Description
Join our panel for a shame-free conversation that debunks outdated myths about the vagina and celebrates the female body.
Director of the Vagina Museum, Florence Schechter, draws inspiration from her groundbreaking book V: An Empowering Celebration of the Vulva and Vagina. She joins the rest of the panel, Hafsa Qureshi – a bi Muslim woman and client account manager at Stonewall, Amazin LeThi – an author, commentator and LGBTQ advocate, and Eliza Rainbow – disabled social media influencer.
Each participant has contributed their own experiences to V in a series of dialogues, which they will share with their audience. In addition to giving readings from the book, the panellists will explain why they wanted to contribute to it and discuss the ideas and stories behind their writing. Expect an open and frank conversation where nothing is off-limits.
Your Story Matters
About the Authors
Florence Schechter
Florence Schechter is the director and founder of the Vagina Museum. Her background is in science communication and she has a degree in biochemistry from the University of Birmingham. Since it opened in 2019 in Camden Market, the Vagina Museum has been covered in international news from The New York Times to The Lancet to TIME magazine to even appearing in a joke in SNL’s Weekend Update. Her debut book, “V: An empowering celebration of the vulva and vagina” is being published by Penguin Random House in March 2023.
Hafsa Qureshi
Hafsa (any pronouns) is an openly bi and genderqueer Muslim, working to raise visibility and awareness for their community. By talking about faith, sexuality and disability, Hafsa wants to help destigmatise people’s perceptions of queer people of faith. She currently works within content development for Stonewall (UK) and is a Trustee at Gendered Intelligence.
Amazin LeThi
Amazin LeThi is an LGBTQ advocate, keynote speaker, former competitive natural bodybuilder, athlete, published author and cultural change leader. She is the only Asian LGBTQ Athlete in the world to hold 8 ambassador roles, 5 of them in the sports industry. In 2022 she became the first Asian LGBTQ ambassador for Sporting Heritage, MQ Mental Health Research and the British Royal family – King Charles organization ‘Princes Trust’. In 2023 she became the first Asian LGBTQ ambassador for the Asian Sports Foundation.
Through her conversations as a cultural change leader, Amazin shares her personal journey from homelessness to becoming one of the most visible and influential LGBTQ advocates in the world. She has been recognized by over 25 international organizations such as the – National Centre for Civil and Human Rights/LGBTQ Institute, Human Rights Campaign, Honorary Citizen of the State of Georgia and was named ´One of six Asian women to know´ during Forbes magazine´s Asian Pacific Islander Heritage month.
At the end of 2022 she collaborated with AllOut.org on an LGBTQ sports equality campaign around the Qatar World Cup. In 2023, Amazin shared her story in Florence Schechter, executive director of the world’s first ‘Vagina Museum’ debut book published by Penguin Books ‘V’.
Eliza Rainbow
Eliza Rainbow is a content creator from London creating content all about disability on their channel Disabled_Eliza they are a wheelchair user and explore lots of different topics impacting Disabled people today.
About the Chair
Rosie Wilby
Rosie Wilby is an award-winning comedian, author and podcaster who has appeared many times on BBC Radio 4 programmes including Woman’s Hour, Saturday Live and Four Thought. Her latest book, The Breakup Monologues, is based on her acclaimed podcast of the same name and takes an inclusive and optimistic look at heartbreak.
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