Programme

8:30 – Doors open / Registration / Tea & Coffee

 

9:30 – Session 1

Cards on the Table: Welcome and Introductions

A chance to talk with other attendees on your table about what brings you to the conference and your concerns on the issues.

 

10:15 – Session 2

The Path Back: Understanding Gay Male Detransition

Jo Bartosch will be chairing this panel discussion with gay male detransitioners, exploring the particular experiences, pressures, and questions faced by this group.

 

11:00 – Coffee Break

 

11:30 – Session 3

The State of the Movement: Where We Stand, Where We’re Headed

Speakers: Ronan McCrea, Pierre d’Alancaisez, Matt Beard.

A wide-angle conversation assessing the current condition of the gay rights movement and the possible paths ahead.

 

12:15 – Session 4

Project Workshops: Building the Next Steps Together

Join one of six themed group discussions to explore ideas, shape plans, and develop practical next steps.

• Male or Fail  (research projects)
  • Our main research project will be looking at whether or not services, venues, groups, organisations, apps, etc that purport to be for gay men actually mean gay males? How will this work? What else needs to be research?

• Bookmarks & Beermats  (campaigning ideas)
  • What are the campaigning activities we could undertake? This might be practical things, stunts, letter writing, actions to take at work, stickering, flyering, stands in the street, attending other events etc.

• Positions & Politics  (policy team)
  • How do we engage on the political and policy front? What are the key legislative agendas we need to respond to or engage with? What legal or policy issues are coming up we need to be prepared for?

• Memory & Meaning  (gay history project)
  • Are we actively correcting the myths about gay history
  • Are we preserving an accurate account of gay history?
  • What kind of projects could we conduct relating to gay history?

• Neighbourhoods & Networks  (developing local chapters)
  • How do we want our formal structures to function when it comes to being local / grassroots? What does local engagement look like, both with events, WhatsApp, other things? How do we reach more gay men locally / regionally?

• City & Schedule  (developing London events)
  • Similar to the Neighbourhoods and Networks group but specifically looking at how we develop our events in London.

 

13:00 – Lunch

 

14:00 – Session 5

The Young & the Candid: Life Now for Young Gay Men

A panel of gay men under 30 discuss their experiences, challenges, and perspectives in the current cultural and political landscape.

 

14:45 – Session 6

Aging in the Gay Male Community: Needs, Realities, Futures

A discussion in table groups about the issues facing older gay men and the ways we can collectively support healthy, connected aging.

 

15:30 – Coffee Break

 

16:00 – Session 7

Reporting the Battles Lines: Content Creators and “Culture Wars”

Speakers: Mr Menno, Jack Jewell, Josh Howie

A panel discussion on how various forms of media have covered the gender identity “debate”, the pitfalls and opportunities in public discourse, and where we go next.

 

16:45 – Session 8

Legal Landmarks: What Recent Rulings Mean

Speakers: Michael Foran, Aidan O’Neill, Peter Daly.

A review of the significant legal cases and rulings relating to gender identity / sex realism from the past year, exploring their implications for gay men, and assessing where this positions us for future campaigning.

 

17:30 – Close / Drinks Reception

 

18:30 – Post Conference Social