In 1960, long before Pride marches and legal protections, Roger Butler did the unthinkable—he publicly came out as gay in a letter to British newspapers, risking everything for a future he might never see. His act of defiance predated the Gay Liberation Front by a decade and marked a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

But history forgot Roger. The Light of Day tells his powerful story—his role in decriminalising homosexuality, the battles he faced with disability and isolation, and the secret memoir he left behind, entrusted to a young Oxford student named Christopher Stephens.

Join Stephens and journalist Louise Radnofsky at The Conduit as they bring Roger’s extraordinary life into the light. This is a vital conversation about visibility, legacy, and the price of being first.

Event Schedule

6:00pm: Pre-event socialising and networking

A cash bar will be available for refreshments.

6:15pm: Event begins

7:30pm: Event ends

Speakers:

Christopher Stephens is an academic based in south west London. He is also CEO of an educational charity that promotes research into issues of importance to contemporary society. He has published on a range of topics, from ancient Church History to language and practices relating to diversity and inclusion. Christopher was next of kin to Roger Butler, inheriting Roger’s extensive archive of writings and letter correspondences on his death.

Louise Radnofsky is a reporter for The Wall Street Journal in Washington, D.C., where she has covered healthcare, the White House, immigration and currently, sports. She holds two degrees in modern history from Oxford, where she attended University College, and one from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She and Christopher have been friends for more than 20 years.

Zing Tsjeng is an author, journalist and broadcaster. She is the former Editor in Chief of VICE and wrote the Forgotten Women book series, now out in anthology hardback on Brazen.