Lesbian Lives Conference returns to Brighton in February
The Lesbian Lives Conference returns to Brighton on February 15-16. Hosted by the University of Brighton LGBT, Queer Life Research Hub and the Women’s Studies Centre at the University of Dublin, the Conference is the world’s only annual academic conference in Lesbian Studies. It is a large internati

The Lesbian Lives Conference returns to Brighton on February 15-16. Hosted by the University of Brighton LGBT, Queer Life Research Hub and the Women’s Studies Centre at the University of Dublin, the Conference is the world’s only annual academic conference in Lesbian Studies. It is a large international event that draws speakers and participants from all continents and hosts the best-known as well as emerging scholars in the field.
The theme for this years Conference is The Modern Lesbian.
This year’s keynote speakers and guests include: Sarah Schulman, Professor Lisa Downing, Robyn Pierce, Professor Laura Doan launching her new book and a special screening/panel from the BBC.
In the past the Conference has hosted Emma Donoghue, Jackie Kay, Joan Nestle, Cherry Smyth, Del La Grace Volcano,Sarah Waters and academics such as Sara Ahmed, Terry Castle, Laura Doan, Lillian Faderman, Sarah Franklin, Claire Hemmings, Alison Hennegan, HeatherLove, Sally R. Munt, Helena Whitbread, Bonnie Zimmerman among many others.
The social, cultural and artistic impact of this annual conference cannot be underestimated. It gathers together academics, activists, performers and writers who do not otherwise have the opportunity to address such large audiences or to network across international and professional boundaries.
It is a forum for political organisation on the levels of both community activism and established international NGOs. Many books (academic and literary) and films (documentaries and dramas) are launched at the event and it is continually referenced in lesbian work and events internationally.
The conference sets the parameters for debate in the manifold disciplines that now take ‘Lesbian’ or ‘Lesbian Communities’ as the object of enquiry or as a category for analysis.
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