Writing Queer Lives Colloquium

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How do we write about queer lives? Queer people have always existed, but a combination of censorship, coded language and omission from the historical record has made it difficult for scholars to clearly interpret and represent queer identities. Indeed, only in recent decades has it become less stigmatised (and dangerous) to write about queerness without accompanying condemnation.

In honour of LGBT History Month, the Oxford Centre for Life-Writing at Wolfson College is hosting a colloquium highlighting current work being done at Oxford to represent historical and contemporary members of the LGBTQ+ community. We will explore various arenas, including history, classics, literature and the museum sector.

Our keynote, ‘‘Forty Years of Steadfast Friendship’ or, What Does a Lesbian Look Like?’ will be delivered by Dr Jane Traies. Jane is the author of The Lives of Older Lesbians (2016) and a recent collection of lesbian oral histories Now You See Me (2018). She is also a member of the Centre for Life History and Life Writing at the University of Sussex.

The colloquium will also feature: the Pitt Rivers Museum's ‘Beyond the Binary’ exhibition team; Ruth Ramsden-Karelse and Mara Gold (DPhil students and co-convenors of the Queer Studies Network); Meg Roberts (PhD student from Newnham College, Cambridge); and Alison Hennegan (English scholar, LGBTQ+ campaigner, former Literary Editor of ‘Gay News’ and Fellow at Trinity Hall, Cambridge) as Honorary Guest Chair.

To register, click here.