OTP 2021 Programme - Ancient House
Ancient House OUTing the Past
Friday 19 February 2021
10am to 5pm
Tickets here: https://norfolk-museums.arttickets.org.uk/ancient-house/2021-02-19-ancient-house-outing-the-past-conference
10am – Introduction to the Conference from Teenage History Club member, Bethan Rees.
10.10am - Introduction from Sue Saunders from LGBT History Month, Schools Out and OUTing the Past
10.20am - Ukrainian Lesbian History of the 90s and 2000s
Kateryna Semchuk
In Ukraine, modern lesbian* community, which is actually very fragmented, is separated from its history. It exists as if it has originated only 10 years ago when LGBT-activism has gained the first media success in Ukraine.
The main reason why this is happening is that Ukrainian modern lesbian history has not been preserved or recorded. In the 90s and 2000s lesbians* did not have the resources to do so: they had no print magazines, bars, institutions etc, nor had reasons to make public video or audio recordings because of homophobia. Thus, the entire history of the Ukrainian lesbian* movement from the period of the Soviet Union and the beginning of Ukraine's independence exists in private archives and oral retellings.
As a result Ukrainian lesbians* do not cultivate their history, accordingly do not share memory with the previous generation of lesbians, and feel very often lonely and without a background. Today there is a big gap between lesbians over forty and twenty years old.
The presentation is based on my research that includes a story about the ways and places that lesbians met, loved and lived. It is also a study of the Ukrainian lesbian internet space (a place where the modern Ukrainian community of non-heterosexual women is mostly active), lesbian activism, the importance of sports and leisure in the lesbian community etc. The study also shows the precarious state of lesbians in the 1990s, how gender discrimination and much worse financial situation than with men at the time have affected the problems of the lesbian community, and how its existence largely depended on the male gay community.
11am - Regard: 30 years of campaigning for equality by LGBTQI+ Disabled People
Dr Ju Gosling
As many as one in three LGBTQI+ people are Disabled, but their lives remain invisible in the work of mainstream organisations. Founded in 1989, Regard is the only national organisation run by the members for the members. Regard exists to represent Disabled people in the LGBTQI+ sector; lead on LGBTQI+ issues in the Disability sector; combat social isolation among its members; and campaign on issues that specifically impact on LGBTQI+ Disabled people, especially social care and hate crime.
12noon - Lunch break with an optional Virtual Queer History Tour of Ancient House by Ancient House Teenage History Club
Members of Teenage History Club will take you on a virtual tour of Ancient House Museum highlighting queer stories and objects in the museum collection, including the Tailor of Diss, Princess Catherine Duleep and Justin Fashanu.
1pm - Trans Lives in British History
Rico Jacob Chace
It begins to address the unhelpful belief that the Trans community is a new phase spurred on by social media. We have exist and always existed. As a Black Trans Man, it's unfortunate that history has not documented BAME or working class stories but raising awareness of the historic achievements of our community begins to build confidence for Trans people and understand from the CIS community.
2pm – J]BONA! A History of Polari
Ian Nipper
In the 1950s and 60s the 'gay language' Polari was used to express hidden desires. This coded way of speaking could allow LGBT people to speak freely, knowing that straight society wouldn't be able to understand what they were saying. It had its roots much further in the past, developing from words used by various marginalised groups throughout history.
3pm - Negotiating Queerness as a Commonwealth Immigrant
Ibtisam Ahmed
This talk explores the legacies of colonial history, which is often overlooked in the mainstream anyway, and highlights it from the perspective of being an immigrant.
My presentation is personal and political reflection on being a queer immigrant from a Commonwealth country living in the UK. I grew up closeted due to my sexuality being illegal in Bangladesh and it was only when I moved to the UK (as a student) that I could explore my queerness. Yet, this is the country that made me illegal in the first place in the colonial era. This presentation mixes historical information with my personal account of how complicated it is to come to terms with identity in the same space that made it dangerous in the first place, including navigating issues like xenophobia in racism in modern Britain.
4pm - Before the Act - the night the stars came out against Section 28
Bev Ayre
Before The Act was a seminal moment in LGBT history bringing together stars from the worlds of theatre and music with a group of Lesbian and Gay activists. The core group went on to produce a second benefit, a performance of the play Bent, at the Adelphi Theatre in 1989. The proceeds founded Stonewall – the organisation which lobbied for 15 years to repeal the law. The website and 3 podcasts are not an official history of Before The Act. They include the memories of some of the women involved and excerpts from the show itself – as gathered by Bev Ayre, stage manager for the show and in 2003 the Development Director at Stonewall just before Section 28 was finally repealed. www.beforetheactpodcast.com Before The Act was a seminal moment in LGBT history bringing together stars from the worlds
5pm - Yes, Asexuality Does Exist: A look at asexuality then and now
Bethan Rees
Asexuality is often overlooked in LGBT+ history. This presentation would look at asexual history through time, tell the story of William Pitt The Younger (through an asexual and homoromantic lens), and talk about my experiences as an asexual/aromantic person today.
Concluding Remarks and Farewell from Nanc Roberts, member of Teenage History Club
All presentations will be recorded and released after the event online.
Free places can be booked here: https://norfolk-museums.arttickets.org.uk/ancient-house/2021-02-19-ancient-house-outing-the-past-conference
Any questions please email: ancienthouse@norfolk.gov.uk