Researching the Rainbow Conference 2018
The University’s second Researching the Rainbow Conference was held on Thursday 15 February as part of LGBT History Month and was warmly received by attendees and participants. The event, organised by the LGBT+ Staff Network in partnership with Kent Union, was run for the first time last year to celebrate 50 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK. There were approximately 50 attendees this year and over 980 views of the live stream via Kent Union’s Facebook page.
The conference was designed to showcase the vast array of research being done at Kent on or related to LGBT+ people and issues, and to encourage multi-disciplinary collaboration and networking. The event was opened by University of Kent Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Karen Cox, who also acts at the Executive Group’s LGBT+ and Gender Champion. Professor Cox said:
“It was a pleasure to have attended the ‘Researching the Rainbow’ conference. A wonderful mix of inspirational speakers, a diverse agenda and an opportunity for students and academics alike to present their work as peers.
As the EG LGBT+ champion, I am wholeheartedly committed to the principles of Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity. The LGBT+ Network are doing a really great job in turning the university’s commitments into a reality for individuals.”
The agenda was made up of predominantly Kent students and academics from a range of disciplines, discussing topics such as transgender identities in mental health care and the legal system and queer representation in the media. Renowned trans activists Fox and Owl also attended to speak about their project My Genderation, and joined fellow speakers for an open plenary hosted by Kent Union’s LGBT+ Trans Officer, Valiant Dorian.
Organiser Kasia Senyszyn, member of the LGBT+ Staff Network, said:
“It is a grassroots event – we started with just a few people who were interested in talking about their research with fellow aficionados and now we’re getting national activist superstars inspiring our students, staff and guests. I hope it continues to grow and we can get more and more people to participate. I have been so amazed by the calibre of talks over the last two years and can’t wait for next year!”
The conference also raised funds for LGBT charity Schools Out, founder of LGBT History Month. A video of the conference, which is being created by KTV, will shortly be available on the LGBT+ Staff Network blog.
Highlights of the Conference can also be seen via the link below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XWeUX-BUUyT1Rx9p55DxKNHerQhq6Q6F/view
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Researching the Rainbow Conference 2018
Thursday 15 February 2018 – Grimond Foyer and Grimond Lecture Theatre 1
AGENDA
15.00 Registration opens in Grimond foyer
15.30 Welcome from Professor Karen Cox in GLT1
15.45 Dr Flora Renz, Lecturer – Kent Law School: Transgender jurisprudence: Moving beyond (gender) regulation
16.15 Quantifying Little Madnesses: Counting the Presence of Gay Doctor Who Fandom
16.45 Comfort Break
17.30 Cara Hall, 3rd year student – Kent Law School: Transgender inequality in mental health care and the implications for individuals
18.00 Sarah Irvin, MSc student – School of Psychology: The Impact of Queer Female Media Representation
18.30 Fox & Owl, trans activists
19.00 Open plenary
19.30-20.00 Finish
#rainbowresearch18
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Researching the Rainbow Conference 2018 – Registration now open!
Registration is now open for the Researching the Rainbow Conference from 15.00 – 19.00 on Thursday 15 February 2018 in Grimond Lecture Theatre 1 on the Canterbury campus. We strongly suggest you register online to confirm your place by Monday 5 February.
The conference, which forms part of the University’s LGBT History Month celebrations, is to showcase the vast array of excellent research being done on or related to LGBT+ people and issues, and to encourage multi-disciplinary collaboration and networking. The conference will be opened by University of Kent Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Karen Cox, who also acts at the Executive Group’s LGBT+ Champion.
Topics include literary and cinematic representations of homosexuality, transsexuality in mental health care and the legal system, and the decolonization of sexuality, from students and academics from a range of schools and disciplines, as well as external partners.
If you would like to display a research poster, please email lgbtstaffnetwork@kent.ac.uk by Monday 5 February. The conference is free and open to all. Please forward this invitation to any colleagues/friends who may be interested.
LGBT+ Staff Network