Queer Minds (External Event)

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After a fantastic launch last year, Queer Minds is back and ready to inspire, empower, and

celebrate the LGBTQ+ community right in the heart of Soho. Join us on Saturday 31 August

2024, from 13:00 to 19:30 at 21 Soho for an afternoon of enlightening conversation,

engaging discussion, and community connection.

This year’s festival promises to be an insightful one, bringing together a diverse range of

voices to discuss history, politics, healthcare, and literature.

In an alarming year for our trans community which has seen the recent Cass Review and

moves by the new Government to ban puberty blockers, we’ll be spotlighting access to trans

healthcare and speaking to the real experts, including Dr Aidan Kelly, Director of Gender

Plus and Edward Whelan, author of Gender Confirmation Surgery.

We’ll also be hosting an in-depth interview with researcher, historian and public speaker,

Sacha Coward, about his debut book Queer as Folklore, “a celebration of queer history like

you’ve never seen it before”.

The organisers of Queer Minds are grateful for the support of distinguished queer

organisation, Gay’s The Word bookshop and venue, 21 Soho.

“An enriching festival of ideas” - Gay’s The Word Bookshop

Uli Lenart of Gay’s The Word Bookshop said:

“Great minds do not think alike. That’s what makes Queer Minds so enjoyable and inspiring.

A variety of panellists exploring pertinent discussions from a range of queer experiences and

perspectives. Amplify your insight with this enriching festival of ideas.”

The four sessions across the afternoon:

● In Conversation: Researcher, historian and public speaker Sacha Coward, author of

Queer as Folklore, reveals the unsung heroes and villains of storytelling, magic and

fantasy, with Senior Lecturer in English Literature and co-director of the Queer

London Research Forum, Dr Kate M. Graham.

● Discussion: Let’s Talk About Trans Healthcare, with Edward Whelan, author of

Gender Confirmation Surgery: a guide for trans and non-binary people, Rebecca

Jones, a 21 year old trans activist and Liberal Democrat campaigner, Dr Aidan

Kelly, Clinical Psychologist and Director at Gender Plus, a UK and Ireland specialist

gender identity service, facilitated by Ben Pechey, LGBTQ+ advocate and author.

● Discussion: Black, Queer and British, with Dean Atta, award-winning author and

performance poet debuting his non-fiction book Person Unlimited, with Nay Francis,

non-binary educator, spoken word artist and socio-economic commentator.

● Discussion: Finding Home: Queers and Migration, Gaar Adams, author of Guest

Privileges: Queer Lives and Finding Home in the Middle East shares his collation of

stories from the Middle East, which set out to try and answer why many people,

including himself, choose to make a home somewhere that could cause them so

much risk, personally and politically.

George Westwood and Nick Raikes, creators of Queer Minds said:

“We’re incredibly excited to be bringing Queer Minds back for its second year. Last year’s

festival exceeded our expectations and we can’t wait to continue the momentum. Our goal is

to provide a space for meaningful dialogue and connection within the LGBTQ+ community

and we hope the 2024 festival will inspire, educate, and unite those who join us.”