Conference Postponement

Emerging Sexualities in the English Speaking Caribbean and Diaspora

University of Warwick 21-22 October

Dear Contributor,

It is with great regret that I have to inform you that the Emerging Sexualities Conference scheduled for the 20 and 21 October has been postponed.

A combination of factors including a poor delegate response has led us to decide that a subject matter of such importance will not be adequately served by a poor turn out. We are therefore exploring an alternative venue and date in London for 2012.

We sincerely apologies for the inconvenience this decision may cause you and do hope that you will be willing to participate once more at a later date.

With great regret,

Robert Beckford

Perry Stanislass

Emerging Sexualities and Race: Responses to Sexuality in Jamaica
and the English Speaking Caribbean and Caribbean Diaspora

 An Interdisciplinary Conference organised by
Department of Community and Criminal Justice, De Montfort University (Leicester) and the Department of Sociology, Warwick University

21-22 October 2011, The Scarman Conference Centre,
Warwick University , Coventry CV4 7AL

Friday 21 October

09.15-09.45 Registration, Refreshments and Networking

09.45-10.00 Opening Remarks and Scene Setting, Dr Perry Stanislas, De Montfort University (Leicester)

10.00-10.30 Executive Director of J-FLAG (Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays), Kingston , Jamaica

‘Jamaican Homophobia’ (J-FLAG’s First International Address)

Plus Questions

Chair: TBA

10.35-10.40 Poetry: Dorothea Smart

10.40-10.55 Break and Networking

11.00-11.50 Workshop Sessions

12.00-12.45 Lunch and Networking

12.50-13.30 Dr. Wesley Critchlow Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Canada

‘Buller Men’: Homophobia in Trinidad and Tobago

Plus Questions

13.35-13.40 Poetry: Dorothea Smartt

13.40-14.35 Workshops

14.35-14.55 Break and Networking

15.00-16.30 Film Premier Black Comedy on Sexuality "Stud Life" 

Written by Campbell X and Directed by Stella Nwimo. The film will be followed by a discussion led by the writer and director.

19.00-21.00 Dinner

Saturday 22 October 

09.30-10.00 Registration, Refreshments and Networking

10 00-11.00 Professor Camille Nelson, Dean, Suffolk University Law School , Boston, USA
‘Sexuality without Borders: Exploring the Paradoxical Connection between Dancehall and Colonial Law in Jamaica’

Cecil Gutzmore (Formerly University of the West Indies)

‘Developing A Progressive International Anti-Homophobia Agenda’

Chair: TBA

Plus Questions

11.00-11.30 Break 

11.30 -12.30 Panel Discussion: Popular Culture: Jamaican Dancehall Music and The Campaign Against Homophobia

J-FLAG Executive Director, Peter Tatchell, (The Peter Tatchell Foundation), Professor Camille Nelson, Dennis L. Carney (Stop the Murder Music Campaign), Dr Denise Noble Ohio University

Chair: Cecil Gutzmore

Plus Questions

12.35-12.40 Poetry: Dorothea Smart

12.40-13.20 Lunch and Networking

13.20-14.00 Dennis L. Carney: ‘Engaging Black Gay Men in Britain Issues and Challenges’

Chair: TBA

Plus Questions

14.05-15.05 Workshops

15.10-15.30 Break and Networking  

15.30-16.30 Plenary Panel

16.30-16.45 Closing remarks and conference end

These are some of the workshops themes which will be discussed over the two days.

• Caribbean Literature and Sexuality
• Historical Attitudes to Female Sexuality
• Postcolonial Theory and Sexuality
• Theology and Sexuality
• Homophobia and Public Health
• The Jamaican Press and Homophobia

Workshops Confirmed to Date

Theology and Sexuality: ‘Sodomy and Its Erroneous Interpretation in African and Caribbean Christian Religious Discourse in the Promotion of Homophobia’. Dr Robert Beckford, Department of Sociology, Warwick University

Caribbean Literature and Sexuality: ‘Same-Sex Desire in Post‑war Literature of the Anglophone Caribbean’. Dr Karen Houlden, English Department Queen Mary’s College, University of London

Historical Attitudes Towards Sexuality: ‘Me shame you know’: The ideal and real of young, lower-class black women’s sexuality in post- emancipation Jamaica’. Dr Henrice Altink, Senior Lecturer in Modern History, Department of History, University of York

Popular Culture: ‘Vybz Kartel - Metro-sexual style or Hardcore Masculinity? Patrick Helber PhD student, Heidelberg University Germany

Celebrating Difference: ‘Homoeroticism and Popular Black Youth Culture’. Dr Tony Sewell, Director of Generating Genius Project

Postcolonial Theory: ‘Decolonizing, De-westernizing or Neo‑liberalizing Freedom: The Racial Erotics of and Postcolonial Poetics of Jamaican Dancehall’. Denise Nobles, Associate Professor African-American and African Studies, Ohio State University

Public Health: ‘How Current Legislation Harms the Health and Wellbeing of Sexual Minorities in Jamaica’. Thais Creary, Postgraduate Student, Psychology and Critical Care, Southbank University , London

Special Public Health Seminar: ‘The Fight against HIV/Aids in the Dominican Republic and the Spanish Speaking Caribbean’. Mariojosé Angeles, Principal Investigator Foundation Solar Government, Scientific Assistance Program, Santo Domingo , Dominican Republic

Politics and Sexuality: ‘Gay Imperialism: The Problems of Western LGBT Movement and its Jamaican Adventure’. Presenter James McBean, PhD Student, Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health , University of Maryland , USA

Media and Homophobia: ‘Print-Mediated (Homo) Sexual Politics in Postcolonial Jamaica’. Dr Javed Jaghai, Dartmouth College , USA

Due to the large number of papers on particular topics received, workshops involving several contributors may be held on very popular subjects such as Caribbean literature and dancehall music/popular culture.

Please contact Kerry Drakeley - Caribbeanstudies@warwick.ac.uk for further details

Conference Booking Form