Paul Jatayna, one of the lead organizers of the Philippines’ queer rave community Elephant, has been chosen as an international delegate for the Sound City Conference, happening on April 28 in Liverpool, England. Supported by the British Council, he is set to speak on the panel about “Gender Balance and Inclusivity in International Territories.”

Sound City is the UK’s independent music conference and Association of Independent Music (AIM) UK’s “Conference in The North.” For over 15 years, they have remained at the forefront of the global music conference circuit and welcomed leading industry figures, emerging artists and aspiring music business professionals from across the world to Liverpool for a full-day program of educational panels, in-conversations, and networking parties.

“We are honored to be working alongside the British Council to bring an outstanding group of speakers from around the world to Sound City 2023. With a shared passion for creating new business opportunities, advancing gender equality, and shaping a brighter future for generations to come, we are confident that their insights and expertise will leave an indelible mark on the music industry and inspire positive change for years to come,” said Jo Whitty, Sound City COO.

This delegation will open opportunities for Jatayna to talk about the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community and to share the core values of Elephant, enabling a safe place for all and promoting platforms for marginalized artists in the drag and music scene.

“It is important to me that I get to represent the queer community that I belong to and to raise awareness of the achievements and learning curves that we face, especially on the political and economic influence on queer nightlife psychology. I am also very keen to learn from other queer communities from other parts of the world and to understand how they customize and create their own safe space,” says Jatayna.

“We are thrilled to have Paul Jatayna represent the Philippines and the Filipino queer community as a speaker at Liverpool Sound City. Equality, diversity, and inclusion have always been part of the British Council’s values, and it’s fantastic that Paul will have the opportunity to share the stories of our LGBTIQIA+ community to the rest of the world,” says Mich Dulce, British Council in the Philippines’ head of arts.

The conference will happen alongside the three-day Sound City Liverpool festivities, from April 28 to 30, featuring local, national, and international emerging talents. www.soundcity.uk.com