In 1895, Oscar Wilde wrote in The Soul of Man Under Socialism that “A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not worth even glancing at, for it leaves out the one country at which Humanity is always landing. And when Humanity lands there, it looks out, and, seeing a better country, sets sail. Progress is the realisation of Utopias.”
Given that utopias exists in the mind, not on the map, their alliance with queer lives and creativity is an exciting one as LGBT+ people navigating the world in 2020 know all too well. Creativity, bravery and a voyager spirit will be required to create new space, thought and life that will continue to improve and transform our communities and societies.
If Wilde’s assertion is true, that progress is the realisation of Utopia, then our community has a lot to celebrate, the rate of change on our small Island alone is staggering to bear witness to. Do not be mistaken however, the burden of late stage capitalism, a global pandemic and the worrying rise of the far right across Europe and on our own shores of late mean that there has never been a more prescient time for us to unite as a community and imagine a different, better version of the world and map out an exciting future that can unite, inspire and encourage us all.