LGBTQ+ History Month: Imagining a Queer Utopia in Higher Education and beyond

You must register in advance to obtain room details. These will be sent on the day.

Imagine a queer utopia for the university. How are staff, students and the community kept safe? What research and learning is shared?  Where are the LGBTQ+ social and community places on and around campus?

In this LGBTQ+ History Month panel discussion, staff and students from City, University of London and UCL will share their experience and ideas for a queer utopia in higher education and beyond.

The panel discussion will include audience questions and be followed by a drinks reception.

About the panellists

Molly Edwards (they/them) is a third year BA Education Studies student and ChangeMaker Student Fellow at UCL graduating in 2023. Their main research interest is in the political history of higher education, specifically the cultural histories of queer students and the history of student political power in English universities.

Alim Kheraj (he/him) is currently studying a Masters degree at City, University of London. Alim is a London-based LGBTQ+ and culture writer. His 2021 book Queer London with photographer Tim Brody has also led to the podcast and photography series Queer Spaces.

Dr Lo Marshall (they/them) is a Senior Research Fellow: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in The Bartlett, Faculty of the Built Environment at UCL working on the project 'Transforming brick walls: Exploring barriers to belonging and progression experienced by trans students in Higher Education’.

They are also leading a new research project on inclusion and accessibility in LGBTQ+ community spaces.

Graysen Whittaker (he/they) Graysen Whittaker (he/they) is a Queer, Trans man and is the newly appointed Senior EDI Officer for Gender and LGBTQIA+ at City. Graysen’s background is in youth work with LGBTQIA+ young people, based in the charity sector, as well as driving inclusive practice within charities and local authorities.

Graysen is the Vice-Chair of the charity Mosaic LGBT+ Young Person’s Trust and contributes towards an Autistic Experience led Community Interest Company (CIC) in Kent, called Aucademy.

Enquiries - please email EDI@city.ac.uk