The reality of queer homelessness - film screening and Q&A

Part of the events programme for our latest installation - Common Ground by James Berrington - we are excited to show Stonewall Housing's powerful documentary exploring homelessness within the queer community through the spotlight of faith and culture.

In 2020, 82% of Stonewall Housing service users attributed culture or religion to their homelessness. LESS highlights stories and follows the journeys of Stonewall Housing alumni and some of the leading figures in the LGBTQ+ sector. Together, they share their experiences of homelessness, relationships with their faith and culture, and finding their blended, chosen family.

We will hear from UCL academic Philip Ayoub, Stonewall Housing CEO Steven McIntyre, and mental health advocate Jennifer Jean-Paul, as well as having the opportunity to experience James Berrington's installation.

Event timings:

6pm - drinks, nibbles and a chance to visit our latest installation Common Ground

6.30pm – a talk by Philip Ayoub on the global fight against LGBTQ+ rights

7pm – screening of LESS

7.45pm – Q&A with James Berrington and Stonewall Housing

8.30pm – event ends, but guests are welcome to stay for drinks and to visit the installation

All welcome!

About Common Ground

Visual artist James Berrington conceived of Common Ground after spending time in nature during lockdown, when his daily walks in the Great North Wood in south London became a space for self-refection and calm. The large photographic installation and photobook, which is accompanied by the sound of birdsong, immerses the viewer in an ancient English woodland landscape.

Spending time in this ancient woodland was part of James’ mental health recovery and led him to question ideas around identity and, in the context of a seemingly shifting national identity pre- and post-Brexit, examine ideas of an Englishness rooted in myth, legend, clichés, stereotypes and symbolism.

Making and talking about Common Ground began an ongoing process of self-acceptance for James, just as sitting with the plants and animals, the sounds of the birds, and the smell of the earth in the woods gave him the breathing space to begin his mental health recovery.