By Luke Mantle and Tali Stutt, second-year BA Fashion Marketing and Journalism students
Date: 12 February 2026
Beyond Visibility is a vibrant, cohesive and joyful celebration of queer identity, created and hosted by the Queertopia Consortium. Earlier this month, it delivered an event focusing on Black and Brown Trans and Non-Binary voices in partnership with London Metropolitan University, funded through the Hackney Council 365 Fund. Rooted in connection and community, it was a space to come together, be seen, and celebrate who we truly are.
The event, held at the CLR Library in Dalston, brought together about 50 students and community members, ranging from early-20s to mid-60s, to celebrate and connect. The programme featured tarot card readings, a speed-friending session, and a private screening of Shattering Conceptions, a short film about the struggle to find identity by London Met student Ricardo Ludgero Souza.
The screening was particularly intimate for Souza, who was moved by the warm reception the film received. “I haven’t shared it with anyone that could possibly relate to me. It hasn’t been shared publicly, except on YouTube, and not a lot of people have seen it,” he said.
The event was conceived by Joanne English, co-founder of Queertopia, who ran it alongside Donna Jones, Head of Social Work at London Met and founder of the university’s Rainbow Room, and Mahi, London Met’s Student LGBTQIA+ Officer. The three spoke about the importance of queer community, particularly in the current political climate.
“With current politics, we are so under attack. What is happening in the States is truly coming for us,” said Jones, stressing the importance of collective spaces. “Coming together is an act of activism... a revolutionary act. When you have a group of people together, it really helps break down barriers.”
Attendees were given raffle tickets based on where they were seated, each matching with someone on the opposite side of the room. This resulted in a speed-friending exercise, "Speed Connections", designed to address the often-isolating experience of being queer in a large city. Participants were encouraged to connect with a stranger and share their personal stories.
Shattering Conceptions premiered next, using expressive dance to explore Souza’s long-term struggles with mental health and dissociation. The film depicted the performer surrounded by newspaper headlines representing his struggle to escape a negative mindset. Souza explained that the project took six months of planning, one week to film, and just one day to edit.
After a short break, the final segment of the evening began with a tarot card reading led by Mahi. Everyone selected three cards they felt drawn to and were asked to reflect on their past, linking the cards to their own experiences and sharing stories with the group. The activity encouraged introspection, vulnerability and self-expression.
For many attendees, the activity was the highlight of the evening. “My favourite part was picking out the cards, it was really fun and insightful,” said Kay, a London Met student. Jhoan, president of London Met’s LGBTQ+ Society, echoed this sentiment, saying, “I loved picking which cards represented me the most. It was so wholesome listening to everyone’s stories.” Later, everyone was encouraged to draw their own postcards, using a selection of stickers and special white pens bought for the occasion.
Reflecting on the success of the evening, Donna Jones expressed her pride in the university’s presence at the event, saying, “I was blown away we (London Met) were so well represented here.” Added Dr Wendy Sloane, Journalism Course Leader and Deputy Dean of London Met's School of Computing and Digital Media: “I was impressed once again how so many people courageously cultivate their own community, where they feel seen and valued.”
Beyond Visibility demonstrated how creative spaces, rooted in queer joy, have the power to bring people together in meaningful and unforgettable ways to create an authentically fabulous event.
