Register on Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1207486096419?aff=oddtdtcreator . Once registered, you will receive a calendar invite with joining details.
Purpose: The purpose of the session is to shine the light on sexual, romantic and gender identities that are not often well understood, even in the queer community, to educate, inspire and even provoke attendees to action.
Summary: Please join us for our inaugural 2025 quarterly keynote session, which will focus on exploring and understanding lesser-known queer identities, such as aromantic, asexual and agender which are all encompassed within the ‘A’ of LGBTQAI+ acronym. The event will feature keynote speakers Sarah Cosgriff (she/they) and Kate Holmes (add pronouns), who will share insights from their expertise and lived experiences. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of these identities and the concept of individual identity as a spectrum rather than a fixed box. The session aims to encourage reflection on personal experiences and promote active inclusivity. This event is planned to coincide with Aromatic Spectrum Awareness Week, and to acknowledge similar events late in the year, Agender Pride Day on 19 May and Asexual Awareness Week, 20-26 October.
About our speakers:
Sarah Cosgriff (she/they) is an award-winning freelance science communicator, a specialist in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and an asexual activist. They are particularly passionate about LGBTQ+ inclusion, in particular within STEM subjects and sectors. After coming out asexual, Sarah realised there was a lack of visibility of asexual people in general and within STEM sectors. Because of this, they started doing advocacy and activism work, including co-founding Aces in STEM. In 2022, their work in EDI was recognised through being shortlisted for the National Diversity Awards for the Positive Role Model Award for LGBT category. Read more about Sarah here: https://www.sarahcosgriff.com
Katherine Holmes (they/she) is finalising PhD studies at Imperial College London, specialising in quantum dynamics. They identify as asexual (ace), aromantic (aro) and genderfluid/agender. Katherine is a budding science communicator aiming to overcome the stigma that mathematics, especially quantum mechanics, is too complicated for those without science backgrounds. LGBTQ+/Aspec advocacy is at the heart of most of Katherine's public speaking and activism, having worked with Imperial College London, the Story Collider, Aces in STEM and Pride in STEM. Read more about Katherine here: https://katherineholmespublic.wordpress.com/
Expected outcomes:
The session will educate, building awareness and understanding of the aromantic, asexual and agender identities.
The session is meant to inspire which often happens when we use others’ experiences to reflect on our own.
The session will encourage us all to do more to support and advocate for those with these queer identities at work and in life.
Who should attend: This event is open to anyone globally. Come along if you want to broaden your understanding and advocacy of the LGBTQIA+ community specifically focusing on those who identify as agender, asexual and agender.