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Since starting at the University of Sussex, I have found nothing but a welcoming and warm atmosphere across campus from colleagues far and wide. Being part of the LGBTQ+ Staff Network (and its committee) has only amplified this feeling. I have never felt that I have had to shy away from who I am. Brighton (and Hove, actually) have a special reputation as a queer-friendly locale, and it speaks well of Sussex that it recognises this and fosters the same ethos.

I’ve been an active member of Brighton’s LGBTQ+ community since my arrival year (some fifteen years ago), a community and scene that suffered a devasting loss when Miss Jason (Jason Sutton) passed away last April. Jason was not just a legend of drag, community activism, and Brighton (yes, and Hove, actually!) but a close personal friend. I had the support of colleagues, and it was recognised that the need to attend the funeral of ‘close family’ can mean different things to different people, especially LGBTQ+ persons.

Sussex has undeniably been implicated in controversy surrounding LGBTQ+ identities, politics, and culture, but the current Senior Leadership have – to my mind – displayed only unambiguous recognition of and support for LGBTQ+ identities, equalities, and persons. Our VC’s response to the OfS’s punitive decision has been nothing short of inspiring, and suggests to me that there has never been a better time to be proud at Sussex. I am happy to be here.

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I am a proud bisexual representative and LGBTQIA+ co-chair at Sussex. Being queer at Sussex means walking around campus and seeing our beautiful students and staff of so many different identities. It’s important to create spaces where all queer members of our university can feel safe and comfortable, and I believe that being part of the staff network helps me contribute to that. I stand firmly in support of our whole community, advocating for our rights and standing against hate.

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Keira Thomas  (Co-Chair)

(she/her)

It’s truly wonderful to co-chair a dedicated and supportive committee who nurtures inclusivity, belonging, and meaningful connections within the LGBTQIA+ community at Sussex. We wholeheartedly stand united with all our trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming staff and students, and stand tall and proud in amplifying and echoing LGBTQIA+ voices.

Hermione La Chapelle (Co-Chair & Bisexual Rep)

(she/they)

I am a proud bisexual representative and LGBTQIA+ co-chair at Sussex. Being queer at Sussex means walking around campus and seeing our beautiful students and staff of so many different identities. It’s important to create spaces where all queer members of our university can feel safe and comfortable, and I believe that being part of the staff network helps me contribute to that. I stand firmly in support of our whole community, advocating for our rights and standing against hate.

Helena MacCormack (Vice Chair & Bisexual Rep)

(she/her)

Being a member of the Committee is an ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe, welcoming space for all LGBTQIA+ staff at the university - no one left out.

Ian Sinclair (Secretary)

(he/him)

With our VC recognising a political context that presents perhaps the biggest threat to LGBTQIA+ people in recent times, and making explicit commitments to fostering an inclusive culture for LGBTQIA+ at UoS, it is a great time to proud at Sussex.

Clare Brown (General Committee Support)

(she/her)

Giving general support to the LGBTQIA+ Staff Committee as passionate about creating inclusive safe spaces and a sense of community for our network members.

Natalie Waite (General Committee Support)

(she/her)

My role can be isolating at times, so having the connection to the LGBT+ Staff Network is really important. As a newer member of the Committee, I am passionate about learning more about our community and helping to facilitate events that bring our Network together.

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A black toilet door covered in pride flags, posters and graffiti.

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I came out as lesbian in 1985, when I was 17. It was a very different landscape in those days - there was no such thing as marriage (or even civil partnerships) for same-sex couples, Section 28 was still in full swing, and it felt like the tabloid press had free-rein to publish a constant stream of homophobic content. For me at the time the idea of being open about my sexuality at work was terrifying.

When I started working at the University in 1990 one of the first things I did was join the Gay Soc, which met weekly in a small room in Falmer House. This was mainly made up of students, so being a staff member, with a non-academic background, this was very different to anything I’d been involved in before.

Being part of the GaySoc made me feel much happier to be open about myself, and led me to get involved in the Anti Section 28 campaign ‘Stop the Clause’, the Brighton Ourstory Project (who published Daring Hearts, an excellent collection of memories of LGTB Brighton from the 1950s and 60s), and the Oh Yes We Are alternative panto group, where I co-wrote and acted in their second panto ‘Whoops Aladdin’.

Through the GaySoc I made a network of new friends, which in turn led me to volunteer for Brighton LGBT Switchboard, where I staffed the phone line twice a week, offering advice and support. This also made me feel far more self-confident and resulted in a widening of my social network.

Being part of these grassroots movements and societies gave me an interest in the history of the LGBT+ movements, and even led to me writing a book about terminology and slang in the LGBT+ world.

Now, 30+ years later I still work for the University, and am so happy to see the support for LGBT+ staff and students, with events like LGBT+ History Month being openly celebrated and everyone, regardless of their identification being able to take part. We have also now got a LGBT+ Network for staff, which I have been a member of since it started.

It’s probably come with age, but also with the knowledge that there is now so much support at the University that I have become far more self-assured in being open about my sexuality and lifestyle

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Working as Trans and Non-Binary Staff Network chair has been so important to me - as a trans person I know about the impact of having to advocate for yourself, and how often our rights are framed as a debate topic. It can often feel hopeless pushing against an immovable force - asking for things that others are given without thought. But then I look beside me and see that there are many of us, all pushing towards creating something better and I feel hopeful.

Every year we aren't the leading university for LBGTQ+ staff and students I see as a missed opportunity - we need to be talking and working with our staff and students about what they need. I want our staff to truly trust that Sussex cares and supports them - through actions not just words. Sussex has a lot of work to do, and we must roll up our sleeves and get to it. Progress is fought for, and we intend to win.

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I have been lucky to have always felt safe and able to be open about my queer identity at Sussex, largely because there is such a vast community of queer people, and I often see those with similar identities and experiences to mine reflected throughout the University.

There is always more we can do in regards to celebrations of intersectionality, and ensuring all queer people not only feel accepted at Sussex, but also at home. Recognising the wide and varying experiences and realities of LGBT+ people, and providing solidarity, safety and care to all in our community is where we must focus our efforts.

Often the outside world, wrapped as it is in political and cultural discourse, can be a daunting environment for queer people to live freely and openly. The ability for Sussex to provide a safe place to land for the queer community, amidst shifting and oftentimes frightening reforms relating to our own existence, is something which cannot be understated as a progressive institution.

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Love of varieties, gentle and kind,

Ecstasy and whirlwinds colonise the mind.

Sexuality questioned - doubts did rise,

Bisexuality led to an identity that’s mine.

Indescribable as a journey that is my own,

A feeling of belonging - a feeling of home.

Natural connections and feeling free,

Connecting with myself - I am proudly me.

Being a lesbian, I feel so proud and part of something special and sacred. I love the diverse identities of the LGBTQIA+ people I work with in various capacities - they're not just my colleagues, they're my LGBTQIA+ family who bring me a strong sense of belonging, solidarity, and connectedness that I'm truly grateful for.

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A white woman with long blonde hair, wearing a waistcoat and lesbian tie, stands in front of stained glass.

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Part of our responsibility in the Library is cultivating a learning environment where everyone feels supported in their studies, regardless of their identity. As a queer woman, it's important to me that queer students and academics alike know that the University is for them just as much as anyone else. We deserve to take up space here.

As part of the Library User Experience Team I have worked on displays which mark LGBTQ+ History Month, Brighton Pride, World AIDS Day, and Human Rights Day, as well as celebrating and educating about significant queer historical figures. I hope that our displays not only give the queer community and our allies the opportunity to learn a little more about our history, but also signal that they can get on with their work in a safe environment staffed by a team that has their back.

I would like to see the University show up more explicitly for trans and non-binary students, academics, and staff.

Brighton is the rainbow capital of the UK and Sussex has historically held an identity as a rebellious university, rejecting Russell Group status and exhibiting a legacy of radical student protests. I worry that, in the age of the culture wars, we've softened into submission and lost our uniqueness as a seedbed for progressive politics.

The University calls itself "disruptive". I'd like to see this maintained with integrity - one of our core values - in the face of an increasingly hostile environment for our maligned siblings. Trans and non-binary staff and students cannot flourish, professionally or academically, if they are in fight-or-flight, constantly having to defend their identity. The University's reinvention as a safe haven for those vilified and vulnerable may well reinvigorate its confused character in the landscape of higher education.

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Assistant Library Officer, User Experience Team - Library, Heritage and Culture

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I have had a very positive experience of being LGBTQ+ at Sussex. I work in the Division for the Student Experience which is very welcoming and accepting, for example, lots of staff members wear ally and pronoun pin badges on their rainbow lanyards, a visual representation that we are all welcome here. There are lots of support networks too, like the LGBTQ+ Staff Network, that host inclusive events and forums, and create safe spaces for all.

My role can be quite isolating, so having the connection to the LGBTQ+ Staff Network is really important. My job role is varied, so I get to communicate with people from all walks of life across the University and learn from others.

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The School of Global Studies at Sussex University is one of the best employers I’ve worked for in terms of feeling included and being able to be myself. I love that there is an LGBTQ+ staff committee at the University and am pleased to be on the committee, volunteering to help when I can. Situated near Brighton, which is a town that has a proud LGBTQ+ history, there are many community members at Sussex - I remember my joy when I realised that I’d gone from being the only (out) gay in the office in London, to being one of many at Sussex!

I support doctoral researchers and in that, I put the gay and trans flags out on my desk so that doctoral researchers within the LGBTQ+ community know they are welcomed in the School. I recently completed some first aider mental health training, and am keen to support people within the LGBTQ+ community who may be struggling and wish to speak to someone who understands being part of a minority group.

I’ve seen a growing visibility of all our networks including LGBTQ+ and Trans and Non-Binary Staff networks, and what feels like a genuine commitment to inclusion and diversity.

It would be great if the intersectionality between LGBTQ+ and other minority groups were also considered and maybe if the networks could come together more. As someone who lives with Crohn’s disease and ongoing back issues, most of my challenges are more to do with my (hidden) disabilities than my sexuality, but it is an added layer.

I love the academic environment and working at Sussex. I’ve found it to be welcoming and friendly, but also a stimulating environment where personal development is encouraged. We’re so lucky to have such a beautiful and green campus right in the Sussex Downs and not far from the seaside. There are so many opportunities when working at Sussex. For example, as well as various manager courses and mental health first aider training, I have done a couple of short language courses studying Mandarin at our Language Centre. I am currently very excited to have received an offer of a place on the MA in Creative and Critical Writing at Sussex and, with the help of a staff reduction in fees, can’t wait to start this September!

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For me, working at Sussex as an LGBTQ+ staff member can sometimes feel understated. I think this is because we are privileged to work alongside so many kind, capable, and openly LGBTQIA+ people that it's easy to forget how remarkable this is. I think the work of our LGBTQIA+ clubs, societies, liberation groups and staff networks at Sussex is so important for students and staff because it ensures that being part of our community isn't taken for granted. They work to provide safeguarded space for individuals, to bring people together across intersections, to be present for each other, and to hold our institution to account when it's needed. Being LGBTQ+ in the context of these communities makes me proud.

I manage the Spirit of Sussex Award, the University programme that celebrates and rewards the things students take part in outside of their studies. For me, your interests, experiences, and personal development are just as valuable and meaningful as your academic or professional development. It was my passion and interests that led me to volunteer as a co-chair for the LGBTQIA+ network, and also my current role as a Student Engagement Manager.

In this role I am privileged to hear about the amazing endeavours of our students, how their passions and identities shape the things they do and activities they take part in. My favourite time of the academic year is getting to meet so many of our awardees at the SoSA celebration events and honouring their achievements.

Sussex holds a lot of positive memories for me because my partner and I met here as students in 2015. While studying at Sussex, my identity transitioned from "straight", to "bi", to "pan", to "queer". I was so lucky to have felt seen and cared for by my friends, many of whom were on similar journeys. But I also felt seen and cared for by the academic faculty in my department, some of whom were also LGBTQIA+, who left space for open, kind and non-judgemental discussion.

Now I hope to share the same care and openness for students I work with - to be proud in my queerness and louder in my allyship. I have seen how quickly our existence and rights can been considered as a topic eligible for debate, and I know our joy can be perceived a spark to extinguish by some. I have felt the reverberations of perception and policy changes, and seen have seen how friends, colleagues and students have experienced this too.

The changes at Sussex, whether positive or challenging should have the same effect: to make us want to do for better for our LGBTQIA+ students and staff.

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Student Engagement Manager (Spirit of Sussex Award)

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The best thing about being a bisexual woman at Sussex (and in Brighton) is that I don't have to hide it anymore. Being able to hold my partner's hand when walking down the street without the worry of people heckling or staring is the most incredible feeling. When I joined Sussex uni, I was immediately offered to join the LGBTQ+ staff network and continue to feel the warmth and comfort of the network through every newsletter and event invite. I am so proud to wear my pride lanyard. Coming from South Africa, I took ages to come out to myself and even longer to speak to family and friends. South Africans are super conservative and judgemental about homosexuality. It feels amazing to be able to give my partner a kiss in public and not have to hide my sexuality away behind closed doors and locked in bathroom stalls.

As a senior student engagement officer, I work predominantly with students, student connectors and other staff to help deliver a yearly programme that helps students feel like they belong on campus. Sexuality intersects all students across campus and my own experiences give me an insight into how some of them might be feeling and to always make sure that our events and interventions are accessible, appropriate and inclusive.

Coming from South Africa where there is little support for people in LGBTQ+ communities, I was blown away by the kindness, compassion and solidarity in the Sussex LGBTQ+ staff network and student population. I felt encouraged by colleagues around me who were openly speaking about their sexualities. To be honest, it was quite overwhelming. I spent so much of my life masking my sexuality to myself and others, that this was like the pot of gold at the end of the tunnel for me. With that in mind, I see that support growing and I see more people representing allyship or their own identities through badges, lanyards and events around campus.

In all honesty, I think that the LGBTQ+ staff network does an incredible job. I work in the same office as Keira Thomas who is an absolute champion for every one of us in the university. She goes above and beyond to make sure that the network is relevant, inclusive and widely communicated. I think my only hope would be to have a bigger Pride parade movement with a float and many more staff and students taking part in the parade :)

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I have been out since I was aged 16. I have worked in many organisations and sectors and would honestly say that Sussex is where my identity is most "mainstream" and included.

I oversee and am ultimately responsible for equality and inclusion work and all of my various identities are important in helping me think about this.

Reading some of the powerful stories of those in the exhibition took me back to the late 1970s and 1980s when I came out as a teenager and tentatively took steps towards finding a community by volunteering at London Gay Switchboard. At that time, no-less than one-third of the calls that we took were abusive. I also recall the onset of HIV and AIDS followed by Section 28 and the hostility and cruelty engendered by much of the media and others. At the same time, organisations like Outrage, Regard (the UK organisation for disabled LGBTQ+ people that I was involved in), the Food Chain (delivering nourishing meals to those living with HIV and AIDS) and many others were established, amplifying the voices of our community and allies. There remains much work to do but it is also important to see how far we’ve come, and remember those who came before us.

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Pro Vice Chancellor for Culture, Equality and Inclusion

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As someone with responsibility for educating teachers, it is important to share this aspect of my identity. Early on in the PGCE course I organise a forum for discussing my experience as an "out" LGBTQ+ teacher in a secondary school. It allows for fruitful discussions and the opportunity for questions to be asked and experiences shared in a safe environment. This ultimately will allow for our LGBTQ+ teachers to feel safe and valued, and our cis/het teachers to be good allies for LGBTQ+ teachers and pupils in our schools.

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Assistant Professor in Science Education

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I came to Sussex because it had an MA in Sexual Dissidence and Cultural Change. This gave me the impression that not only would acceptance of diversity of sexual orientation and gender identity characterise the University, but that it would be a place in which the importance of queer heritage, culture and identities, could be studied. Those impressions have been borne out in the time I have been here, both as a student and as an academic. I've felt able to be open about my own identity, and able to work on intersectionality and inclusion. I've been involved in staff networks and worked with students on projects, including with the University of Sussex Student Union (USSU) e.g. The politics of queer on campus: https://doi.org/10.1177/1363460720947306

Sussex feels like a node for connections nationally and globally, and between the city and the university through collective participation in research and cultural work.

My identity intersects with my work in many ways, through applying to work at Sussex in the first place, to teaching on the MA in Sexual Dissidence and LGBTQ+ topics on other courses. It intersects with my research into queer culture, especially techno and digital cultures., and my contribution to queer studies and social studies of queer culture. It has informed my interest in working with brilliant local partners such as Marlborough Productions, Queer Heritage South and the Coast is Queer. I've been involved in the LGBTQ+ staff network, and worked on an intersectional equalities agenda as part of my role(s).

When I started working here, Section 28 was still in effect, and although there was much greater acceptance of LGBTQ+ culture than anywhere else in my experience, homophobia was widely accepted. That feels as though it has changed for the most part. Same sex marriages were celebrated in Brighton from 2014, which had an impact on a sense of feeling against homophobia. Out staff - often well known in academic and cultural work - visible student groups, seminars, LGBTQ+ events and alumni over time, have felt linked to positive change. A sense of LGBTQ+ mostly being G in the past has changed over time. There is more lesbian and intersectional visibility; mobilisation around trans rights at the time of the 2004 Gender Recognition Act was powerful. Having the first Drag Soc (2016), which also fronted Drag Kings felt like it contributed to changing again, the sense of who LGBTQ+ spaces are for.

In my experience things are better for LGBTQ+ staff and students when connections are made across the institution, and with the USSU, across the two Universities and the city. They are also better when connections are made across different groups, and both solidarity and intersectionality are considered, because inclusion and diversity enriches individual lives, communities and societies, and can be powerful in many ways.

The ACCA has been a great space for joining up across groups in the community and the University, and contributing to programming QTIPOC cultural production.

I've enjoyed working in a place with visible LGBTQ+ staff and students, and role models, and that has been (and continues to be) a node in global networks of LGBTQ+ and intersectional cultural and political histories.

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Pro Vice Chancellor for Education and Students

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I am the EDI Consultant leading on LGBTQ+ inclusion at Sussex, so I have a very personal investment in the work I'm doing. However, I'm also aware that as someone who is often perceived as a cis woman in a straight relationship, I am relatively cushioned from the effects of homophobia and transphobia - I hope in my role to work for the inclusion of all LGBTQ+ people, especially the most marginalised.

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I am just coming up on my two year anniversary of working at Sussex. I remember one of the first things I was introduced to as a member of staff were the Networks. I had never really considered my sexuality at work before, it wasn't a secret by any means, but it was just not something that I felt was part of my work life. By joining the LGBTQ+ Network within my first weeks gave me a surprising sense of belonging that I had never felt before. It made me feel that who I am, as a whole, was valued and welcome.

I feel like being able to fully embrace my identity at work enables me to bring my own unique experiences to my team. The reverse is also true, being able to interact with people who are unlike me, enriches my experiences and builds strong working relationships based on understanding and mutual respect.

I think more work could be done on training for staff on LGBTQ+ issues faced by the community and focus on fostering ally ship. Perhaps producing training materials or workshops that help demystify things such as pronouns and definitions of different genders or sexualities.

I was so honoured to be able to represent Sussex in the Brighton Pride Parade last year. It felt like a significant life event for a 42 year old lesbian. To not just attend the event, as I have done for many years, but to join the march and show that, not only am I proud of myself, but my work place is proud of me and my identity as well. It was a great feeling :)

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