By Andy McCormick
Members of the LGBTQ+ society at the University of Gloucestershire have united behind why Trans Awareness Week and Trans Day of Remembrance are important to them:
- ‘Talking about trans issues makes them more well known as it stops people from getting attacked for just having identities outside of the societal norm.’
- ‘It makes people aware that we exist as we are not seen within the media.’
- ‘Awareness is the way forward as there is a disconnect between cis and trans people.’
- ‘Every trans person’s experience is unique and it is good to talk about them as it expands the knowledge of our community.’
Young people offer the best potential as they get into conversations about their identities.
It is still a struggle identifying as trans, even in the UK where a lot of progress has been made for LGBTQ+ rights. Trans people statistically are the most likely to be discriminated against in the LGBTQ+ community.
Conversations and get-togethers are essential if trans people are to achieve greater respect and recognition of their rights.
Art has been used as a form of expression, as students got together last week at the Francis Close Hall campus in Cheltenham to craft and colour in self-portraits of themselves.
Creating safe spaces where people can emotionally express themselves as comfortably as possible, whether through drawing or talking has been extremely helpful in improving the wellbeing of trans people.
Not only that but it helps educate people within and outside of the LGBTQ+ community to recognise the power of the identity of an individual, the uniqueness of their stories and what they’ve gone through to embrace who they are, and the pride that comes out of being trans.
The LGBTQ+ society at the University of Gloucestershire remain very open and inclusive, as stated in their Instagram biography ‘a safe space for all’ as they continue to bring people together and advocate for trans rights.
You can follow the University of Gloucestershire’s LGBTQ+ society on Instagram to find out more about the community: https://www.instagram.com/uog.lgbtq/
