Queering the Asian Diaspora: East and Southeast Asian Identity, Sexuality and Cultural Politics

Book Talk by Dr Hongwei Bao

Organised by: School of Humanities, University of Westminster

An EDI event supported by: 'Westminster Programme for Enhancing Inclusion, Belonging, and Sustainable Development', Centre for Social Justice Research and Contemporary China Centre

Chair: Yumeng Yang (PhD researcher, University of Westminster)

Venue: Room UG04, University of Westminster, 309 Regent Street, W1B 2HW, London

How do queer Asian voices reshape the stories we tell about diaspora, identity, and belonging?

Join us for an inspiring evening with Dr Hongwei Bao as we celebrate East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) Heritage Month at Westminster Humanities through the launch of his groundbreaking new book Queering the Asian Diaspora (Sage, 2024).

This timely and provocative study asks:

- How are queer Asian lives and cultures positioned between anti-Asian racism and Asian pride, and between mainstream Asian and LGBTQ+ politics?

- What new forms of solidarity, creativity, and cultural politics emerge from these tensions?

Drawing on vivid case studies from art, film, performance, digital media, and activism across the globe, Dr Bao shows how queer Asian diasporic communities are reshaping cultural politics — challenging stereotypes while opening up new horizons of identity, belonging, and solidarity.

This event is a great opportunity to reflect and discuss the urgent need for more inclusive and intersectional conversations around race, sexuality, and diaspora today and to celebrate scholarship on the queer ESEA community.

Come and be part of a conversation that celebrates diversity, challenges exclusion, and imagines new futures.

This event is free and open to all—students, staff, and the wider community. Come and be part of a conversation that celebrates diversity and challenges exclusion!