
Heated Rivalry, Queer Sports Romance, and Activism
Using Heated Rivalry and its screen adaptation as a central case study, the session places queer hockey romance within a longer LGBTQIA+ history of sport, activism and cultural resistance. We’ll consider how romance, fandom and media representation challenge exclusionary sporting cultures and imagine new futures for queer athletes and audiences alike.
What we’ll explore: queer histories of sport and activism; sports romance as politics; Heated Rivalry as cultural phenomenon; adaptation, fandom and community.
Who it’s for: anyone interested in LGBTQIA+ history, queer media, romance and sport. No prior knowledge required (but very welcome on both the queer romance novel, and sporting sides!)
Practical information
- Online ticket sales will close two hours prior to the event starting.
- If sales have closed and you would still like to attend, to enquire about availability please contact our Box Office team via 020 73929200. If spaces remain we can arrange payment over the phone.
- This session is live only and will not be recorded. Attendees must join at the scheduled time, as recordings will not be made available after the event.
What can I expect?
This session is taught through presentations (PowerPoint on shared screen) video clips and discussions. Discussion sections are optional, but allow participants to reflect on the material and their own experiences.
Joining via Zoom
This session will be held via Zoom. You need a computer/laptop or mobile phone to access the Zoom website, and a reliable internet connection.
Need to Know
Metadata
- Time
- 19:00-21:00
- Price
- £29 / £19
- Day
- Thursday
- Duration
- 120
- Venue
- Online
Meet the Tutor

Dr Emily Garside
Emily Garside is a writer and professional nerd based in Cardiff. She has a PhD in theatrical responses to the AIDS crisis and is a leading expert on LGBTQ+ theatre. Emily regularly writes for journals such as The Queer Review, American Theatre, and Wales Art Review. She published her first non-fiction book ‘Love That Journey For Me: The Queer Revolution of Schitt's Creek’ in 2021 with 404ink. This was followed by ‘Angels in America at the British National Theatre’ in 2022 (McFarland). While 2023 sees ‘Seasons of Love, why Rent Matters’ (Applause), ‘Schitt’s Creek and the Rise of Queer TV’ (Applause), and ‘From Queer as Folk to It’s A Sin; Russell T Davies and Queer TV’ (Calon Books). She is also a journalist, a regular contributor for The Queer Review and has written for American Theatre, Slate, BBC, and The Stage. She also uses her research and lived experience to tell queer stories through fiction, having had several plays performed in London and nationally.
Dates and Times
Heated Rivalry, Queer Sports Romance, and Activism
What We Do


