LGBTQ+ Conference 2022 – ‘Level 20 Unlocked’
Throughout the years LMA has hosted annual conferences celebrating the history of London’s lesbian, gay, trans and queer communities and bringing together organisations, community groups, and archival professionals to share research, activism and lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals past and present. This year was no different, and, in our first fully in-person LGBTQ+ Conference since the pandemic, this cause for celebration was magnified by the conference marking its 20th year.
With the conference hitting the big 2-0, this year’s focus was on bringing young people to the forefront of LGBTQ+ discussions and to reflect on the history and progress made for young LGBTQ+ people. Our programme of speakers reflected this focus with a day of engaging talks from LGBTQ+ education charity Schools OUT UK, trans charity Gendered Intelligence, Mosaic LGBTQ+ Young Person’s Trust, and LMA’s own archivist Chris Olver.
Schools OUT UK kicked off our programme of content this year, with organisation chair Sue Sanders delivering a fascinating talk on the history of LGBTQ+ activism in the UK, LGBTQ+ History Month and the important role Schools Out UK has had in expanding engagement and challenging conventions in the world of education. Beginning life as The Gay Teachers Association in 1974, Schools OUT UK’s goal is to make schools and educational institutions safe spaces for LGBTQ+ communities.
Next up was Isa Sallinen from trans-led charity Gendered Intelligence, who aim to increase understandings of gender diversity and improve trans people's quality of life. They are both a trans-led and trans-involving grassroots organisation. Isa led a brilliant panel with a group of young trans people, discussing their thoughts on the challenges of being a young trans person in 2022, how they feel about the history of trans experiences, how these compare with their own, and taking a round of questions from our audience.
After lunch we had a creative presentation from Lukasz Konieczka, Executive Director of Mosaic LGBT+ Young Persons’ Trust. Mosaic educates and inspires young LGBTQ+ Londoners aged 13-19, as well as those around them, by providing accessible activities, programmes and services that aim to empower community members. Lukasz gave an overview of the fantastic work of Mosaic, before showcasing their brilliant audio-based project in which they have recreated the history of their organisation and LGBTQ+ discussions as a witty and thought-provoking audio play!
Last and by no means least on our line up was LMA’s own Chris Olver. Chris showcased the National HIV Story Trust (NHST) video interview collection: a set of 100 filmed interviews, held at LMA, recording personal testimonies of individuals who have lived through the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United Kingdom. As project archivist of this collection, Chris explored the key themes whilst playing the video interviews for our audience, highlighting the challenges HIV and AIDS-affected individuals face, and how communities responded with action in the face of adversity.
Alongside this jam-packed programme of engaging talks and discussions, we had a range of wonderful stall-holders with tables of fascinating archival material, LGBTQ+ books, ephemera, and merchandise. LMA would like to thank stall holders from Book 28, DeMontford University Library, Britten Pears Arts, Goldsmiths University Library, Forum+, and Schools Out UK for showcasing their fine and fabulous wares!
Our 20th LGBTQ+ Annual Conference was another great event and a wonderful way to celebrate our 20th year. It was an engaging day of discussion, learning, laughter, remembering, reflecting and of meeting new faces. Thank you from all of us at LMA to the speakers, stall holders, and conference guests who made the day so special, and we can’t wait to see you all again this year.