This LGBTQ+ History Month, The Common Press is hosting a free evening of Pride and Protest on 5th February, from 7 PM - 9 PM, at VFD Dalston / Outsiders Gallery.
Join us to explore stories of pride, resilience, and revolution as we bring together brilliant queer authors and activists for thought-provoking discussions on the movements that have shaped our pride and history of resistance.
We are excited to feature some of the talented authors stocked at The Common Press. The session will be hosted by Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir (Director at The Common Press).
'Queer' not as being about who you're having sex with (that can be a dimension of it); but 'queer' as being about the self that is at odds with everything around it and that has to invent and create and find a place to speak and to thrive and to live.”― bell hooks
- Doors open at 7 pm
- Discussion from 7:20 pm - 8 pm
- Book signings and social until 9 pm
Thank you to Hackney Pride 365 for supporting this event.
About Sabah Choudrey (Author)
Reluctant activist on most things trans, brown and hairy. Sabah co-founded Trans Pride Brighton in 2013 and made The Rainbow List in 2015, celebrating 101 of the most influential LGBT people in Britain. Sabah has built a presence across UK and Europe, speaking at TEDx Brixton, ILGA Europe, IDAHOT Brussels, Malmö Pride about intersectionality, identity and inclusion. A proud trans youth worker for 10 years, currently Senior Youth Work Practitioner at Gendered Intelligence and Director of Colours Youth Network supporting LGBTQ POC young people in UK and Director for Middlesex Pride. They are a trustee for Inclusive Mosque Initiative. Sabah is an experienced Psychotherapist and Artist Wellbeing and Care Practitioner supporting LGBTQ theatre and has experience with Milk Presents and Krishna Istha.
Sabah is the winner of the Gay Times Future Fighters Honour and the National Advisor for LGBT Health Award. Based in West London, their passions also include fostering cats and talking to houseplants. Their book 'Supporting Trans People of Colour: How To Make Your Practice Inclusive' is out now.
About Mijke van der Drift (Author)
Mijke van der Drift works on transfeminist and anti-imperial ethics through philosophies of movement, collective action, and counter-cultural production. This work takes the form of writings, performances, and sound pieces, often by way of
inter-disciplinary collaborations. Mijke is Tutor (Research) at the Royal College of Art, London and co-chair of its
Union branch. Mijke is founding member of the arts collective Red Forest. Community organising is a fundamental part of Mijke’s life. Together with Nat Raha, Mijke co-authored Trans Femme Futures (Pluto 2024). They published in Social Text with Cambridge University Press and co-edited the Radical Transfeminism Zine.
About Will Nutland (Speaker)
Will Nutland (he/him) is a health and social justice activist, researcher, and health promoter. He's the co-founder of PrEPster, and its non-profit muthership, The Love Tank CIC. Will has been involved in queer and HIV activism for over thirty, being an alumni of the UK’s Act Up chapters from the early 90s. He’s a researcher, lecturer and mentor in public health.
About Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir (Host)
Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir is a social entrepreneur and LGBTQ+ activist, recognized as one of the "Top 100 LGBTQ+ Trailblazers" changing the world. She one of the Directors at The Common Press and also the founder of Moonlight Experiences, an LGBTQ+ award-winning travel and nightlife company. Her activism and community contributions extend to her role as Head of Community Engagement for UK Black Pride and as a Trustee for GiveOut.
- Venue Access : This event is taking place at VFD's Outside Gallery, which is on the ground floor and fully wheelchair accessible.
- Address: 64 Stoke Newington Rd, London N16 7XB