Pride 2024: 3 nominations for UAL at the Queer Student Awards

The Queer Student Awards (QSA) are the UK’s first annual student celebration focused on talented young LGBTQ+ people who are proudly leading in their lives, and the communities around them. This year, we’re thrilled to see UAL are represented in 3 different categories:

University of the Year 

This category recognises universities or higher education institutions that have created, or are working towards creating, the most inclusive learning environment for its LGBTQ+ students and staff.

The LGBTQ+ Staff Network have played a significant role in helping to create an inclusive environment for our LGBTQ+ community, staff and students alike. They have overseen over 35 events this year, including collaborations with Arts SU and our student community. Some highlights include:

• Lighting up the Chelsea facade with a rainbow for LGBTQ+ History Month earlier in the year
  • There was also a special appearance by drag queen Eileen Eiffell and delicious treats from London’s first queer bakery, ‘Kween Kream’.
• They have collaborated with the Halls Life team to deliver pronoun awareness training for over 500 staff and students
• Secured UAL with our own float at Pride in London 2023 and again for this year’s parade

UAL is committed to creating an environment that is welcoming and inclusive to all, and that is why a comprehensive Trans and Non-Binary inclusion policy is a necessity. Trans people face unique challenges in the workplace, with Stonewall reporting that “half of trans people have hidden or disguised the fact that they are trans at work.” We introduced our policy in 2022 and some key principles of the policy include:

• We will ensure confidentiality for all trans and non-binary staff and students in line with GDPR guidance, not revealing information without the prior explicit agreement of the individual
• Staff will not be excluded from employment or promotion or be redeployed against their wishes because of their trans and/or non-binary identity.
• Students will not be denied access to courses, progression to other courses, or fair and equal treatment while on courses because of their trans and/or non-binary identity.
• Requests to change name and gender on records will be handled promptly and staff and students will be made aware of any implications of the changes. UAL will make name changes without any documentation, or proof of legal name change, upon request unless proof of name change is required (e.g. changes to pension records, changes to degree and qualification certificates)
• UAL understands that transitioning is a personal, not medical, process. It should never be assumed that a trans and/or non-binary individual has gender dysphoria or that they intend to undergo any medical processes relating to their trans and/or non-binary identity

Students can find support on our dedicated support page for Trans and Non-Binary students.

Our sector-leading parental pay and leave provision offers an equal package to staff irrespective of gender, sexual orientation or how people become parents. This means that all salaried employees and hourly paid lecturers are entitled to 26 weeks of full maternity or paternity pay. Whilst not explicitly an LGBTQ+ policy, it ensures that LGBTQ+ employees receive the same support and financial security as their heterosexual and cisgender colleagues, helping foster an inclusive workplace.

We also introduced Allyship toolkits that span Ace allyship, Bi allyship and Trans and Non-Binary allyship. All of the toolkits are available on our internal staff intranet, and we encourage our staff to make use of them, as we understand the importance of all staff learning how they can be allies to people with different LGBTQ+ identities.

This Pride Month, you’ll see our LGBTQ+ community platformed and celebrated so that we can enjoy the vast talent and creativity within our University. If you identify as LGBTQ+ and would like to contribute, whether during Pride or any other time throughout the year, you can email ic@arts.ac.uk

Role Model of the Year in Education

This category recognises an LGBTQ+ professional, in an education setting, whose work most inspires the people around them. Carley Owen, Student Experience Manager (Residences) and Chair of the LGBTQ+ Staff Network has been shortlisted and most definitely meets that criterion. Carley has led the shaping of a new identity for the social programme ‘Halls Life’, introducing student EDI leads and an inclusive programme of activity. Carley is a driving force for inclusivity and has had an incredible output of successes both in her role within the Accommodation team and in her voluntary position as network chair.

Carley’s achievements include:

• Partnering with Trans in the City for the first ever Trans and Non-Binary student ambassador programme, which will launch officially later this month
• She is working on ‘Queer Peers’, a podcast which platforms LGBTQ+ students and encourages them to share their stories and celebrate who they are. The podcast will launch later this month
• Carley has put together a range of events for staff as part of her role as network chair, ensuring that our LGBTQ+ community have opportunities to come together, including the pronoun training and illumination of Chelsea facade previously mentioned

Impact of the Year 

This category is for the QSA finalist whose individual work has had the biggest impact on the LGBTQ+ community. UAL understands that the work isn’t done and creating and maintaining an inclusive environment are 2 different things, and that is why LGBTQ+ inclusion is an ongoing priority for our EDI team. Whilst we’ll be hoping to take home the win, the most important thing is that our community feels safe and welcome. That is why staff and students are encouraged to report cases of harassment via Tell Someone, a point of contact to report incidents and access support in relation to racism, bullying, harassment or sexual violence.