Queer London conference forthcoming

I shall be giving a paper, '"Advocating the culture of unnatural and criminal practices"? the British Society for the Study of Sex Psychology as a pioneer homophile organisation in the UK' at the following event:

 

Queer London Conference

Department of English, Linguistics and Cultural Studies

University of Westminster

Saturday 23^rd March 2013

 

Keynote Speaker:

Dr. Matt Cook (Birkbeck College, University of London)

 

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

 

This one-day conference is dedicated to a consideration of London and its role in creating, housing, reflecting and facilitating queer life. It will bring together scholars from a variety of different disciplines and backgrounds to consider representations of queer London and how London itself represents queers.

 

That London is a focus and centre for queer life and culture can be seen on its stages; in its bar and club scenes; in its film festivals and its representations in film; in its performance art; in its political life; in its gyms; in its history; in its book groups and book shops; and in its representations in the contemporary queer fiction of writers like Alan Hollinghurst and Sarah Waters. That London is a hub and an axis goes without saying. What the ‘Queer London’ conference offers is an opportunity for further analysis and investigation of these representations/representational platforms and consideration of the socio-cultural role that London plays in queer life.

 

The conference focuses on the period 1885 to the present and includes papers on topics such as diverse as 1920s lesbian London; modes of queer activism; the art and photography of Francis Bacon; London’s drag scenes; Alan Hollingshurst’s queer London; queer Soho; and London’s queer sex work.

 

The conference programme will shortly be posted here – http://queerlondonconf.wordpress.com/

 

The conference will be from 10.30am until 7pm and will be held in the University of Westminster’s building at 309 Regent Street.

 

The conference will be FREE to attend but places are limited. In order to reserve a place, please email queerlondonconf@gmail.com, including your name, contact details and affiliation.

 

If you have any question please get in touch with Dr. Simon Avery (s.avery@westminster.ac.uk) and Dr. Katherine M. Graham (k.graham1@westminster.ac.uk).