LGBTQ+
New College is a great place to be LGBTQ+ – the JCR’s LGBTQ+ Officer has the responsibility as part of the welfare team to make sure those who are not part of the cis/het community feel welcome and happy at New College. The LGBTQ+ Officer is also responsible for organising events such as drinks, crew dates and dinners in Hall to raise money for LGBTQ+ focussed charities. If you have any concerns even remotely related to being LGBTQ+ in College you can chat to the LGBTQ+ Officer, or any of the Rainbow Peers, who are trained Peer Supporters there to offer support to LGBTQ+ students across all colleges and throughout the wider University. (For more information, email rainbowpeers@admin.ox.ac.uk, or check out their Facebook page.
Get involved:
- The Oxford LGBTQ+ society is at the centre of the University’s LGBTQ+ social and welfare scene, running all kinds of events for LGBTQ+ individuals to socialise, including LGBTQ+ drinks every Tuesday, as well as events for specific identity groups. The Society has Welfare (male and female), Trans, Bi/Pan, Ace, BME, Disabilities and Internationals Reps, and their website is definitely worth checking out, as it has a comprehensive list of social, charitable, and university resources, including a useful guide for those considering transitioning at Oxford.
- Weekly pre-drinks for university-wide Tuesday Drinks. These take place in a room in college (will be the Christopher Cox room above the JCR for the rest of Michaelmas), and are a great opportunity for the community to come together amidst the hustle and bustle of an average week.
- There are lots of LGBTQ+ nights throughout Oxford – The Jolly Farmers is Oxford’s gay pub, open for a pint every day of the week, and Plush, Oxford’s gay nightclub, has big nights on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday for those interested.
- You may also be interested in the OUSU LGBTQ+ campaign, whose purpose is to provide a place for discussion of LGBTQ+ issues. It holds discussions and working groups, which target LGBTQ+ issues and attempt to improve life for LGBTQ+ students. To find out more you can check out their OUSU page here and their Facebook group.
- New College Gender Expression Fund – New College has a fund which provides monetary help for those who need to purchase items to help express their gender identity. If this is something which is relevant to you, then please email the LGBTQ+ rep (pearl.young@new.ox.ac.uko) to find out more.
- Some films which explore LGBTQ+ stories in thought-provoking ways:
- ‘Ma Vie en rose’ (1997) – 1990s French film about Ludo, who is seen as a boy but identifies as a girl – she is patronised by her parents and undergoes a deep emotional journey.
- ‘Pride’ (2014) – Story of the way in which the LGBTQ+ community and the mining community began to support each other against Thatcherite oppression
- ‘Moonlight’ (2016) – Coming of age story of a man growing up in Miami, Florida, who must grapple with his sexuality, as well as the physical and emotional abuse he endures growing up.
- ‘Call me by your name’ (2017) – poignant and dreamy film of homoerotic love in 1980s Northern Italy
Below are some resources for general support, trans, intersex, asexual, sexual health, mental health, assault, abuse & harassment, and intersectional support that you may find useful. If you know of any resources that you think others would find useful but can’t see listed here, or have any other suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact the LGBTQ+ Officer.
Stonewall
Stonewall is an LGBT charity, which works towards creating a better environment and society for LGBTQ+ people. Their website contains a lot of useful help and advice, as well as resources for those looking to get involved with their programmes and campaigns.
There is a section of their Young Stonewall website dedicated to the process of coming out, with reference to both sexual orientation and gender identity, which you can find here. Stonewall also run a hotline for anyone needing support, advice or information:
Hotline: 08000 502020 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5.30pm)
Email: info@stonewall.org.uk
Oxford Friend
https://oxfordfriend1.wordpress.com
The Oxford Friend is a voluntary organisation that provides free and completely confidential information, support and counselling services for the LGBT community in Oxford. They can be contacted via:
Helpline: 01865 726 893 (Tue, Thu, Fri, 7pm-9pm)
Email: confidential@oxfordfriend.co.uk
Switchboard https://switchboard.lgbt/
The Switchboard LGBTQ+ helpline is a confidential service run by LGBTQ+ volunteers, which provides an information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people, and anyone considering any issues around their sexuality and/or gender identity. They can be contacted via:
Telephone: 0300 330 0630 (10am-11pm)
Instant Messaging: on their website
Email: chris@switchboard.lgbt
LGBT Foundation
The Lesbian and Gay Foundation is a national charity delivering a wide range of services to lesbian, gay and bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities. You can find a wealth of support and information on their website, including resources specifically for women, men, trans and young people. They also have information about the services they offer such as support groups, counselling, sexual health help, and many more guides and resources. You can contact them for support and advice via:
Helpline: 03453 30 30 30 (Mon-Fri 10am-10pm, Sat 10am-6pm)
Email: helpline@lgbt.foundation
FFLAG
If one of your main worries about coming out is related to the reactions of your parents or other relatives, the charity FFLAG (Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) can help. As well as advice for members of the LGBTQ+ community and their families, they offer a helpline service:
Helpline: 0845 652 0311 (Mon-Tue, 9am-9pm)
Email: via online form here