Programme and Speakers

Session Descriptions

Registration - Registration will happen throughout the morning, but please try to arrive for this 9-10am slot. There may be a short queue. Follow signs to the registration desk to pick up your name tag and conference documents.

Opening - This is divided into two parts. First we will introduce the conference and provide some ace 101. Then we will talk about what is happening in the ace community and wider pride scene around Scotland.

Aces in Literature - The latest research on asexuals in literature.

Asexuality and Ethnicity - How does one's ethnicity, and particularly the culture, upbringing, and outside views of it influence ones perception of asexuality and what challenges does this bring?

Lunch - An extended lunch with food provided :)

Aromanticism - Ever wanted to learn more about aromanticism or perhaps how QPRs work? This session covers it.

Neurodiversity and Mental Health in the Ace Community - We have a panel of speakers who are neurodiverse who will be fielding your questions on neurodiversity and mental health in the ace community throughout this session.

The Ace Spectrum: Grey-A, Demisexuality, and Beyond! Come and learn about the wide variety of orientations under the ace umbrella.

Asexuality and Disability - What is it like being asexual and disabled? How does the interaction of the two affect one's life? Here's where to find out.

Queer Aces - For those who belong to a minority romantic orientation or gender, or are trans. The panel will share their experiences of being queer in this way in the ace community.

Ace Relationships and Dating - Everything about having a romantic relationship as an ace and dating. For QPRs, see the Aromanticism session.

Closing and Next Steps - Wrapping up and looking at your suggestions from throughout the day.

Panellists

Abbie: Abbie is a Modern Languages student, Student Union Officer and President of the LGBT+ and Disabled Students' Societies at Heriot-Watt University.

Bea: Bea is a biromantic ace woman and secretary of the Aberdeen University LGTBQ+ Forum.

Clare: Clare, who badly wants to change their name, is a nonbinary, queer asexual artist and performer. They live with PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

Daniel: Daniel is a homoromantic asexual man who runs the Slice of Ace YouTube channel.

Eliott: An autistic asexual comedian described as "absurd and accessible" who's been hosting and performing comedy on asexuality and autism for over 3 years from the UK to the USA.

Ellie: Ellie is a Malaysian born writer and wildlife conservationist in training who just happen to be ace and trans.

Emma: Emma has organised campaigns such as Leeds University’s first Ace Awareness Week celebration, as well as collaborating on workshops tackling questions such as “do asexual people even date?” and “how can people be an ally to ace people?”. They now run a consultancy (Simpson Training) in helping to train organisations both in the public and private sectors around how to actively develop trans inclusive policies.

Jasper: Jasper is a queer, polyamorous, asexual guy with EDS and comorbities from Wales who has previously worked in several activist roles such as NUS Wales LGBT+ officer, and also works to ensure that buildings are not a load of Tosh in regards to accessibility as well as trying to improve people’s attitudes towards disability.

Jo: Jo Ross-Barrett is a writer and editor with a passion for championing inclusive content and policies. Jo is a non-binary, asexual, polyamorous relationship anarchist who is also on the autism spectrum. Jo's pronouns are they/them.

Keith: Keith Huntington Derrick lives in North Georgia where he is in pursuit of his PhD from Georgia State University. He received his BA in English from Kennesaw State University and his MSc in Creative Writing from The University of Edinburgh. Keith's research is focused on developing an Asexual Literary Theory to uncover potential ace characters prior to the Kinsey Studies identifying asexuality as an orientation and increasing visibility of the ace community. Keith's publications include Edinburgh Exile I, The American Tales, and One Hand Clapping. For more information, please visit his website.

Kimi: Kimi studied biology at university and spent her childhood in Tinidad and adolescence in the US before moving to Edinburgh for university.

Lauren: Lauren is a homoromantic grey-ace with an ASD (who prefers "Asperger's" because "Disorder" sounds so negative).

OptimisticPessimist: OptimisticPessimist is an Aromantic Ace with cerebral palsy amongst other things. They work with AVEN as a moderator and background person.

Scott: Scott Miller helps organise asexual meets in the Scotland's Central Belt.

Steve: Steve Winter-Gray has been out as a Homoromantic asexual for around 5-6 years and married to a fellow Homoromantic asexual for coming up to 2 years. Upon coming out as asexual to himself, his fiancé as he was then and fellow ace friends of theirs produced a live video asexual podcast called Pieces of Ace. This produced over 100 episodes. Following the winding up of Pieces of Ace, both himself and his now husband Thom were recruited by MyUmbrella LGBT+ to continue the work they started on Pieces of Ace, and further enhance the work they were doing. Steve is now the Stock, Funding and Marketing Co-coordinator for MyUmbrella and Thom is the Research and Development officer. Outside of the work he does with MyUmbrella, Steve works as a Performance Manager for a claims handling company based in Weston-Super-Mare.

Yasmin: Yasmin Benoit is a model, writer and asexuality activist with a Master's degree in Crime Science.