LGBTQ+ Students

• Over 1 in 13 UK domiciled applicants identify as LGBT+, and 1 in 250 identifies as transgender. Students intend to be more open about their sexual orientation and gender identity in higher education, with overall levels of openness increasing from 64% at school to an expected 82% at university or college. (UCAS, 2021)
• Two in three LGBT students (64%) report experiencing discriminatory remarks, with one in two (56%) experiencing sexual harassment and a third experiencing hate crime. By comparison, non-LGBT students are 1.6 times less likely to report discriminatory remarks and 10.5 times less likely to experience hate crime (Institute of Student Employers, 2019) Two in five LGBT students (42%) have hidden their identity at university for fear of discrimination. (LGBT in Britain, 2018)
• 51% of BAME LGBT people face discrimination within the LGBT community (Stonewall, 2018)
• One in five Students have been encouraged by staff to ‘go stealth’ (hide their Trans/Non-Binary identity to avoid transphobia and bigotry), which may explain why some students reported a lack of confidence in staff handling reports of abuse (Transgender and non-binary students’ experiences at UK Universities, 2022)
• 17% of trans students have reported being unable to use the toilet they feel comfortable with at university as gender neutral toilets are still not the norm at all UK university campuses. Trans and/or gender non-conforming students often must use a gendered toilet that doesn't necessarily match their identity (Universities UK, 2022)
• Almost half of LGBT disabled students (47%) have been the target of negative comments or conduct from other students. (LGBT in Britain, 2018)

Did you know we have an LGBT+ Society? It's just one of the many amazing groups you can get involved with! Explore all the societies we have to offer at the Liverpool Guild by visiting: https://www.liverpoolguild.org/groups. You can even filter the page by category to easily find the societies that match your interests.

The LGBT+ Society at the University of Liverpool aims to brings its members together in a safe and fun social environment, and campaign for change and progress for LGBT+ rights in society. Their events are for LGBT+ people and allies, and whether you are wanting to join to have a good time at university, or there’s a cause you want to raise awareness for, this society is there to support you to do that.

Every year, we celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month as part of our wider More Than a Month campaign. This is a celebration of equality and acceptance, and an opportunity to educate on the community’s history and progression, highlighting the individuals and groups whose shoulders we stand on. The month also recognises that there is far more to be done and in looking back and learning from the past, we must also look to the future.

The Guild hosts a variety of events and activities for students to get involved in. In previous years, this has included The Big Gay Quiz, LGBTQ+ student meetups, free Trans Ally and pronoun badges available from the Guild reception, LGBTQ+ book discussions, and an LGBTQ+ movie night featuring Pride (2014) at the Guild Cinema, all as part of our More Than a Month campaign.

If you have any ideas about how we can recognise LGBTQ+ History Month this year, we’d love to hear from you — please get in touch!

Liberation inbox - liberation@liverpool.ac.uk

LGBTQ+ student-led and focussed campaign wins include:

Trans in the Ban campaign – The Guild worked in partnership with a student activist, to campaign against the exclusion of Gender Identity Conversion Therapy from the government’s legislation on banning Conversion Therapy practices in the UK. This included a “Ban Conversion Therapy” rally on University Square and encouraging students to write to their MPs and sign a petition to reinstate Gender Conversion Therapy into the ban.

GRA Consultation Inquiry – The Guild worked in collaboration with students on a Change It submission for the Guild to respond to the government GRA consultation inquiry which was submitted.

Gender Expression Fund – The Gender Expression fund is in place to remove some of the financial barriers and help students to reach gender affirmation fund. The fund is open to any University of Liverpool students who are trans, nonbinary or gender diverse and would like items to help them their gender identity. You can find out more here; Gender Expression Fund

1. POSE

2. It’s a Sin

3. Wentworth

4. RuPaul’s Drag Race

5. Hollywood

6. Queer Eye

7. Feel Good

8. The Haunting of Bly Manor

9. Trinkets

10. Sex Education

11. Sense8

12. Tales of the City

1. The Boys in the Band

2. Carol

3. Gods Own Country - (content warning)

4. The Imitation Game

5. Disclosure

6. Happiest Season

7. A Secret Love

8. Pride

9.Booksmart

10.Ammonite

11.Portrait of a Lady on Fire

12.The Death & Life of Marsha P. Johnson

13.All of Us Strangers

14.Love Lies Bleeding

15.Super Deluxe

16.Major!

1. All The Things She Said by Daisy Jones

2. Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson

3. Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski

4. Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal by Jeanette Winterson

5. Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

6. The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff

7. Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman

8. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

9.Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

10.Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

11.Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Leer

12.A Little Life

13.This feast of a life

• DrugRehab - A web resource that provides information and support to people facing substance use disorders especially within the LGBTQ+ community. Visit DrugRehab.com
• Bi.org - A resource listing a variety of community and support organisations for bisexual people. Visit Bi.org.
• Gendered Intelligence - A not-for-profit organisation aiming to increase understanding of gender diversity, which runs youth groups and a mentoring scheme for trans people aged 13 to 25. Find out more about Gendered Intelligence.
• Switchboard - An LGBTQ+ helpline based in London that can take calls from anywhere in the UK, available 10am to 11pm. Find out more about Switchboard.
• IMMAN - A peer support group for LGBTQ+ Muslims that aims to help reconcile faith with sexuality and gender identity. Find out more about IMMAN.
• Queer Youth Network - The UK's alliance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other gender/sexual minority young people. Find out more about the Queer Youth Network.
• RUComingOut - A website featuring real-life coming out stories from lesbian, gay, bi and trans people. Find out more about RUComingOut.
• Stonewall - A nationwide LGBTQ+ rights charity, offering help and advice (if you are an international student, Stonewall can also connect you to LGBTQ+ groups and support in your home country). The Guild is a proud member of the Stonewall Diversity Champions programme. Find out more about Stonewall.
• TransUnite - Find a Transgender Support Group near you with over 100 verified Trans support groups. Follow the link to find more information on the support provided, meeting times and contact information. Find out more about Transgender Support Groups.
• Sahir’s Gender Proud Over 18’s is a supportive, safe space for members of the trans, non-binary, gender fluid, and gender questioning communities in the Liverpool City Region. They offer different support groups for seeking advice, sharing stories and building connections. You can find more information here - https://www.sahir.org.uk/support-groups/

• Guild Advice - Free, independent, non-judgemental advice on a range of topics including academic issues, wellbeing, accommodation, and university life: 
• Guild LGBTQ+ Support - List of specialist, external resources, organisations and LGBTQ+ groups to help with LGBTQ+ specific concerns, as well as more general issues that LGBTQ+ individuals may be more susceptible to: 
• Guide to University of Liverpool Services- This is a comprehensive overview of the services and support the university offers students, including International Advice and Guidance, Money, Advice and Guidance and Disability, Advice and Guidance. It also contains information on how to access Counselling and Mental Health Advisory services:
• University of Liverpool Money Advice and Guidance - Part of the University’s Student Services offering money managing advice, on things like loans, financial support for carers, emergency short term loans and support schemes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic such as quarantine cost support. 

Changing your name can be a difficult and lengthy process for many people, and we understand the importance of this, especially for our Transgender students. You are of course under no obligation to inform the University or the Guild of this, if you don’t want to, but the Guild are here to support you through this if you do.

Process:

The University make a distinction between legal name and students’ preferred*names (your chosen name). It is easier to update a preferred name than legal name on student records, without supporting evidence.

The University do provide some information on this page about changing your name. You’ll find on this page that it says you are required to provide legal documentation in order to change your name, but we understand that not all students will have this.

If you want to update your preferred name on University records, we would recommend speaking to a Wellbeing Adviser, who are aware of the processes and can be clear which name (legal or chosen) will be used in which circumstances. For example, your legal name may need to be used on certain documents e.g. degree certificates etc.

If you would like to arrange to speak to a University Well Being Adviser, you can do so here. We at the Guild also have our own advice service, who can support you through this process, if needs be. You can contact them at guildadvice@liv.ac.uk. *Please note: The University uses the term “Preferred name” in much of their guidance, which diminishes a trans person’s chosen name. We have included it here for clarities sake in guiding students through this process, to ensure that this can be made as simple as possible. This in no way reflects the Guild’s views on chosen names, and we do not seek to condone the use of such a phrase in this context.

Process:

The University provide some guidance on changing your gender marker here. You’ll find on this page that it says you are required to provide legal documentation in order to change your gender marker, but we understand that not all students will have this.

If you would like to arrange to speak to a University Well Being Adviser, who will be able to assist you, you can do so here.

The Guild also have our own advice service, who can support you through this process. You can contact them at guildadvice@liv.ac.uk.

We understand the importance of being addressed by your correct pronouns, and the emotional distress and frustration that being incorrectly addressed can cause. We know that it can be very difficult to repeatedly correct staff on your pronouns, when it should be such a simple thing for people to understand. The below guidance is provided by the University to help you update this.

Process:

The University provide some guidance on changing your pronouns here. You’ll find on this page that it says you are required to provide legal documentation in order to change your pronouns, but we understand that not all students will have this.

The University do have a page on general use of pronouns, for example in email signatures, Zoom names and Canvas profiles, which may be of use to some students: - https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/about/equality-diversity-inclusion/our-initiatives/lgbtqia-equality/why-pronouns-matter/what-you-can-do/

If you would like to arrange to speak to a University Well Being Adviser, who will be able to assist you, you can do so here

The Guild also have our own advice service, who can support you through this process. You can contact them at guildadvice@liv.ac.uk.