Requeering History

During the expert session, Joseph Kearney engages the audience through interactive exercises using the Mentimeter app, and a Q&A segment. These activities facilitate open dialogue, promote inclusivity, and encourage thoughtful communication for creating a more welcoming environment for all individuals.

• Recognizing Historical Bias: The session underscores how historical narratives have often been shaped by bias, leading to the marginalization or erasure of certain groups. Understanding this bias is essential for advancing D&I efforts today.

• The Importance of Representation: Joseph highlights the critical role that reclaiming and showcasing the stories of underrepresented groups plays in fostering a more inclusive, equitable society.

• Reframing Public Memory: The session demonstrates how popular culture, such as media and historical fiction, can be a tool for reshaping collective memory and creating more inclusive narratives that reflect the diversity of human experiences.

In this eye-opening session, Joseph Kearney explores the untold stories that history left behind. From forgotten women in medieval Europe to the erasure of LGBTQ+ identities and the absence of people of colour in mainstream narratives, he uncovers the impact of bias in how history is recorded and remembered. Through case studies like Femina by Janina Ramirez, queer resistance during WWII, and the legacy of artists like Geoffrey Van Der Ween, Joseph spotlights the power of reclaiming marginalized voices. He also examines how popular culture - from Bridgerton to historical fiction - is reshaping public memory. Whose stories have been lost, and how can we ensure they’re no longer left out?

The Origins of Queer Culture

In this leqture we will explore the origins of queer culture as a concept and a label. We also explore the evolution of language in the most up to date conversations around identity, homophobia and the power of language to hurt and to heal. We can not remedy the situation entirely but you will be equipped with some tools to help you discuss hate speech, ignorance and homophobia with more care and precision. While the material is indeed serious, the session is actually refreshingly engaging and has the appropriate balance of humor, kindness and integrity needed to unpack the perils and traumas often lived by queer people and linked to homophobic experiences.

• It's important to look back to history through different lenses and understand it's never objective.
• I learned so many things! Amazing session.
• As a queer person myself I knew about some of the events and people talked about but it's been great to see more stories that I didn't know about!
• It was really respectful and full of food for thought.
• It was eye-opening and so informative!
• I liked his presentation style and the way he was able to bring the audience into the conversation even though it is a webinar!
• I enjoyed Everything! The content AND the speaker, way to go!