LGB Alliance Conference 2024

The LGB Alliance Annual Conference will be the biggest national gathering of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals of the year and is not to be missed.

This year we will be looking at the challenges LGB people face at every stage of our lives – from youth to old age – and considering our rich history, our current struggle and asking what the future holds.

Join us on Friday 11 October at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London for a packed day of stimulating panels, guest speakers, Q&As, stalls, music and entertainment, the chance to sign up with your local Friends’ Group, to meet the people making headlines and to soak up the unique warmth, camaraderie and sheer energy of an LGB Alliance event.

At the end of the day we’ll throw open the bar and really get the party started with the very gay LGB Alliance disco!

Plan your day

8.30 DOORS OPEN
Grab a tea or a coffee and browse a fantastic array of stalls.

9.30 WELCOME from our CEO, Kate Barker

9.45 YOUNG LESBIANS FIGHT BACK

Alison Ellis, Jenny Watson, Nicole Jones

Alison, Jenny and Nicole discuss the plight of young lesbians, the impact of social media, and consider how lesbian spaces, culture and autonomy can be reclaimed.

10.30 GENERATION GAY

Chair: Dermot Kehoe

Frederick Schminke, Hassan Mamdani, Richard Kirker, Richard Merrin

Men were prosecuted in the 1960s for their homosexuality. Today there is a new threat to men who state their, exclusively, same-sex attraction. Our cross-generational panel ask, will it ever be OK to be gay?

11.20 BREAK

11.50 SOUNDING THE ALARM

Chair: Eileen Gallagher, OBE

Julie Bindel, Cath Leng, Ben Appel, Simon Edge

Our panel discusses courage, conviction and curiosity in the media and explore how the most consequential stories of our era have been covered – or covered up.

12.45 HUNGRY HEARTS

Tonje and Edith of Hungry Hearts perform us into lunch including their Eurovision entry for Norway, Laika.

1.00 LUNCH WITH FRIENDS

Friends’ Groups from right across the UK are travelling to Conference to give you the chance to connect, in person, with your local group. Find your tribe, and your vibe, and make new friends for life.

2.00 OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER – JAMES DREYFUS

We are thrilled that the talented and much-loved actor, James Dreyfus, will be addressing Conference

2.15 SEX, LIES AND VICTORIES

Chair: Bev Jackson

Anya Palmer, Michael Foran, Lizzy Pitt, Akua Reindorf

Our panel provide expert analysis of the court cases that shape our movement. They are the people who are making history.

3.15 BREAK

3.45 JAMIE REED IN CONVERSATION WITH KATE HARRIS

Jamie Reed made headlines when, appalled by the medical treatment of minors at a US gender clinic, she decided to blow the whistle on their unethical practices. Hear how her intervention led to law changes that protect children in a number of States.

4.15 GAY QUESTION TIME

Chair: Rhona Hotchkiss

Jan Baxter, Faika El-Nagashi, Charlotte Kenyon,

Our panel of LGB cross-party politicians, trades’ unionists, councillors and Peers will answer questions from the audience about how we can work more closely with our elected representatives to effect meaningful change.

5.15 WE MEAN BUSINESS

Toby Hopkins and Dan Smith

Toby and Dan launch an exciting new LGB Alliance initiative that’s set to tackle the capture of our workplaces and provide better representation and create better working conditions for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals.

5.30 CLOSING, KATE BARKER

5.45 BARS OPEN AND THE PARTY BEGINS!

6.30 GRASS ROOTS ACTIVIST AWARD

We will reveal which activist you voted the unsung hero of 2024.

7.00 THE BIG GAY DISCO