“Gen Z” is known as ‘the queerest generation ever’, with one in five Gen Z adults (born between 1997-2003) identifying as LGBT. This cohort is becoming ever more visible and influential within postgraduate research into gender and sexuality in the UK, often bringing their more open and fluid approach to identity and desire to their research methods. In addition, there is increasing demand from clinical psychology and psychotherapy trainees for critical approaches to psychology and psychoanalysis which incorporate black, feminist, queer and postcolonial theory, and courses and institutions are grappling with the resulting fundamental changes in their syllabuses and structures. Psychosocial methods and theory, with their critical approaches drawn from queer, feminist and postcolonial theory, and their examination of the intersection between the individual psyche and the social world, have the potential to respond to both these demands.
‘Queer encounters’ (QE) will provide space for psychosocial PhD researchers in gender and sexuality to encounter their peers, provide support to each other, and cross-fertilise and coordinate their research efforts. Once the PhD network has established critical mass, we also plan to run topic-driven events with psychology and psychotherapy trainee networks to bring together cutting edge psychosocial research on gender and sexuality with trainees’ developing clinical experience. Over time, these ‘queer encounters’ will provide fertile ground for developing new, joint research projects between this exciting cohort of researchers and clinicians.