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Public Lecture: Pinkwashing, Gender and Sexuality

When: —
Venue: Birkbeck Central

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Join us for a public lecture on the historical and contemporary counterpoints of pinkwashing, jointly organised by the Birkbeck Institute of Gender and Sexuality and Makan, whose transformative education strengthens the movement for Palestinian liberation. The lecture will contextualise pinkwashing as a conflation of queerness and nationalist ideology, or the "queer branding" of racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia. Makan will draw on archival materials and anti-colonial strands of gender theory, attending to topics such as white savourism, colonial masculinities, gay assimilation and queer resistance. Birkbeck postgraduate researchers have the opportunity to remain for an afternoon workshop with Makan on anti-colonial research skills, collaborating to develop interdisciplinary theoretical knowledge and methods for analysing, evaluating, and resisting pinkwashing.

For PGRs wishing to attend the pinkwashing research skills afternoon from 12-4pm on 13th June, please additionally sign up here. Places for the afternoon are on a first-come, first-served basis. A complimentary lunch and tea/coffee will be provided.

The Birkbeck pinkwashing programme of June 2025 is funded by Birkbeck Graduate Research School and Birkbeck Institute of Gender and Sexuality. Activities include a public lecture, research skills masterclass, and a screening of eight short films collectively curated by 'Queer Cinema for Palestine 2025 - No Pride in Genocide'. This public lecture will include a Powerpoint presentation with interactive discussion points. If you have access requirements, please contact Penn Newell (Lecturer in Creative & Critical Writing, Faculty of Humanities) on p.newell@bbk.ac.uk. 

Contact name: Tanya Serisier

Speakers
  • Dr Penn Newell —

    Penn Newell (they/them) is a queer writer, researcher and Lecturer in Creative & Critical Writing at Birkbeck, University of London. Some of their writing can be found here.

  • Sarona Bedwan —

    Sarona Bedwan is a writer and Outreach & Programmes Manager at Makan, a Palestinian led educational organisation.

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