For as long as there have been spaces where queer people gather, they have been under attack. Despite (or perhaps because of) nominal gains made toward equal protection and the "mainstreaming" of aspects of queer culture, this has only worsened in recent years as cultural polarization focuses hatred on spaces of joy. Queer spaces are uniquely created by and for people coming together through a connection that is untethered to family, race, culture, origin, or other community connections that people participate in from birth. Their design, performance, operation, and the ways we operate within them are, therefore, legitimate examples of the highest aspirations for inclusive design, and should be a basis for creating liberation-oriented spatial paradigms. This panel presentation, along with the research, case studies, and design work presented within it, will showcase how queer spaces define environments of liberation and inclusion within their communities. This will be presented through a historiographic body of research informed by a diverse spectrum of key queer spacemakers, designers, and architects. Further, the panel discussion will focus on how to translate these learned dynamics and approaches into more widely applicable frameworks, intended to create inclusive environments for other marginalized communities across the built environment.
700 Aliceanna Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
United States