We all know it takes guts to fight injustice and inequality. But how often do we bring those same values into our most intimate relationships? In this inspiring self-help handbook, luminary trans activist and author of Mutual Aid Dean Spade dares us to be the change we want to see-both in the world, and at home.

Around the globe, people are faced with a spiraling succession of crises, from the pandemic and climate change-induced disasters to the ongoing horrors of mass incarceration, racist policing, endemic gender violence, and severe wealth inequality. Many of us feel mobilized to organize and collectively combat these issues on both a personal and political level, often dedicating our lives to the forwarding of progressive ideas and the daunting goal of trying to bend the world toward justice.

But even those of us who long for change seem to have trouble when it comes to interpersonal relationships. Too often we think of our political values as outward-facing positions again dominant systems of power. Rarely, if ever, do we pursue the same kind of justice close to home, in our personal connections. Many activist projects and resistance groups fall apart because people treat each other poorly, trying desperately to live out the cultural myths about dating and relationships that we are fed from an early age.

How do we divest from the idea that one romantic partner will be the solution to all our problems? How do we separate our expectations of love from the troubling dynamics left to us by our parents? How do we bring our best thinking about freedom and justice into step with our desires for healing and connection?

Lifelong activist and educator Dean Spade dares us to decide that our interpersonal actions are not separate from our politics of liberation and resistance. LOVE IN A F*CKED-UP WORLD is a resounding call to action and a practical manifesto for how to combat cultural scripts and take our relationships into our own hands, preparing us for the work of changing the world.

Dean Spade has been working to build queer and trans liberation and end policing, border enforcement, and war for the past 25 years. He is the author of Normal Life: Administrative Violence, Critical Trans Politics, and the Limits of the Law, and Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the next), and the director of Pinkwashing Exposed: Seattle Fights Back!, which can be watched free online with English captions or subtitles in several languages. His newest book is LOVE IN A F*CKED-UP WORLD: HOW TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, HOOK UP, AND RAISE HELL TOGETHER. You can listen to his new podcast here.

Nim Ralph is a UK-based trans writer, educator and activist. They have led campaigns and organised extensively for queer and trans liberation in Britain's toxically transphobic cultural landscape, and work with activists around the world. Nim has spent time coordinating with trans folks globally to develop organising and comms strategies to fight against the populist playbook. Outside of trans organising they've been active in organising around anti-racism, disability and climate justice for over nearly 20 years. Additionally, Nim works as an educator in social movements on movement building strategy, anti-oppression and political education. They are designer of multiple activist training programmes with an approach to education that centres relationship and connection. They have bylines in Gal-Dem and OpenDemocracy and were recently featured as a trans activist in GQ.

Conner Habib's debut novel, HAWK MOUNTAIN (W.W. Norton, 2022), was longlisted for the PEN/Faulkner Prize. His podcast, Against Everyone with Conner Habib, is one of the most-respected conversation-style podcasts in the world, with over 300 episodes and millions of downloads worldwide. For 10 years, Conner worked in and with sex worker communities, and was an activist for sex workers' rights in the US, including serving as the Vice President of the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee. He lives in Ireland.

Accessibility

The Old School Rooms are located on the first floor of Clapton Park United Reformed Church. The room is accessible via steps from the street, with an alternate entrance via lift. Seating will be provided for all attendees.

The speakers will use microphones and a small PA system, and the event audio will be recorded and made available as a podcast.

While we await comprehensive venue accessibility information, please contact us with any specific questions or requests and we'll be very happy to help.