On the evening of Tuesday 7 February, members of staff, students (including from our Medway campus) and people from the local community came together to celebrate the launch of LGBT History Month. 

Surrounded by reminders of past activists and champions of LGBTQ+ rights from Kent’s history, from the establishment of the first Gay Liberation Group at Kent in 1973, right up to the Lambeth Walk on campus in 2022, attendees took the time to reflect on what LGBT activism has meant before and what it means today. We have clearly come a long way since the 1970’s, through Section 28 and the AIDS pandemic, but there is still so much work to do.  

Local Drag Queen, Dame Jame, mingled and chatted with the attendees, but told stories about how she had been physically removed for a night club she had been booked for in the middle of Pride month just last year. Activist Connor Styche spoke to a room filled with people about the challenges he had faced during his transition from female to male, and the friends his parents had lost along the way. Students gave their testimonials about how hard it is to be the only one in a seminar room who gives their pronouns, or the burden of having to be a spokesperson for the community, as well as the importance of safe, inclusive spaces on campus. 

LGBT History Month is not just for members of the LGBT community; all are welcome at the numerous events and activities that we have taking place across Canterbury, Medway and online. Come and watch Joyland at the Gulbenkian, take part in a Give It A Go activity, listen to some inspiration speakers like Kent Graduate Rebecca Milsom or Dreamland author Rosa Rankin-Gee, staff members can develop their knowledge and understanding at the Trans Allyship or Supporting Communities Experience Collective Trauma in your Workplace webinars. There are Zine Making workshops and quizzes to have fun in; there is something for everyone and most are free with no booking needed. 

Written by Becky Lamyman, Student Services, 08.02.23

We are deeply saddened to hear about the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria on Monday 6 February. Our thoughts remain with all our students, staff, alumni and those of you with family and friends affected by this disaster. 

We have been in contact with our students and staff from Turkey and Syria and have taken immediate steps to support these individuals. The UK Government advice for anyone concerned about relatives or friends should call the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) on 020 7008 5000.

Ways you can help

Council for At Risk Academics (Cara) Emergency Earthquake Appeal for Syria Programme Colleagues and their Families 

Several staff members at Kent work with Syrian academics through the Cara Syria Programme. Following the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria last week, over 150 Cara Syria Programme participants and their families living in the worst-affected areas have been left homeless, several have lost family members and a number of colleagues are still unaccounted for.

The Cara Emergency Earthquake Appeal is raising hardship funds to help those who have been affected reach safer areas and more permanent shelters. Cara has been able to commit an initial sum for immediate distribution, with a view to providing at least 3 months support to Syrian colleagues and their families, many of whom include young children. The more we can raise, the greater assistance we can provide and for longer periods where needs persist.

Another way to support those affected is through the Disasters Emergency Commitee, with immediate priorities focussing on search and rescue, medical treatment for the injured, shelter for those who have lost their homes, heating in safe spaces, blankets, warm clothes, and ensuring people have food and clean water.

Support for students: 

• Lunchtime drop-ins for those affected by Turkey-Syria earthquake. If you’d like a space to talk about how you’re feeling, Student Support and Wellbeing Advisers, College and Community Life Officers and Kent Union staff will be in here for you 13:00-14:00 on Wednesdays in the Locke building, Canterbury campus. Have a look at the events calendar to find out when the next drop-in session is taking place.
• If you’re based in Medway and want to talk to Student Support and Wellbeing staff, please call 01634 888474, or email MedwaySSW@kent.ac.uk.
• 24/7 support from Spectrum Life. If you or a friend need emergency support, Spectrum Life can offer online, text and telephone support from qualified counsellors and mental health professionals. Call 0800 0318227 and press option 1, or Text/WhatsApp ‘Hi’ to: +44(0)7418 360780
• Free 24/7 support from peers and trained professionals with Togetherall.
• Trying to stay positive when the news isn’t blog post from Student Support.

Support for staff: 

• Our Employee Assistance Programme, offering support and counselling to staff
• Managing uncertainty and anxiety caused by world events article from Care First.
• Our Mental Health Support for staff

There is a new Campus Shuttle booking system for our free coach service between Canterbury and Medway campuses. Booking a seat on the service is essential for travel Tuesday 7 February 2023.

You will need to claim your annual travel pass, then you can book your seat(s) up to 2 weeks prior to travelling and up to 30 minutes before you travel. The bookings are applied to your annual travel pass. This can be accessed from the ‘my tickets’ section (the wallet icon if on a mobile). Select ‘View ticket’ and a QR code will appear for the drivers to scan as you board.

To book a seat on the Campus Shuttle Service visit the booking system. For more information on how to book a seat, please read the booking guide.

To track the Campus Shuttle service there is a new app called ‘University of Kent Travel’ which allows you to track the services in live time and is available from the Apple App store and Play Store for androids.

Find out more about the Campus Shuttle. Follow @CampusShuttle on twitter.

Passionate about football? Why not get a team together to join the SoccerZone 5-a-side league? Games are played every Thursday, with space available for new teams to join the league at 17.10 and 18.10.

The League is open to all staff, students and alumni.

Open Session: Thursday 2 February 2023, 17.00 – 19.00

Come along as an individual or as a team to play some friendly fixtures before the leagues start.

League competition

Games: Every Thursday

Location: Park Wood 3G

Entry fee: £40 per team per term – Kent Sport facility fees apply

Leagues start: Thursday 9 February

Visit the SoccerZone webpage for more information and to sign up your team!

LGBT+ History Month takes place every February across the UK, and celebrates all LGBTQ+ individuals and communities, as well as taking the time to reflect on the struggles and traumas of the past, and what still needs to change.

This year’s theme is #BehindTheLens, celebrating LGBTQ+ people’s contribution to cinema and film, which we are interpreting as listening to and honouring the lived experiences of people within the LGBTQ+ community.

LGBT History Month at Kent

There’s lots going on to mark LGBTQ+ History Month at Kent, with events and activities throughout the month for all staff and students to participate in at both Canterbury and Medway campuses and online. You can browse all events for LGBT+ History Month on the dedicated events calendar.

Events in Canterbury

The launch event for LGBT+ History Month at Kent takes place on Tuesday 7 February, and will feature the opening of the LGBTQ+ love letters exhibition, a performance from Drag Queen Dame Jame, and a talk by trans activist Connor Styche about their own experiences.

The #BehindTheLens exhibition (on display in the Marlowe Building lobby from 7 to 28 February) explores our own history at Kent, pulling materials from our archives and also showcasing the Zine Library, created by members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Other events on the Canterbury campus:

• Watch a special preview screening of Joyland, a film about the love between a back-up dancer in a Bollywood-style burlesque and the strong-willed trans woman who runs the show, at the Gulbenkian cinema on Valentine’s day (Tuesday 14 February)
• Make pronoun badges and queer Valentine’s cards, or join the zine workshop with the Queer Zine Library.
• Listen to a talk from local author Rosa Rankin-Gee at Templeman Library on Wednesday 22 February.
• Test your knowledge at the LGBTQ+ quiz night takeover in Woody’s on Sunday 26 February, organised by Kent Union.
• Pop into an event from the Careers and Employability service on LGBTQ+ friendly employers, a coffee and cake morning for CEMS students, or come to the first Period Café, where anyone can come to talk about period anxiety, period dysphoria and chat in a safe and supportive environment (and have some cake!)

Events in Medway

From Wednesday 1 February, you can come and see the LGBTQ+ In Lockdown exhibition (previously on display on the Canterbury campus) in Drill Hall Library.

Other events to celebrate the month include:

• Test your knowledge at one or both of the LGBTQ+ quiz nights – on Monday 13 and Sunday 26 February.
• Get crafty at a pronoun badge making workshop on Tuesday 21 February.
• Watch a marathon viewing of Heartstopper – about coming out and coming of age in school – on Thursday 23 February.

Online events and resources

We have explored the Special Collections Archives at the University of Kent to explore our LGBTQ+ history, take a look at the timeline on our LGBT History Month webpage.

There are also lots of online events:

• Watch the play Angels in America on-demand – this production explores the AIDS crisis in the 1980’s.
• Listen to an online talk by Rebecca Milsom, a Kent graduate who speaks openly about her experiences being LGBTQ+ in the world of work on Thursday 16 February.

For online opportunities to meet and chat with our LGBTQ+ Staff and Student Networks and other resources, look at the LGBT+ History Month events calendar.

If you have any questions or feedback about LGBT+ History celebrations and information at Kent, email the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team: StudentEDI@kent.ac.uk

Using social media to share your participation? Tag posts with #LGBTHMKent23 and #BehindTheLens

Written by Becky Lamyman and Joshua Stevens, Student Services, 01.02.2023