LGBTQ+ Officer - (Almost) A Year In the Life

As a small society committee, the event closest to my heart is probably the transgender day of remembrance vigil that we held. It was a tiny event with few attendees, but it was unforgettable. It gave me the opportunity to speak as a transgender student and give a voice to those who otherwise could no longer speak.

On December 1st 2021, myself and the Terrance Higgins Trust held an awareness lecture for World AIDS Day – it was an amazing opportunity to educate about sexual health which seemed originally impossible at the start of the pandemic.

February was a whirlwind of collaboration. Over the course of 28 days, 10 events were held for LGBTQ+ history month. This included a talk with author MJ Barker and a screening of ‘March for Dignity’ followed by a Q&A with an activist and the director from the film. This month really pushed my view of what is possible, and it was amazing to work closely with the LGBTQ+ Staff network and Sebastian Cordoba for some of the events. It was tiring, but so worth it.

Finally, I want to reflect on some of the changes that have been made to make the University of Suffolk even more accepting and welcoming for LGBTQ+ students and staff. Working with the Student Life team, we’ve put together a page for LGBQ+ students and Transgender and Non-Binary students which is a hub of support networks and advice. In addition to this, I worked with the SU to put out a statement that supports the ban of conversion therapy.

The University of Suffolk is a wonderfully diverse university, and it has been such a privilege to reflect that in my work as officer, and make small improvements to ensure that those who study here have the best possible time.

- Darragh

LGBTQ+ Officer Darragh Briscomb can be contacted via su.lgbt+officer@uos.ac.uk and can provide advice and guidance to students.

Student Life