Northumbria is loud
and proud when it comes to supporting our LGBTQ* community.
February is LGBT+ History month and Northumbria is celebrating its diversity and inclusivity with
a special programme of LGBTQ* events. Over the next few weeks, workshops,
seminars, taster sessions and talks will be taking place across the University
featuring nationally renowned speakers and experts. The programme of events has
been coordinated by the LGBTQ* Steering Group, LGBTQ* Network, and LGBTQ*
Society of the Students’ Union.
Headline speakers
include Cat Hudson, Chief of Staff for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)’s Consumer Healthcare
function and a Northumbria alumna. Cat was ranked 9th by the
Financial Times as one of their future global LGBT+ business leaders and will
be discussing the approach of global companies to supporting the LGBT
community. Also speaking at Northumbria during LGBT+ History Month is Stonewall
champion Phillippa Scrafton, Northumbria PhD student and researcher Cameron
Giles, and academic and activist Dr Sen Raj from Keele University.
Northumbria’s Head
of Governance, Adam Dawkins, is also Chair of the University’s LGBTQ* Steering
Group and explains why it is more important than ever for individuals and
organisations to join together in support of the LGBTQ* community.
“The University
Executive and the Board are delighted that LGBT+ History Month is not just
being actively promoted but celebrated at Northumbria University.”
He added: “The
national theme for LGBT+ History Month this year is ‘Peace, Activism and
Reconciliation’. This combination of conditions and responses is more relevant
than ever in a climate where we are seeing examples of hard-fought LGBTQ* rights eroded both in the UK and overseas.
“We look forward to
welcoming all colleagues, students and visiting speakers at our events and
encourage everyone to read and share the wider information developed for LGBTQ+ History Month on our website.”
Adam is also one of
the University’s new LGBTQ* role models and you can read his story and others here.
You can also find out more about Northumbria’s LGBTQ* Network and LGBT* Society
by visiting our Equality and Diversity web pages here.
LGBT+ History Month
LGBT+ History Month
is a month-long annual observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements.
LGBT+ History Month provides role models, builds community, and represents a
civil rights statement about the contributions of the LGBT* community. The
overall aim of LGBT+ History month is to promote equality and diversity for the
benefit of the public.
This is done by:
- Increasing the visibility of lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender (“LGBT”) people, their history, lives and
their experiences in the curriculum and culture of educational and other
institutions, and the wider community;
- Raising awareness and advancing
education on matters affecting the LGBT+ community;
- Working to make educational and other
institutions safe spaces for all LGBT+ communities; and
- Promoting the welfare of LGBT+ people, by
ensuring that the education system recognises and enables LGBT+ people to
achieve their full potential, so they contribute fully to society and lead
fulfilled lives, thus benefiting society as a whole.
Supporting Northumbria’s LGBTQ* community
Over the next few weeks you may notice Northumbria
University branded rainbow lanyards being worn by staff. The rainbow lanyards
are available to staff who wish to visibly support the LGBTQ* community
(whether that is colleagues, staff, students or visitors) by becoming an LGBTQ* ally.
As an ally for LGBTQ* staff and students you would be
committing to:
- supporting
LGBTQ* staff and students to be themselves
- educating
yourself about LGBTQ* histories and concerns
- never
be a bystander to harassment or discrimination
- familiarise
yourself with LGBTQ* language
If you would like to wear a LGBTQ* rainbow lanyard they will
be available to collect, or request, from the Organisational Development team (hr.development@northumbria.ac.uk) based in the ground
floor of Pandon Building from the 1 February 2019.
Northumbria will be announcing more events for LGBT+ History
Month throughout February, including an ‘Out Beyond University’ careers session and taster
sessions led by the LGBTQ* Society of Students. Keep checking our Equality and
Diversity and LGBTQ* Network pages for more news and updates.
