The LGBT+ Staff Network will be publishing weekly posts on their dedicated blog exploring the history of LGBT+ people, from the Ancient World to the 20th century. The articles will also uncover notable figures you may not have heard of, such as Anne Lister, the Chevalier d’Eon, and Kamehameha I.
The LGBT+ Student Association is also delighted to announce this year they will be raising vital funds for Mind Out, a mental health service for LGBT+ people. They have chosen this charity for the significant help they have offered to the community not only throughout the years but also throughout the ongoing pandemic. If you would like to donate, please visit their JustGiving page.
Online events taking place include:
- Do it Yourself: Pre-AIDS documentaries by lesbians and gay men in Britain: Dr Marcus Collins will examine the critical importance of television and radio documentaries and current affairs programmes about homosexuality to lesbians and gay men in postwar Britain.
- LGBT+ workshop: This session led by David Wilson will provide guidance for staff about appropriate language covering interactions in the classroom, in meetings, in student support and pastoral care, and in our day to day working lives at Loughborough. It will be a safe, informal space to ask questions without judgement and learn from the trainer and peers.
- The love that dare not speak its name: In his poem ‘Two Loves’ of 1892, Lord Alfred Douglas - the lover of Oscar Wilde - famously described homosexual love as ‘the love that dare not speak its name’. However, literary history shows that in fact quite the opposite was true. If we search through poetic anthologies, we will find endless examples of such love daring to ‘speak its name’. This will be facilitated by Dr Sarah Parker and hosted by UNISON, and all are welcome to attend.
- LGBT+ Association Re-Meet and Greet: If you didn’t get a chance to be involved in the LGBT+ Association last semester, then now is your time. Join this event to find out what the Association is up to, how it functions, and most importantly, what they have planned for you during LGBT+ History Month.
- Virtual Pub Fundraiser Quiz to raise money for Mind Out (more details to be shared soon)
There will additional virtual events taking place for staff and students in February as part of LGBT+ History Month, so please keep an eye out on our website for the latest updates.
The University is committed to making the institution a supportive and inclusive environment for the LGBT+ community all year round. We’ll be sharing the milestones that have contributed to these efforts in recent years, as well as the fantastic events that have taken place at previous LGBT+ History Months - when we were able to be together in-person.
For more information about our staff and student networks, you can visit their dedicated social channels @LboroLGBT and @Loughboroughlgbta.