The School of Health & Psychological Sciences hosted its LGBTQI+ In Academia panel event to share and learn from the lived experiences and perspectives of its LGBTQI+ students and staff.
By Mr Shamim Quadir (Senior Communications Officer), Published
On Monday 5 June, the School of Health & Psychological Sciences held its LGBTQI+ In Academia panel event, inspired by this year’s theme for LGBT+ History Month: #BehindTheLens; celebrating LGBTQI+ peoples’ contribution to cinema and film.
However, instead of the lens of a camera, the audience were able to take a look behind a different type of lens. In this case, the perspectives of the LGBTQI+ students and staff panellists, sharing their lived experiences of academia during their course of study and careers, both at the School and beyond. They also discussed the place of LGBTQI+ perspectives in the higher education system in the UK, including work that has been a success and what more needs to be done.
A commonly shared theme was the significant benefit of studying and working in such a diverse and tolerant city as London, and recognising how LGBTQI+ student and staff experiences could be very different at universities outside the capital.
A theme explored further in the wider group discussion with the audience was the importance of visibility of allyship with the LGBTQI+ community at City, University of London, and continuing to foster a more intersectional approach towards all areas of Equality Diversity and Inclusion, in partnership with the University’s new Office for Institutional Equity and Inclusion.
Dr Danai Dima, Lecturer at the Department of Psychology, and who chaired the event said:
