SeLBGT Officer Election Manifesto, Michaelmas 2009
TAZ RASUL
Three principles: “Uni”-lateralism, Inclusivity and Awareness
“Uni”-lateralism.
This beautifully-coined term means multilateralism with the whole university, as one entity and asseparate colleges. College LBGT groups seem to exist in their own vacuums, only connecting with one another duringformals. But we can certainly benefit from more intercollegiate communication and CUSU LBGT integration. We should allknow what’s happening on a uni-wide scale naturally and without specifically having to seek it out; that is the nature of acommunity. I have engaged in discussions with past and current JCR and MCR LBGT reps and members from a variety of colleges, to inform myself of what works and what does not work, what advice people who held this post would give, andwhere we need to go from here. I have been on the LBGT scene for over a year now, and have built up pretty solidconnections to this open and friendly contingent. Little may we all know, CUSU LBGT has a number of different branches(e.g. grad, trans, bi, men’s, women’s, staff) and it usually takes individual research and initiative to get involved with them,which should not be the case. I am also a big supporter of political involvement, interest and transparency, and feel thatthe actions and discussions of CUSU and of the JCR should be more accessible and well-known. I can mobilise this changefor the SeLBGT group.
Inclusivity.
SeLBGT is part of the JCR and therefore part of the entire college community, but it’s easy for it to appearirrelevant and unwelcoming to a large number of students. “Not Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Trans? Then sorry, this doesn’tconcern you.” This should not be the atmosphere at all. Firstly, many people don’t acknowledge themselves as comingunder any of these four categories – I know that I don’t, and the term makes me feel uncomfortable. It deliberatelyexcludes straight people and therefore seems quite separatist, which is completely against the original integrationist aimsof the LBGT movement. It forces people to label themselves before entering, and is therefore offputting towards the manypeople at this age who are unsure, questioning or curious. It may come across as only open for new membership at thestart of Michaelmas, and then closed off, unheard and cliquey for the rest of the year. We need to rectify this by makingpeople aware of our hospitable presence all year round. And LBGT should not be thought of as a society which onlyorganises drinking events and club nights; for those who prefer daytime socials, informal events and discussions anequally supportive and close LBGT community should exist for you too!
Awareness.
This works in both directions. We need to work on SeLBGT visibility. SeLBGT plays an important and uniquerole in a welfare-oriented as well as a political and social capacity. Everyone should know that we exist, and that ourfigurative doors, and my actual door, is always open for those who want to talk (about their personal problems as well aswider, more objective issues). As well as people being aware of us, we need to be more aware of others. I support JCR andCUSU transparency and awareness, because this is our college and our university, and we need to be a democratic part of it. Also, we do not live in SeLBGT isolation. There are sexuality-related things happening everywhere 24/7, including news,crimes, campaigns, triumphs, debates, political scandals and outrages – did you know, for example, that three young menare currently on death row in Iran for the criminal offence of homosexuality? And, in Lithuania, parliament will soon belegislating against the public portrayal or expression of homosexuality or any information about it. As an interested party,we could be made more aware of things like this that we are likely to feel strongly about, and might want to get involvedin. SeLBGT could be so much more than a society for organising swaps (although swaps are imperative!).
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