The Common Press is hosting a discussion on Pride and Protest on Friday, 14th June, from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM. Pride is, and will always be, a protest. Join queer authors and activists for insightful discussions on resistance and pride movements. We are excited to feature talented authors Sabah Choudrey and Jake Hall, alongside other activists, with Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir as the host.
SPACE AVAILABLE ON THE DOOR
'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
About Sabah Choudrey
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 Jake Hall
Jake Hall is a freelance journalist, public speaker and author of Shoulder To Shoulder and The Art of Drag, published by Nobrow Press in September 2020. For the last six years they have been writing extensively on queer culture, drag history, sex work and harm reduction, all through the lens of leftist politics. They have also worked in-house for publications including The Independent and MEL Magazine, an LA-based online culture magazine which delves deep into masculinity, sex and porn through a witty, light-hearted lens.
When not chained to a laptop, Jake can be found partying topless in drag clubs, curating events as part of a training scheme with Sheffield venue DINA, weightlifting and watching way, way too many hours of pro wrestling.
About Stav B
Stav B (she/ her/ dyke) is an interdisciplinary visual artist and PhD researcher, activist (ACT UP London/ Dyke March), pop up bar and vegan bakery owner, DJ and a long-term art and club night founder, curator and producer (Colour parties, The Platform, queen Bees, DAD, The T club, The Women only Club and the more recent No11). A long collaborator and supporter of the dyke scene and all within the LGBTIQA umbrella, Stav creates and collaborates, invents and constructs, trying to fill the gaps of our community plagued by gentrification, bigotry and/ or political interest and corporation. Inherently radical and anti-authority, putting the Dyke March together, will aim to highlight the urgency of bringing the (dyke) community together with visibility and representation.
About Host
Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir is a social entrepreneur and LGBTQ+ activist, recognized as one of the "Top 100 LGBTQ+ Trailblazers" changing the world. She is the founder of Moonlight Experiences, an award-winning travel and nightlife company dedicated to the celebration of diverse queer culture and the decolonization of travel. Aisha is also one of the managers at The Common Press. Her activism and community contributions extend to her role as Head of Community Engagement for UK Black Pride and as a Trustee for GiveOut.
NOTE: This event is taking place in the bookshop which is wheelchair accessible.