Blog
LGBT officers - our autumn term
This term has been dominated, of course, by the process of integrating a new year of freshers, as well as new second and third years we're seeing for the first time - Its been great to meet a whole new group of people and a pleasure to get to know them all (a feeling we hope they reciprocate!). We've helped this along by holding a series of icebreaker events, film and pizza, pudding party culminating in the aptly named "Icebreaker" which you hopefully saw advertised..as well as working with LGBT social to ensure that all of the events for LGBT this first term are easy to find and get to! Having had a fantastic number of new members we've been happy to have many of them joining our committee through the YUSU elections and are looking forward to more joining us after the various JCRC elections that are going on now...
We've also held a number of events to provide for the desire displayed last year to have some more intellectual events based around LGBT: So far we have had a debate on the works of Julie Bindel and a(nother) film night and then a Christian discussion session for people interested in how LGBT interacts with the religion. We were very lucky to be able to host the two extremely LGBT friendly chaplains of the university, Rory and Tony who were very keen to share their view that you *can* be LGBT and a Christian, without contradiction. We've also worked with our committee to provide LGBT drop ins every week this term for everything from an informal chat, through caffeine intake and chocolate munching to dealing with serious welfare issues when they've come up. As part of these we also provide condoms, pregnancy tests etc on request.
On the campaign front the early part of this term was quiet, but we are finalising our plans for an estrangement campaign (week 9 this term) and our major Love Without Borders Campaign which is planned for week 6 next term and deals with issues of asylum, immigration and international rights of LGBT students. We will also be cooperating with YUSU Welfare in all their campaigns, in particular focusing on running a sexual health campaign early next term.
Finally we have represented LGBT issues and rights (and students in general) on both Union Council and the Union co ordination committee as well as Equality, Welfare and Diversity committee. We have been working with the NUS to strengthen the campaigning side of our movement here in York through attending an LGBT Activist training day which complimented the NUS Liberation day we attended over the summer, which was based further towards the welfare side of YUSU LGBT's role.
As ever, if anyone has any issues they'd like to discuss, ideas for campaigns or events, please contact us at lgbt@yusu.org!
Regards,
Sarah Fennell & Ben Humphrys
