International Women's Day 2021: The role of women in AIDS and LGBTQ+ Activism
Channel: Staff Pride Network
Date: 28/03/2021

Hidden heroines: join us as we learn from some truly notable women about their role in HIV and LGBTQ+ Activism

The success of the recent Channel 4 series 'It's a Sin' has shone a light on those affected by the AIDS crisis in the 80s and 90s.  The character of Jill has inspired conversations about the role of women at this time, often as supporters, carers and campaigners for justice. 

The theme of International Women's Day 2021 is #ChooseToChallenge, fitting when reflecting on the contributions made by women towards HIV and AIDS justice and LGBTQ+ rights. Join us to hear stories and learn more!

Panel members (including the briefest snapshot of their bios, we'll learn more at the event):
Lisa Power, co-founder of Pink Paper and Stonewall. She was the first openly LGBT+ person to speak about gay rights at the UN, spent 17 years with the Terrence Higgins Trust after 14 years with the Lesbian and Gay switchboard. She is now chairperson of the HIV Justice Network and trustee of the planned Queer Britain Museum.

Juno Roche is a writer and campaigner whose work around class, gender, sexuality and trans lives has been funded by the likes of The Paul Hamlyn Foundation and described as 'provocative and innovative'. Author of "Queer Sex", "Trans Power" and "Gender Explorers".

Katie Deverell, Cultural Partnerships Manager at Chelmsford City Council. Worked in HIV/AIDS from 1988-1997. She was part of the buddy team at The Terrence Higgins Trust, the evaluation fieldworker for MESMAC and Senior Research Officer at The HIV Project. Author of ‘ Sex, Work and Professionalism working in HIV/AIDS’.

Ceri Hutton, the first bisexual woman on Stonewall board (in 1991) she worked in HIV/AIDS from 1988-1998 including as a researcher in the AIDs Policy Unit, Head of Policy and PR at the National AIDS Trust and director of Immunity Legal Centre.

Winnie Ssanyu Sseruma, International Development Consultant working on universal access to healthcare focusing on Black communities in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa. She has over 2-decades experience working in the field of HIV & AIDS as a treatment activist.

Val Harvey was an HIV Clinical Nurse Specialist in London during the late 80s and through the 90s working in the community visiting patients in their own homes. She was a volunteer counsellor for the Terrence Higgins Trust during the 90s and as the London Lighthouse moved from a hospice to an education centre, she devised and delivered a Personal Development course for people with AIDS from 2000- 2003.

You can get more info or contact the Staff Pride Network via:
email staffpridenetwork@ed.ac.uk
Twitter https://twitter.com/UoEStaffPride
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/UoEStaffPride
Blog https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/staffpridenetwork
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFvQKwxljF1tsplVxncbSlQ