Wolfenden Lecture debuts Thursday 4 May
Monday, 24 April 2017
An exciting new lecture series on LGBT history and culture will make its University debut next week.
The inaugural Wolfenden Lecture will be held on Thursday 4 May in the Van Emden Lecture Theatre, Edith Morley (formerly the HumSS building), Whiteknights campus.
Each annual lecture will be delivered by high profile members of the UK’s LGBT community. We are delighted to welcome Ruth Hunt, Chief Executive of Stonewall as the host of the inaugural lecture – in 2015, Ruth was voted the third most influential LGBT person in Britain in The Independent’s Rainbow List and continues to be an inspirational figure today.
The theme of the inaugural lecture will be 'LGBT Equality: Past, Present and Future'. Doors will open from 6.30 pm.
The series is named in honour of the seminal Wolfenden Report which, when published in 1957, recommended that, ‘… homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private should no longer be a criminal offence.’ The committee behind the report was chaired by Lord Wolfenden, the University’s Vice-Chancellor between 1950 and 1964.
The lecture also falls on the 60th anniversary of the Wolfenden report – we are delighted to celebrate this extraordinary part of our heritage with this special event to reflect on progress, and inspire future generations of the LGBT+ community and their allies to achieve great things.
Admission is free, but booking is required to reserve a place – please visit the lecture event listing to book your place. Additional details can also be found on the lecture poster.
Before and after Wolfenden: LGBTQ+ history and Reading, 4.00 pm, G15, Henley Business School
To mark the Report's 60th anniversary, academic researchers from the University of Reading and Support U will discuss defining moments in LGBT+ history and its connection with Reading.
As part of the afternoon programme, the seminar will be followed by a wine reception. Spaces are limited for the seminar, and booking is essential. To book a place, please visit the events page or call 0118 378 6718.