THE UNIVERSITY of Reading is holding a lecture led by the first openly transgender woman to work in Premier League football.
Dr Sophie Cook will give a talk covering diversity, inclusion, and mental health at the annual Wolfenden Lecture.
Dr Cook began her career working as a jet engine technician in the RAF before becoming a sports and music photographer.
She was working as the in-house photographer for AFC Bournemouth in 2015 when she came out as transgender.
This made her the first openly transgender person to work in the Premier League, and she now works a campaigner and motivational speaker.
The Wolfenden Lecture is named to honour former Vice-Chancellor of the Unviersity of Reading, Lord Wolfenden, who chaired the Committee who played a key role in decriminalising homosexuality in England and Wales.
Lord Wolfenden’s report became in important milestone in LGBTQ+ history when it recommended that homosexual behaviour between consenting adults should be decriminalised in the UK in 1957.
The annual event sees academics and leaders in their fields give talks, often focusing on LGBTQ+ topics, and is open to members of the public as well as students and faculty at the university.
The Wolfenden Lecture with Dr Sophie Cook takes place in the Edith Morley G27 Lecture Theatre on Whiteknights Campus, Reading, from 5.30pm-7pm on Tuesday, February 27.
The event is free to attend, though registration is required, available via: reading.ac.uk/events
