About THEIR
THEIR Initiative supports trans+ creativity and artistic excellence through activity-based events that connect people to skills, opportunities, and to each other.
THEIR workshops will explore the rich history of transness locally and globally, starting with a project that focuses on transmasculine and butch histories. THEIR is an inclusive space open to everyone under the trans and GNC umbrella.
The initiative is founded and directed by Net Ember (they/them).
THEIR is supported with funding from Andrew Lumsden’s Grand Camp Maisie Fund.
Transmasculine people, trans men and butch people have suffered from widespread erasure historically, and there remains few spaces for us.
THEIR formed out of the severe lack of spaces and events dedicated to the trans+ community, and hopes to be a longstanding initiative, facilitating regular events in partnership with local organisations.
From early 2026, THEIR creative workshops and socials will include: zine and badge-making, FLARB bookclub sessions, placard making for Southampton Pride, and DJ tutorship with Address CIC.
Upcoming Events
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Southampton’s Queer Stories: a presentation by Rachel Roberts in collaboration with THEIR Initiative
Thu 4 Jun 2026 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM BST
As part of THEIR Initiative's programme, Rachel Roberts will present her findings from the Southampton’s Queer Stories project and exhibition in 2024, taking a particular focus on recorded butch and transmasc histories (and lack thereof).In 2024, Rachel researched and co-developed Southampton’s Queer Stories, a contextual heritage exhibition at God's House Tower. This project explored significant moments in Southampton’s LGBTQIA+ history from the 1970s onwards through archival material, oral histories, photographs and community contributions. Southampton’s Queer Stories also helped establish a growing collection of queer local history materials to be preserved within Southampton’s museum and archive collections.
Buy your tickeets using the link below (subsidised tickets for trans+ people)
If you are on low income and need a free concession ticket, please reach out to us.
Cis people wishing to attend are welcome, but are encouraged to make a small donation when booking their ticket to support the ongoing work of THEIR Initiative
Partners
Past Events
Zine-making workshop
Saturday 21st February 2026
The Nest Coffee House, Southampton
In collaboration with Carabiner Club
This zine-making workshop saw the launch of the very first THEIR event. The workshop took place at The Nest Coffee House in Southampton as a collaboration with Carabiner Club’s monthly coffee morning socials.
Led by Net Ember and local artist Joey Walters, this workshop highlighted the important history of zines within the LGBTQIA+ community, and focused on transmasculine and butch historical figures.
This event was photographed by Holli Kalina.
Carabiner Club is a transmasc/men focused FLINTA+ community in Southampton. Find out more here.
FLARB (Free, Lazy, Arty, Radical Book Club)
Saturday 2nd May 2026
God’s House Tower
In collaboration with FLARB, led by Ellen Gillett
For our second THEIR event, we collaborated with FLARB, led by Ellen Gillett, to host a relaxed discussion around Thomas Page McBee’s text 'SELF-MADE MAN #2: Old Stories', exploring masculinity through transmasc and butch lenses. 'SELF-MADE MAN #2: Old Stories' is an American autobiographical piece of creative writing in which the author, Thomas Page McBee, reflects on trauma and identity to redefine masculinity as compassionate, self-defined, and open to vulnerability.
What is FLARB?
FLARB is the Free, Lazy, Arty, Radical Book Club, a book club without the stress of a conventional book club. It reclaims the word ‘lazy’ as a radical approach to inclusion and self-compassion.
FLARB removes traditional access barriers to reading around arts and social justice topics in order to create a sociable, inclusive space to have a read, have a chat and learn something together.
This event was photographed by Holli Kalina.
