Queer Invisible Academy
Queer because we question sexualities and genders as we know them ; Invisible because we do not want to embrace policed sexualities and genders ; Academy because we want a new way to create knowledge.
A day of Queer workshops
From 11:30am, Sunday 5th of September
Chats Palace,
42-44 Brooksby's Walk
Homerton, London, E9 6DF
Queer may not be an identity, it can be a place ; a place where we share our knowledge, create new knowledge, help each other, create new connections and create the queer world that we lack in our everyday lives.
Following the Hakcney Pride, the Queer Invisible Academy is organising a day of queer workshops in Hackney, for queers of all sexualities, genders, colors, class and body types.
Index
Provisional Programme
| Workshop | |
|---|---|
| 11:30 - 12:00 | Welcome, tea & coffe ! |
| 12:00 - 13:30 | Queer & Anti-racismQuestions of sexuality and race are inseparable from each other. In Western societies hierarchies were enacted to ensure the reproduction of the ‘right’ people, the conceived bearers of ‘civilization’. People from different parts of the world are stigmatized to be either oversexual or sexually repressed. In this workshop I propose to seek answers for the following questions:
|
| 13:45 - 15:45 |
Queers In Action: An interactive workshop on queer performance tactics and political protestWhat does it mean to 'queer' a protest? Does it make sense to think of certain tactics and strategies as distinctly queer? What is the relationship between queer performance or performativity and direct action? This workshop will address these questions, engaging participants in a discussion and 'activation' of queer performance and political protest. Structured into two phases, participants will first be introduced to queer protest actions from Lesbian Avengers to Queers Against Borders. Here we will discuss what makes actions 'queer' and whether or not it makes sense to think of 'queer' or 'queering' as a tactic/strategy. In the second phase of the workshop participants will take part in an 'action slam'. Working in small groups, everyone will be asked to generate, improvise and share a direct action plan that responds to a prompt situation provided by the workshop facilitator. |
| 15:45 - 16:15 | Tea break ! |
| 16:15 - 17:45 |
Room 1
Sex Diversity: The spectrum of sex beyond 'male' and 'female'It is a common idea that there are two fundamentally different categories of human beings: Men and Women. Even when we acknowledge that gender (cultural sex) is not necessarily linked to the sex (the “biological” one), we still see biological sexes are two qualitatively different groups. This is not surprising as this is the message the medias and scientists keep on putting forward. Moreover, according to the medical establishment, Intersex persons don't fit the criteria of what a man or a woman are "supposed" to be in biological terms. But some people, including few scientists, think that the situation is not so clear cut, and that men, women and intersex are not different categories but only different points along a spectrum! I haven't experienced life as an intersex person and even though I'm a former biologist, I am definitely not an expert on the subject. However, I hope that the presentation and discussion will be an opportunity to try and think about sex diversity and how we can see the biological categories of “male” and “female” as not so far apart. Room 2
Gender discussionGender may well be constructed, it is still something we experience daily, both from the inside, how we feel about ourselves, and from the outside, how others perceive us. Come and share your experiences about genders (in general, or about your own experiences if you feel comfortable to do so), how it affects, controls and modifies us in our daily lives beyond the theoritical world of deconstruction. |
| 18:00 - 20:00 |
Room 1
Control in queer relationships and communitiesThis workshop will explore different kinds of emotional abuse, manipulation, and control and how they can operate both in personal relationships and within communities. We'll look at how this manipulation affects people and communities, what tactics people use to control and why people use them. We will also talk about what people and communities need to recover from and withstand this control. |
| 19:15 - 20:00 |
Room 2
The situation of LGBT asylum seekersThis workshop will seek to give an insight into the challenges posed by the UK asylum system for LGBT people seeking asylum on the grounds of their sexual orientation, and how LGBT groups can support them. To succeed in an asylum claim based on fear of homophobic persecution applicants have to prove their sexuality and the fact that they might be recognised as LGBT. |
| 20:00 - 22:00 | Chill out, film & music |
Safer spaces
This event will have a safer space policy. We will use the London Freeschool safer space policy. Please make sure you read it before comming to the event.
Practical infromation
Venue address
Chats Palace,42-44 Brooksby's Walk
Homerton, London, E9 6DF
Map to the venu
Accessibility information
The venue is wheelchair accessible (our event only uses the ground floor), and has wheelchair accessible toilets. There are 5 bus lines that are less than 100m walk away from the venue (seen transport infromation below)
We are not certain whether there will be food yet, but if there is there will be vegan & gluten free options
If you have any special needs, please contact us to let us know.
Transport information
By train: Homerton station on the London Overground is our nearest train station, (5 minute walk). When you leave the station, turn left up Barnabas Road and on to Homerton High Street. Turn right, cross the road and take the first road on your left. This is Brooksby's Walk, and Chats Palace is just up on the right.
By bus (less than 100m walk): 242, W15, 276, 308, 425
By bus (less than 500m walk): 394
Resources
If you want to help promote this event, please download the flyer for the day of workshops and distribute it far and wide! We also have a wonderful poster for the day of workshops - print it and display it !