‘A safe and inclusive space to be ourselves’

IN May, LGBT+ members came together in Devon for the South West’s annual LGBT+ Weekender. Mike Foster, an FE college lecturer, shares his experience of his first NEU event.

I was eager to meet new people and hear about their experiences as LGBT+ educators and how different schools and environments work. I felt quite nervous, but everyone was welcoming and embracing of people’s differences. It’s so refreshing to be around other LGBT+ people in education and not to have to explain or code oneself.

We got so much out of the event. The story of the Naz and Matt Foundation was so moving and left many of us in tears. The foundation was set up following the death of Matt’s finance, Naz, who took his own life after his family confronted him about his sexuality.

I was interested to hear about the challenges facing students and adults who are neurodiverse and LGBT+. It was such a safe and inclusive space and people felt able to be themselves – one of the delegates even felt inspired to come out to their parent.

The biggest takeaway was the importance for young people of having visible queer role models and of being able to celebrate who we are at school. Even small things – a rainbow lanyard, an LGBT+ reading list in the library – can really help. And we don’t have to do everything ourselves; collaboration is key –getting colleagues to help, asking LGBT+ educators to give talks.

I felt full of ideas when I left. It was a treat to meet this group and I can’t wait to go again next year.