01 February 2024
On Thursday, 1 February 2024, to mark the start of LGBT History Month in the UK, the Gender and Sexual Diversity Research Group and the Global Diversities and Inequalities Research Centre at London Met hosted a book launch and panel discussion for Queering Sexual Health Translation Pedagogy, a new groundbreaking work by Dr Piero Toto, Senior Lecturer in Translation in the Guildhall School of Business and Law. The book, published by Cambridge University Press, examines how translation can be used as a tool for social activism and public engagement in the field of sexual health, especially for marginalised and underserved communities.
The event featured a lively and informative conversation between the author and his guests, including Dr Will Nutland from The Love Tank, a community interest company that collaborates with Dr Toto and his students on translation projects aimed at promoting health and well-being for diverse sexual and gender identities. The Love Tank also provides training, consultancy, and research on sexual health issues, such as HIV prevention, PrEP, and sexual pleasure.
The panel also included: Professor Helen Sauntson, co-editor of the Cambridge Elements in Language, Gender and Sexuality series, which publishes cutting-edge research on the linguistic and discursive aspects of gender and sexuality; Al Stoppani, a former translation student who contributed to the translation of the sexual health campaigns showcased during the event and who reported on their experience of the project. Professor Sauntson praised Dr Toto's book for its innovative and inclusive approach to translation pedagogy, which challenges the traditional norms and assumptions of the discipline and embraces the complexity and diversity of human sexuality.
The discussion was moderated by Dr Paul Michaels, Reader in Translation at London Met and an expert on audiovisual translation and gender studies. Dr De Marco facilitated the dialogue between the panellists, probing for their insights and experiences on topics such as sexual health education, translation ethics, and social justice, as well as the impact that such initiatives can have on students and society at large.
The event was BSL-interpreted by Dr Paul Michaels and was attended by students, staff, alumni, and external guests, who expressed their appreciation and enthusiasm for the book and the panel. Hosted in London Met's queer safe space, ‘The Rainbow Room’, the discussion was presented by the Gender and Sexual Diversities Research Group (which sits under the Global Diversities and Inequalities Research Centre) and the LGBTQ+ Staff Network.
Queering Sexual Health Translation Pedagogy is a valuable and timely contribution to the fields of translation, sexual health, pedagogy and queer studies, a testament to the power of the classroom as a site of resistance and the potential of translation as a form of social activism. A copy of the book can be purchased via Cambridge University Press.
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