Recent disturbing events in the US and UK has caused uproar, anger and sadness within our community and beyond, raising questions that need to be answered and views that need to be expressed no matter how uncomfortable they may make us or others feel.
We need to be more vocal about racism, be actively anti-racist and speak out!
On Monday 15th June at 8pm, LEZevents is hosting an intimate discussion and Q&A regarding racism in the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. How do we challenge common racist social discourses? What can we do to help? How can we work together to ensure the world starts realising that Black lives truly matter - yesterday, now and forever?
Sharing their own personal experiences and voicing their views about the movement are the following inspirational speakers from the QPOC community;
Rico Jacob Chase (he/him)
We welcome back Rico Jacob Chace to his second Lez Talk Panel. As a Black Trans Man born and raised in South London, political activism has always been on the agenda. Day to day he runs his own videography business but in his spare time, he is an activist, writer and artist.
Rico provided live updates at the London Black Lives Matter protests along with revealing some of the white-washed black history. Also for Rainbow Films, he volunteered to create documentaries on racism and queer rights, as a spokesperson and part of the film crew. The last documentary, ‘Pride & Protest’ won ‘Official Selection 2020’ at the BFI Flare film festival. He has also spoken on NHS King Cross Hospital panels for LGBTQI+ healthcare and on a similar subject at the Mayor of London’s round table think tanks. Rico is a board member at Mediorite to provide funding for the local youth film initiatives in the Hackney area. An active supporter of queer businesses across London, Rico has on numerous occasions created free promotional material for advertising. Rico's ‘Exploration of Light’ exhibition is an artistic exploration of his light sensitivity as a result of PTSD due to transphobic experiences in the corporate workplace. As a newly appointed writer at Gay Star News, he continues to speak out about his own homophobic experiences and mental health recovery journey for the betterment of both the black and trans communities.
Aisha Weise-Forbes (she/her)
Aisha is the co-founder of one of the UK’s newest dating apps, Passion Fruut. Passion Fruut is a speed-dating app exclusively for lesbian, bisexual and queer womxn and non-binary people in the UK. Inspired by her own life experiences as a bisexual woman growing up on the outskirts of London, Aisha wanted create a safe and accessible platform for queer womxn and non-binary people to find community... and maybe even love! When Aisha isn’t working on the app, she enjoys Dharma yoga, collecting crystals and Netflix binge sessions with some strawberry laces and cookie dough ice-cream!
Aisha will be sharing her own personal experiences as a black woman in London and some of the obstacles she faced starting her own business, as well as her reasons for fervently endorsing black and ethnic minority entrepreneurship.
Aisha Shaibu (she/her)
Aisha is the founder of 'Moonlight Experiences' - an LGBTQ+ nightlife travel company known for its fun-filled and friendship-forming queer social events. She is also an LGBTQ+ advocate who actively champions integration, diversity & equality. Aisha is also a renowned event organiser and team member for UK Black Pride and the London Queer Fashion Show.
Aisha will be flexible answering most questions on the night but is especially keen on sharing her experiences as a black queer woman in the community and beyond, including her own personally take on the current 'Black Lives Matter' movement.
Josh Lee (he/him)
Grown up in and out of London, Josh was born to a black father (Guyanese and Bajan) and white mother (English and Irish), and is the oldest of six siblings.
Growing up Josh had an idea he might by gay, but the reality of that was a whole different experience. Scared and confused as a QPOC in a discriminatory society, he didn’t really have anyone to confide in and turned to music to ease the pain. Over time Josh explored his sexuality and became happy with the reality that he was a gay man, and since made become a regular on London's LGBTQ+ nightlife scene.
Josh regularly discusses current issues within the LGBTQ+ community with friends, and has recently become a member of the Lez events family where by he has made new connections and regularly joins the live chats. Going forward, Josh would like to continue to help young males in the LGBTQ+ and QPOC community who may be struggling with coming to terms with their sexuality.
Zina Monteiro (she/her)
Zina is a community organiser, writer, activist & poet. Her inspirational work focuses on creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ and POC groups within society. She challenges the status quo through her writing and activism.
Always willing to actively provide solutions for a society riddled with racist behaviour, Zina would like to share her own experiences on the night and discuss ways in which we can support our black friends.
She will also offer valuable advice on how we can actively start anti-racism conversations in our personal life
As well as the opportunity to ask our panelists questions, attendees will also be invited to share their own thoughts and views.
Krystal Lake (she/her)
Born in Staten Island and raised in Brooklyn. Krystal is one of our favourite DJs (and your girlfriend's favourite DJ). Also a talented film maker, Krystal recently released her latest short film Never Great. This mesmerising true story reveals Krystal's life changing experience becoming a media sensation and target of the KKK and other racist hate trolls in America after wearing a bravely defiant cap to her racist workplace one day emblazoned with the words "America was never great."
Krystal is a black, queer, creative that is set out to inspire and lift her crowd, whether that is through film or music. Also known for posting belly-clenchingly funny videos on her Instagram page, Krystal is a favourite face on the LGBTQ+ nightlife scene in London and actively speaks out on racist and queerphobic narratives, recently taking part in a BBC news documentary on racism in London's queer community.
Akeil Onwuke-Adamson (he/him)
Akeil is a writer and creative and works in PR for a world-famous sportswear brand. He is the founder of Queer Bruk - an inclusive social platform and diversity-promoting London club night that aims to bring Afro-Caribbean music to the queer nightlife scene.
Known for regularly speaking out about diversity issues in the LGBTQ+ community and society, Akeil will be discussing his views on diversity in London nightlife and sharing his own personal experiences as a QPOC in a society and queer community steeped in discriminatory attitudes.
Tickets are free although limited so please purchase these now. A zoom link with instructions will be emailed to you one hour before the event.
We look forward to welcoming you with love, unity and respect.