From 7th until Sunday 9th May, the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool hosted the largest democratic campaign for LGBT rights in Europe; the NUS LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans) Conference. LGBT students and activists nationwide were given the opportunity to come together and set the direction for the campaign year ahead, attend workshops, hear inspirational speakers, network with other LGBT students and to debate and pass policy on issues that affect the LGBT population on a domestic and international level.
Seven students were elected from the University of Essex attended the conference this year to act as representatives for LGBT students at the university, five as delegates (Ashley Rudge, Robert Wayman, Jordan Cohen, Hilevi Furuly Hagen and Alice Wilson) and two as observers (Richard Butler and Emma Harding).
The conference included a series of fringe meetings, giving delegates a chance to present campaigns or discussions on certain issues topics or themes including the “Black and Minority Ethnic Fringe” and the “Labour Students” which was soon followed by the “Conservative Future Fringe”.
There was also an opportunity to find out about specific LGBT campaigns and ways to develop LGBT societies in the form of workshops run by the National LGBT committee, with topics such as sexual health campaigning and LGBT students against fascism.
In addition to the more formal events, a Love Music, Hate Homophobia event was held on the Friday night of the conference raising money for Unite against fascism, held at Liverpool Students Union, with performances from LGBT musicians, singers, DJs and other artists.
Undoubtedly, the highlight of the conference this year was the fourth annual NUS LGBT Awards on Saturday, when the University of Essex LGBT Society were awarded with the Higher Education LGBT Society of the Year award in recognition of the University of Essex LGBT brand’s success.
This year through the work of the society’s executive committee and Students Union committee and officer, there has been a large membership increase, and the lack of women’s representation has been rectified, meaning that there are now more women that attend than men. Not only this, but four successful high- profile campaigns have been run on campus including 500 signatures being collected against the ban on gay men giving blood. This is only the tip of the iceberg on what has been achieved this year.
Robert Wayman, this year’s current Student Union LGBT Officer and next year’s society president said:
“Winning the award not only meant winning £250 towards the society but showing the UK that University of Essex has the Best LGBT society in any UK university and hopefully will attract even more LGBT students to the university allowing the Essex LGBT brand and society to continue to expand”
Ashley Rudge, this year’s current society president and Delegate Leader, added:
“After being short listed for HE society of the year at last year’s conference, it was a great honour to go back and win such a prestigious award this year. The LGBT society has come on in leaps and bounds this year and I would like to thank and congratulate the Students Union LGBT committee and officer, the society’s Executive Committee and every single LGBT student at Essex for making it possible.”
Although the NUS LGBT conference is setting the precedent for change and LGBT people have many new legal rights here in the UK, this is just the beginning. LGBT students still suffer from unacceptable levels of bullying throughout all levels of education and hate crime rates are still rising. The struggle for LGBT human rights in other countries as well as this one is constant and there is so much more to be done.