Unapologetically fabulous: fighting to thrive during a global crisis
– Sen Raj on LGBTIQ activism from Stonewall riots to Black Lives Matter
Join us online for the free live streamed Amnesty International Belfast Pride Lecture 2020.
From a global pandemic to state violence, recent events have further exposed what many of us intimately knew: racism, sexism, transphobia, and homophobia inhibit the survival of marginalised people. But, these events have also drawn attention to the fabulous ways in which Black, Indigenous, and people of colour in LGBTIQ+ communities are unapologetically fighting against political persecution, social stigma, and domestic violence.
Current grassroots organising to end police brutality, dismantle white supremacy, and challenge moral persecution echo the legacies of the Black trans women and lesbian pioneers of Stonewall. This organising isn’t just about surviving in times of crisis nor politely waiting for the world to change. It’s about taking up space to create a future where we can all thrive with safety, freedom, justice, and community.
Dr Senthorun Raj is a Lecturer in Law at Keele University and Amnesty UK Board member. His book, Feeling Queer Jurisprudence (Routledge, 2020), explores how emotions shape social and legal claims for LGBT rights.
Dr William Crawley is a BBC broadcaster and host of the Radio Ulster Talkback programme.
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