Committee Report 24 – 26 April 2009 Nottingham Britannia

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CommitteeReport

24 – 26 April 2009Nottingham BritanniaHotel, Nottingham

If you need this documentin another format contactNUS on 0871 221 8221 oremail events@nus.org.uk

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NUS LGBT CampaignCOMMITTEE REPORT FOR NUS LGBT CONFERENCE 2009NUS LGBT Committee and Summer Training

Back in April, at NUS LGBT Conference 2008 in Nottingham, the NUS LGBTCommittee were elected, along with the NUS LGBT Officers. The Committee for2008/9 are:Open Place – Alan Bailey, University of SalfordOpen Place – Rich Doughty, University of EssexOpen Place – Wes Morrison, University of WarwickWomen’s Place – Vicki Baars, Leeds Metropolitan UniversityWomen’s Place – Jen Daffin, Lancaster UniversityWomen’s Place – Laura Poultney, University of BathBisexual Students’ Representative – Sophia James, University of LeedsBlack Students’ Representative – Mas Naina, SOAS, University of LondonDisabled Students’ Representative – Emily Bowyer, Newman University CollegeFurther Education Representative – Sarah Burton, Castle College NottinghamTrans Students’ Representative – Harri Weeks, University of ManchesterThe committee also has voting places for the three NUS LGBT Officers from thespecial nations. They are:NUS Scotland LGBT Officer – Tom French, Edinburgh UniversityNUS Wales LGBT Officer – Kay Barnes, Trinity Carmarthen College, University of WalesNUS USI LGBT Officer – Chris GeddisTo support and empower the committee, the Campaign ran a three day committeetraining course in July. The content not only included the training of the committeein their roles and responsibilities, but also included safeguarding training andplanning of campaigns and areas of work for the coming year. The committee haveused what they learned at the committee training we provided in the summerdevelop and run workshops at both the activist training days and at students’ unions, with great feedback from LGBT societies and union officers.The two priority areas of work were decided to be; Access to Healthcare andEducation for LGBT students. Since training the new Committee have been involvedin gathering as many regional LGBT society and LGBT officer contacts as possible.They have also been very involved in planning our priority campaigns. In additionto this, this year the Campaign attended over 25 freshers’ fairs, assisting local LGBTsocieties at their busiest time of the year and helping students set up new LGBTsocieties.This year the Campaign has held six meetings of the NUS LGBT Committee:16

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July at NUS headquarters, London11

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August, Leeds Metropolitan Students’ Union20

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September at Salford University Students’ Union8

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November at University of Birmingham Guild of Students9

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January at NUS headquarters, London

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March at Coventry University Students’ UnionIn addition to this the Campaign attended many NUS summer training events thisyear, meeting and helping to train students’ union officers from across the UK. At “Developing Your Members” the Campaign ran an “Out in Sport” workshop aroundLGBT inclusion in university sports activities. Liberation 2008 was a great successthis year, with the Campaign delivering workshops on LGBT issues in institutions andstudents’ union to over 70 students’ union officers.

LGBT Access to Healthcare

One of this year’s priority areas of work for the Campaign is access to healthcare forLGBT students. This issue has come to light in the past year, after studies such asthe Stonewall lesbian health survey have shown shocking findings about both directdiscrimination and lack of knowledge about LGBT identities in the health service. Thecampaign hopes to address this imbalance within the health service, making it moreLGBT friendly and accessible.The campaign has recognised that one of the best ways to campaign on this issue isby involving the expertise and experience of key stakeholders. The campaigntherefore worked hard to create an ‘LGBT Healthcare Manifesto’ which was launchedin March, detailing 10 demands for a more LGBT inclusive manifesto. This attractedthe support of the Terrence Higgins Trust, Stonewall and Unison, and will form thebasis of the work we do on healthcare issues for the rest of the year and beyond.An issue that came out of almost all of the health related policy was the training of junior doctors on sexuality and gender identity issues, often resulting indiscriminatory behaviour, inappropriate treatment being given, or some treatment,such as STI testing for lesbian and bisexual women, being refused. The generalmedical council (GMC) issues guidance on what should be included in undergraduatemedical curriculum, and is currently reviewing its guidance.The campaign has been lobbying the GMC calling for an LGBT friendly curriculum,and to make sure that training on LGBT issues are considered in the review.The Campaign has also been working with Broken Rainbow, an LGBT domesticviolence service, in putting together a research project on LGBT student domesticviolence. This is a great opportunity for the Campaign to be leaders in this area, asthere is no current data in this area. The project will gain vital insight into theactual situation for LGBT students suffering domestic violence. Unfortunately,Broken Rainbow is still waiting for the sign off of important funding to enable us tolaunch the project.The Campaign has continued to work with the NUS Welfare Zone on the sexualhealth coalition, this year focussing on Trans sexual health, sex and relationshipeducation (SRE) and sexual health provision in further education colleges.

Education for LGBT Students

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