Sharing and celebrating individual stories

A project to capture on film inspiring and heartfelt stories about experiences of being lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) here at Sheffield was launched at a recent event as part of LGBT History Month.

The Storying LGBT @ TUoS project began as a collaboration between the LGBT Staff Network and the LGBT Student Committee to create a film documenting the experiences of LGBT students and staff at the University.

Questions ranging from 'what was it like coming out?' to 'what is it like being out and studying/working at the University?' were put to the volunteers in the hope that it will provide people with an understanding of who they are, the challenges they face, and that it will help new and prospective staff and students gain an insight into the LGBT community at the University and in Sheffield.

In his opening speech at the event Professor Sir Keith Burnett paid tribute to those who appeared in the film and emphasised the importance of sharing and celebrating individual stories in creating an open and inclusive environment.

He said: “It is a source of pride to me that this is a university where experience is shared so generously, and to be vice-chancellor at a time in our history where openness is not only possible but welcomed as a central part of who we are as an institution.”

Simon Fanshawe, co-founder of Stonewall, the lesbian, gay and bisexual charity, gave a keynote address which focused on the importance of support for LGBT staff and students in the University context.

He said: “The educational rationale for diversity is about universities being places where we learn. The question is about how we create diversity that leads to better education and our great prize is diversity that drives educational value.”

A lively panel discussion took place in which Professor Elena Rodriguez-Falcon; Professor Jackie Marsh; Jane Wright, head of the Irwin Mitchell diversity group IMEqual; and Neale Gibson, Labour Councillor for Walkley, answered questions from audience members related to LGBT issues including playground bullying, sexuality and religion and the potential for an LGBT centre in Sheffield. Jane Wright also made a strong business case for LGBT support within organisations.

She said: “We want to exceed our client expectations; if we don’t have an internal culture that values diversity we won’t be able to provide the right service to clients. It’s a fundamental part of the business model."
The rich discussion will feed into future LGBT action planning at the University.

For more information and to view the short individual films from each student and staff member appearing in the film click here.

For feedback on the film and to suggest future actions please email Sarah Woodhead