The panel for the discussion and debate on 4th November include:
Matthew Hodson is Head of Progammes for the gay men’s health project, GMFA, which is part of the LGB&T charity HERO (Health Equality and Rights Organisation). GMFA deliver a wide range of HIV prevention and health promotion interventions for gay men, including advertising campaigns, groupwork, health coaching, websites, booklets and magazines.
Dr Adam Bourne is a Research Fellow with the Sigma Research group at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Over the past 8 years, Adam has conducted numerous studies into the health and well-being of gay and bisexual men, particularly focusing on HIV and sexual health, mental health, as well as alcohol and drug use.
David Smallwood has been a therapist and counsellor for 14 years. He has a Masters degree in addiction counselling and psychology, along with a post graduate diploma in therapeutic counselling and a Diploma in counselling for addictive disorders. David’s specialist areas of interest are Addiction, Gay and Lesbian issues, and any childhood trauma leading to anxiety and depression.
Dennis Carney has facilitated therapeutic workshops targeting gay/bi men for the last 12 years at London’s leading LGBT Mental Health charity, PACE and also leads the development of workshops and events aimed at Black gay/bi men. Dennis has received two Black Gay Community Awards for his work with Black LGBTQ communities, spanning three decades. Dennis is also a co-founder of Loving Men, which runs a variety of personal development events for gay/bi men across the UK. Dennis has long been committed to creating safe spaces for gay/bi men to meet, share and explore personal concerns around identity, self esteem, coming out, sex, relationships and sexual health.
Mark McCormack, Ph.D. is a Lecturer in Sociology at Durham University. His research focuses on changing attitudes toward homosexuality, and how declining homophobia positively impacts on the gendered behaviours of male youth. He has published widely in the area of sexuailty and gender studies, and his book The Declining Significance of Homophobia is published with Oxford University Press.
Event Host
Paul Steinberg is a Senior Health Improvement Specialist and the public health lead for men who have sex with men (MSM) at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, based in Lambeth (the borough with the largest population of gay and bisexual men in the country). Previously an academic specializing in masculinity and queer theory, Paul also trained and worked as a journalist and producer at the BBC. He is a regular commentator on gay culture and theory, and has written for Attitude, Boyz, Gay Times and The Guardian.