Queer Intersections Oxford and Intersectional Humanities
Thursday 15 May 2025, 4.30pm - 6pm
Seminar Room, Radcliffe Humanities Building
All welcome
In 2011, Sara Ahmed described the ‘problematic proximities’ that underpin Islamophobia and racism in queer culture. Drawing on a long tradition of queer of colour critique, she reminded us of the ways in which visions of sexual freedom are mobilised to justify state racism. Today, in the wake of the genocidal war on Gaza, and the repression of pro-Palestine activism on campuses here in the UK, revisiting this analysis of the politics of censorship, whiteness, and institutional racism feels urgent: as Ahmed put it, “If critiques of racism are not working, are not getting through, then it is indeed time to repeat the critique”. Join our panel of speakers to discuss the problematic proximities of queer studies today.
Refreshments provided.
Speakers:
Abeera Khan is a writer and educator whose knowledge production and pedagogy is concerned with the interrelatedness between empire, gender, race and sexuality. Her work provides critical interventions in queer of color critique, particularly regarding the category of “queer Muslim.”
Shreeta Lakhani is a Lecturer in Gender Studies at SOAS. Her work interrogates the increased commercialisation of queer subcultures and asks whether this threatens their capacity to radically resist homonormativity in the UK.
Alexander Stoffel is a Lecturer in International Politics at Queen Mary University of London. His research takes up critical questions regarding the intersections of sexuality, race, and desire within capitalist expansion. Alex is an editor of the journal Historical Materialism, where he co-convenes the Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Struggles Stream.
Accessibility information
This event will be held in person, in the Seminar Room on the 3rd floor of the Radcliffe Humanities building. There is level access into and around the building. Please note that unfortunately, the lift is out of order until further notice. The secure entrance door is powered. There are accessible toilets on all floors of the building. There are designated Blue Badge parking spaces next to the entrance; please contact TORCH in advance to book a space. There are induction loops on the reception desk and in the seminar and lecture rooms.
Queer Intersections Oxford, Intersectional Humanities, TORCH Networks, Research Hubs
