We will be joined by Tash Walker, a writer, award-winning podcast producer and community organiser who has worked with institutions such as the Barbican, the BBC and Queer Britain. They were also a Switchboard Board Member for eight years.
Tash will speak on their experiences working with Switchboard’s archive, and the compilation of the log books kept by volunteers at the helpline which have been collated along with person experiences into their new book titled “The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened” (co-authored with Adam Zmith).
“An intimate history of LGBTQ+ life over four decades, discovered in a stash of forgotten, handwritten notes. In a crawlspace at the offices of Switchboard, a queer helpline in operation since 1974, lies dozens of log books kept by volunteers describing the phone calls they had taken: a teenager whose parents had kicked them out of home for dressing as the wrong gender; a lesbian terrified of having her baby taken away from her; a man arrested for chatting up another man in a public toilet; a young person wanting to know how to come out.”
The talk will be followed by Q&A, drinks and nibbles.
Tash has kindly agreed to sign copies of their book, which can be purchased here prior to the event. The event ticket includes a discount code exclusively for attendees.
Who’s invited?
We warmly invite the entire IP Inclusive community to join us. IP Inclusive events are for everyone who works in IP, whether they are an attorney, paralegal, HR, IT, marketing, accounts – everyone! We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be an inspiring and educating talk and conversation.
Our venue
Where: Taylor Wessing, 5 New Street Square, London EC4A 3TW
Hosted and sponsored by: Taylor Wessing LLP
Timings
Please arrive in person from 6.30pm. The online talk will start at 7.00 pm
Registration
If you have any specific access requirements, please get in touch and we’ll do what we can to help.
Cost
This event is free. So are all our resources. We think it’s important to keep IP Inclusive the right side of the paywall.
That said, we do need money to keep the show on the road, so please consider making a donation, however small, towards our 2025-26 fundraising campaign. For more information – including about corporate donations – visit our fundraising page here.