Queer Collaborations 2005

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The annual conference, which is mainly attended by tertiary students, will be held on campus at the University of Western Australia from 4 to 8 July.

The event was first held in 1991 at the University of Technology in Sydney, but since then has travelled around various Australian universities.

The theme for this year’s conference will be {Queer}ying Gender. It will focus on ways that gender stereotypes and roles restrict or dictate how people act, dress, and who they should love.

QC spokesperson Belinda Cooper said this year’s conference would critically discuss and destabilise gender.

“We aim to address and include the often overlooked struggles of intersex and transgendered individuals as well as examine gender power relations within the GLBTIQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Transexual, Intersex and Queer) community,” she said.

“But most of all, we wish to celebrate all things queer and provide a safe and accepting forum for all.”

Ms Cooper said the conference would also focus on anti student-union legislation (Voluntary Student Unionism) given that its approval would have a disproportionate affect on queer spaces at university campuses.

She said student organisations would move to cope with the adverse impact of the legislation by rolling back the services they provide.

Conference highlights will include a queer ball, the release of Querelle, an annual publication of student writings on queer themes, themed dinners and a film night.

A one-off event entitled the National Day of Genderf*#K will also be held on May 18 in the lead-up to the conference.

“It is a day to be aware of the needs and concerns of transgender and intersex members of our community. It will be an opportunity to discuss socialised gender binary roles, to disrupt the ways that these rigid binaries limit our expression of gender, and explore the sheer diversity of gender that exist within society,” Ms Cooper said.

To attend the conference, download and send in the registration form available at www.qc05.com. Registration for the conference closes on June 2.