and events and have an ongoing self-critical commitment to promoting safe and accessible spaces and actively opposing all forms of oppression, including (but not limited to) racism, transphobia, homophobia, ableism, classism, acephobia, fatphobia and misogyny. Harassing, bullying and violent behaviour will not under any circumstances be tolerated.
We ask that when engaging in discussion, please keep the following in mind:
- Don’t assume someone’s gender, pronouns, or sexuality.
- If you are challenged, please try to respond with reflection and compassion rather than with defensiveness and anger. Remember that people of other intersections and identities know more about their experiences than you do.
- If you are talking about a sensitive topic, please include a trigger warning so that people can choose whether they feel able to engage with the content or not.
Accessibility
CAPS values your input and strives to ensure that our engagement is accessible and inclusive. We will do our best to coordinate reasonable adjustments for physical, sensory and processing differences, as well as religious and cultural requirements. If you have any accessibility related requests or concerns, please get in touch beforehand with ellis@capsadvocacy.org.
Facilities at the Quaker house include:
- Level or ramped access
- Internal areas are accessible
- Passenger lift suitable for standard wheelchairs
- Disabled access toilet
- Staff are trained in evacuation procedures. Evacuation chair available.
- No disabled parking
The event is free to attend – sign up here or email ellis@capsadvocacy.org.
Ellis Kokko is the facilitator for the LGBTQIA+ Collective Advocacy Group at CAPS. Read their blog about the event here.