The University of Brighton has appointed Katherine Browne as Professor of Human Geography, specialising in space, gender and sexuality.
Professor Browne’s appointment is in recognition of extensive work in the geographies of sexualities and LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and/or Queer) lives, in the Global North and mainly the UK and North America.
Professor Browne received the Gill Memorial Award in 2007 from the Royal Geographical Society/Institute of British Geographers in recognition of contributions to Geographies of Sexualities, and in 2012 she was presented with the Jan Monk Award from the Association of American Geographers to recognise her contributions to gender geographies.
She has chaired the Royal Geographical Society/Institute of British Geographers’ Space, Sexualities and Queer Research Group (2006-2009), an international agenda-setting group leading research and debate into sexualities, gender and geographies.
Professor Browne said: “This award says a lot to, and about, local LGBTQ communities and those working on LGBTQ issues in the public sector. It demonstrates that the University of Brighton values and respects the LGBTQ work that they have helped to create.
“Working with LGBTQ people, service providers and others in the Count Me In Too project will always be a highlight of my career. I have had the privilege of collaborating with amazing activists, who taught me more than I could ever have imagined. We saw things change because of the research, in terms of policy, service provision, and perhaps most importantly how consultations happen in meaningful ways with LGBTQ communities. This was something that I am immensely proud of, but also humbled and honoured to be a part of.
“Brighton’s mission to work in ways that are socially engaged, applicable to the real world and making a difference has been very important to me. The work that Community University Partnership Programme does and the ways this kind of research is not just supported but understood is central to the possibilities of working here. I really feel that the work I have done here wouldn’t have been possible elsewhere. I have been given time, space and freedom to explore with LGBTQ people what social change is needed, and to work with service providers and others to achieve this.”
Count Me In Too was an award-winning project that sought progress and social change for LGBT people in the South East Coastal area. The Universities of Brighton and Sussex worked together with Spectrum (an LGBT Community Forum that promoted partnership work, community engagement and community development) to ensure that the needs of the local LGBT people were met.