Thread by @AllianceLGB

1./ Do you need a little pick-up after so many politicians struggled to master basic biology? Here's a behind the scenes look at the preparations for OUR conference. Yes, us: the only LGB group in Britain that focuses solely on LGB people. For a start, here's our tiny venue.👇

2./ The QEII Centre is modern architecture at its best. Powell and Moya's building is surprisingly subtle, with all those variations in the facade. Inside though the space is vast. Here's us plotting banners and decor for the day and trying not to be distracted by the views. 👇

3./ Later in the day we took a quick 20 min walk to visit the Churchill Estate in Pimlico, which made Powell and Mayo's name in 1947. They designed it in their early 20s. It was dubbed 'Humane Modernism', partly because they retained the Victorian pub. Good move boys.👇

4./ Drinks at the conference will be served in the HUGE hall where 400 (and counting) ticket holders can chat, buy merch, & get books signed by @bindelj, @HJoyceGender and @simonjedge before heading back for the speakers. Here's us putting finishing touches to the stage design.👇

5./ In each of our main sessions there will be 4 fantastic speakers on subjects as varied as policing, the NHS's erasure of gays and how we advance LGB human rights globally. Radical uh? Here's that Kate Harris woman working out views from the stage.👇

6./ It's going to be an amazing event with 4 MPs from 3 different parties, surprise guests and experts in everything from psychiatry to data collection. You have to admit the views do rather add to the glamour. Here's a little known Abbey across the road. Scrubs up nicely. 👇

7./ If you pop across you can see above the Great Western Door the Modern Martyrs who include Martin Luther King, Oscar Romero and Archbishop Janani Luwum (3rd from left) killed by Idi Amin. Some argue his murder allowed US right wing, religious homophobes to flood Uganda.👇

8./ The day will be packed but, who knows, at lunchtime before our fantastic keynote speaker @BluskyeAllison 👏👏👏 you might have time for a stroll around the fabulous St James's Park or Horse Guards Parade (which hasn't changed much since Canaletto painted it in 1749).👇

9./ Inside the venue there's wonderful art too. The Scottish artist Eduardo Paolozzi was inspired to create this wooden behemoth by 'On This Island' by gay composer Benjamin Britten who was himself inspired by a collection of poetry of the same name by gay poet WH Auden.👇

10./ When asked at a press conference whether the lack of female figures in his art meant he was gay, Paolozzi replied, "I don't think so".😂 Everyone is welcome to our conference, lesbians, bisexuals, straight or trans and "I don't think so"s. Just bring a curious mind.

11./ Paolozzi adored science. So it's a fitting happenstance that @ALLIANCELGB will be mining the depths of science (yes even biology!!) and separating fact from fiction in the shadow of his great woodblock that was inspired by two gay artists. So are you coming yet?

12./ Of course we'll talk about gender identity a bit (it's a dogma that's a danger to LGB people) but we hope the conference will also be an opportunity to revive discussion about the subjects we all adore- art, history, music, culture, books and ideas- in a beautiful setting

13./ Our venue is slap bang in the centre of London's many layered history. The first annual conference by a moderate LGB group dedicated to the protection of children and women's hard won rights is a new twist in that history. Buy a ticket and you too can say, "I was there".

14./ As you can imagine the venue costs a pretty penny, so if you can't make it do feel free to donate. Unlike some groups we've no corporate sponsors, and no government money. We're funded entirely by YOU...our loyal supporters. Tickets here: 👉lgballiance.org.uk/conference/