End of the year report

 

·        BLACK HISTORY MONTH

o   Young Black Graduates UK:
We organised a talk with YBG on networking, they were accompanied by a representative of the Civil Service who talked about their Fast Stream scheme. 
About YBG:
      A group created for young black graduates to offer each other support;
for graduates to discuss their own experiences;
for people to share knowledge about work experiences or other opportunities;
for discussions about current issues that affect young black graduates.
and to create networking and careers events for young black graduates.
FB group link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/206655282748956/
   

o   "Black History Month: is it enough?"
We had a talk with a BME panel of speakers including Professor Humayun Ansari OBE, Professor of Islam and Cultural Diversity in the department of History at Royal Holloway. The speakers answered four questions and after each one we had a brief discussion open to the floor. It had been a very engaging and thought provoking event.

 

Here are the questions we asked:

• What is being black and what does it mean to you?
• Do you think BHM is inclusive and representative of various cultures?
• Do you think that there is too much focus on American history and how do you think the national curriculum can be more inclusive of black history?
• Is it a shame that in 2013 there is still a need for BHM?



 

o   Mangaliso Asi:
Following the BHM talk ,we had a live performance at the Stumble Inn, by Mangaliso Asi http://www.mangalisoasi.com , a spoken word and rap performer inspired by South African music; the atmosphere was great and it really complemented  the spirit of the day with a sense of community :). 

·        BME SUBCOMMITTEE
 After Christmas I submitted a motion to have a BME subcommittee, I believe it would be ideal for future officers to start off with subcommittee elections and assign roles in order to accomplish more. The motion passed :D!
 

·        CULTURAL EDUCATION VIDEO SERIES
With the subcommittee we held a few meetings discussing ideas and decided to start a video series to celebrate the cultural diversity and cultural perspectives on a number of topics. We had many topics in mind but between assignments and all we only managed two. Here they are:

o   Relationship attitudes across cultures

 

o   "Beauty regimes across cultures" video link (can't upload here for some reason :L):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Is1O0ZRabs&feature=youtu.be

 

 

·        BOH PROJECT
My view was to celebrate the cultural diversity we are so privileged to have at RoHo. I believe that it would be really good if people were more culturally curious on campus. We have an invaluable opportunity to learn about different cultures and within an increasingly more globalized society, in which totally different cultures coexist, I belief it is crucial to understand each other. With the Beauties of Holloway project we have barely scratched the surface in revealing the beauty that lays within both physical and cultural diversity, nonetheless we are very pleased with the results :). Beauties of Holloway is an extended, culture focused version of Faces of Holloway and it will be released as an insert of the first Orbital edition in the new 2014/15 term. I hope you enjoy it!

 

·        THANK YOU TO ALL!
I want to give a massive shout out to everyone who's been by my side and helped me realise my vision and ideas. I had so many ideas, and there is so much more I would have done, but I would not have managed half of what I have accomplished without the support of these people: thank you Sidonie, Jane, Chama, Dunola, Diana and Jack Kilker. I also want to openheartedly thank all those who morally supported me: all the liberation officers, and all the students (you know who you are) who encouraged me and gave me valuable feedback on how I was doing. I was honoured to receive the Laurel Award!
Thank you all, it's been a wonderful ride :)

Violet
 

 

 

Preparing for exams

Just a short post, because like everyone else, I'm lost in revision, but
-remember the counselling service do 'relax' related stuff
-remember it's blogging against disablism day coming up
-keep an eye out for us next term - we haven't disappeared!

Finally my officer update!

It's been a month and a week since the end of Black History Month (BHM). With the help of two lovely (then still unofficial) subcommittee members, we were able to successfully put on three events. First we had a careers centred talk on networking with the participation of Young Black Graduates UK and the Civil Service promoting its Fast Stream Scheme.

me and the YBG reps

Next, we had a heated and passionate discussion/talk in ALT1: "Black History Month: is it enough?". The panel of speakers was diverse and passionate about the topic and so was the audience. We raised some controversial questions on BHM and racial discrimination.

Finally Mangaliso Asi, a South African conscious rapper, came to perform for us at the Stumble Inn.

Then my very talented friend and DJ Michael, played some cool beats for us.



I also attended a BME officers National Networking workshop event at UCL, organised by the UCL BME officer Shanell Jonson. There I learned more about BME related issues in education and careers and made some new friends :). It was very interesting and insightful and gave me a bunch of ideas.

 

So Black History Month was successful but not as much as it could be. For starters there should be an ongoing sense of cultural education not only limited to one month of the year. Secondly I aim to set a standard this year and lay the foundations for a progressively inclusive and representative community for students at Royal Holloway. I want to create something that can be built upon in the years to come. Such as starting RHUL BME traditions to enable cultural diversity and exchange to really flourish and enrich our already esteemed university. 2013/14 is the first year for this SU role and there is a lot to build so I decided that to avoid getting my work lost ,I will create a BME officer handbook to support the next officer.

In the past couple of weeks I have had a meeting with my prospective subcommittee and we discussed the future steps to tackle my manifesto. We have many ideas (all of which I won't reveal just yet) and some future plans include CULTURAL EDUCATION in the form of picture/video campaigns and meetings and collaborations with cultural societies. I would like to get a closer relationship with the cultural societies so I will find the time to participate to their events in the next term. I think it's important that we communicate and educate each other on our cultures.

I have written a motion to have a BME subcommittee and this passed at the last GM which is great!

I met with the general manager and we reviewed and evaluated the events I held during Black History Month. The meeting was very insightful and helped me gain a wider perspective on what to do and how to do it to obtain better and long lasting results.

I have sketched a BME officer logo which should hopefully be ready at beginning of term :)

I have started the process of incorporating Afro-Caribbean and/or other suppliers in the market/campus.

I went to the International Students event at the SU and introduced myself to some international BME students, which was lovely and fun. For the occasion I prepared a flyer (see below) which describes my role and views and has my contact details. I intend to circulate this so you may see it around!

Finally, I went to the NUS Black Students Winter Conference, where I made some connections which will help me with organisation in my role.

I would love for any of you to share your thoughts, ideas, criticisms and experiences, so email me, find me on twitter (@surhulBME) or facebook (surhulBME), get in touch and let me know if you want to get involved with my work! I will be looking for another subcommittee member before the next GM. I am your representative and want to do the best job I possibly can :).

L.V.B BME officer

SURHUL on tour: National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts Conference 2013

Last weekend, many members of the SU went to Birmingham for NCAFC’s national conference. Over 100 members of the campaign from Aberdeen to Brighton came together to discuss the future of the campaign over the next year and to elected the National Committee for that term.

Politically, this conference was immensely successful on several fronts:

(1) We, the campaign, have managed to galvanise and organise the campaign into what it was established to be: a network of anti-cuts groups organising against austerity with a clear, radical programme.

(2) We have maintained and cemented our no-bullshit policy to oppressive behaviours, particularly this weekend in regards to Socialist Party loyalists' abuse apologism. Today the campaign proved that it had no time for party members covering for one of their ex-members and denying the allegations of domestic abuse levelled against him by his ex-partner. This made me immensely proud of our campaign.

(3) We have elected a strong national committee as well as strong, organised liberation caucuses. This includes the new set of local groups on the national committee which will help aid the connection between the NC and local, grass-roots activism.

(4) We have set out a clear direction for the national campaign to take through the policy passed. We have committed to fighting: against the marketisation of HE and cuts to benefits for students, for student-worker solidarity in education and across the public sector, for international solidarity with Greek struggles, for the proliferation of left-wing discussion groups (such as RHUL Left Forum and Birmingham's Broad Left) and to continue campaigning on student housing.

(5) And finally, we have shown, both on conference floor and on the cold forecourt of the Aston Webb building, solidarity with University of Birmingham Occupation who are fighting their university management who took out an injunction against them which sparked a demonstration of over 200 students and alumni on Tuesday.

For more information and to join NCAFC visit: www.anticuts.com

LGBT+ officer update

I've been very busy this week, so here's a quick update on what I'm working on. To get involved please email me (address below).

World AIDS Day 2013

World AIDS Day in on the 1^st December every year. This year we’re selling red ribbons for National AIDS Trust (NAT) and screening a recent documentary on the AIDS epidemic since the 90s on Wednesday 4^th December.

Action on Russia

I’m in the process of trying to organise a speaker tour of a Russian exile for British universities to talk about their experiences and the experiences of their friends in Russia under Putin’s new homophobic laws. It’s slow in progress, but hopefully it will get organised for next year.

I’m also trying to find out about any plans for a demonstration outside the Russian embassy on the first day of the Sochi Olympics (7^th February). Again, progress is slow, but that will hopefully be organised in the next few weeks.

LGBT+ forum

Sadly only 1 person joined me in Imagine on Monday for the first LGBT+ forum; however we did manage to work out what we can do to get more people there in the future. I’ll be organising another one for a Wednesday at 5pm. The next meeting will be a re-run of this meeting, where we’ll be discussing what we as a union can do to help in the struggle of LGBT+ Russians against the repressive regime there at the moment.

Trans Media Watch talk

On Wednesday, Helen Belcher from Trans Media Watch gave a talk on trans representation in the media in a collaboration with the SURHUL Women and Marginalised Genders Network. The talk was really informative, particularly around Helen’s report to the Leveson Inquiry and the change in the media from completely misrepresenting trans people to representing them, but in a negative way. (Follow-up blog to come soon.)

Like my new page on Facebook here, and If you have any LGBT+ issues please email me at lgbt@su.rhul.ac.uk

Jack

Timeline of LGBT rights in Putin's Russia

[Content warning for homophobia, including description of a homophobic murder]


2006: Ryazan region bans “propaganda of homosexuality among minors,” making “promoting homosexuality among juveniles” punishable by fines of up to 20,000 rubles (£380)

2007: LGBT activist petition the mayor of Moscow to life the ban on the pride parade, but are met up violent neo-Nazis who assault them – the police to nothing until they arrest the LGBT activists.

January 2010: Federal Constitutional Court backs the Ryazin law

October 2010:  European Court of Human Rights rules that the ban on Moscow Pride in 2007, 2008 and 2009 violates the Convention for the Protection of human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

June 2011: 20 LGBT activists protest the pride ban in St Petersburg. 14 arrested for “disorderly conduct”.

January 2012: 3 LGBT activists arrested for holding signs promoting LGBT education in Arkhangelsk.

February – August 2012: propaganda bans in Kostroma, St Petersburg, Magadan, Novosibirsk, Krasnodar Krai, Samara, Bashkortostan; bringing the total to 8 regions.

April 2012: Activist fined for holding signs promoting LGBT rights in St Petersburg

May 2012: 40 LGBT activists arrested and charged with organising and participating in an unauthorised gathering for trying to unfurl a rainbow flag outside Moscow City Court.

July 2012: St Petersburg fines over 70 people under its anti-LGBT propaganda law.

September 2012: Moscow authorities rule against an LGBT pride parade.

December 2012:  Russian authorities reject 5 requests for authorisation of a protest against the federal anti-homosexual bill.

20^th January 2013: authorised protest of LGBT activists violently broken up by 100 homophobes.

25^th January 2013: TV personality Anton Krasovsky fired for coming out on live TV. Federal anti-propaganda law passes lower house of parliament.

28^th January 2013: LGBT protesters detained.

February 2013: Kaliningrad passes anti-propaganda law which includes adults, rather than just minors.

March 2013: Artem Kalinin attacked in live interview[1]. Putin pushes government and Supreme Court to amend adoption laws so that foreign same-sex couples cannot adopt Russian orphans.

10^th May 2013: Vladislav Tornovoy, a 23-year-old, is killed[2] by his "friends" who torture him, sodomize him with beer bottles, and smash his head with a 44-pound stone after he admits he was gay.
15^th May 2013: Moscow refuses to allow pride parade again because it is imperative to “work clearly and consistently on maintaining morality, oriented toward the teaching of patriotism in the growing generation, and not toward incomprehensible aspirations.”[3]

25^th May 2013: 30 LGBT activists arrested for holding protest outside the lower house of parliament, but only after being attacked by counter-protesters – holding religious icons and crosses.

11^th June 2013: Parliament passes federal law against “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations”, i.e. “relations not conducive to procreation,” which imposes fines of up to £20,000 for providing information about the LGBT community to minors, holding gay pride events, speaking in defence of gay rights, or equating gay and heterosexual relationships.

30^th June 2013: Putin signs it into law

3^rd July 2013: Putin signs adoption law, making it illegal for Russian children to be adopted by same-sex married couples and single people who live in countries where same-sex marriage is legal.

22^nd July 2013:  4 Dutch tourist arrested for talking to teens at camp in Murmansk for a documentary on what it’s like to be LGBT in Russia.

28^th July 2013: Chaiman of St Petersburg legislature confirms that the law will apply to foreign athletes and visitors to the Sochi Olympics in February 2014.

---

[1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QYJEDXgp

[2] http://www.policymic.com/articles/48411/russia-anti-gay-bill-russia-passes-radical-family-values-bill-while-president-announces-divorce-on-tv

[3] http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/16/world/europe/moscow-wont-allow-a-gay-rights-parade.html?_r=3&

'But you don't look gay!'

First of all, happy National Coming Out Day! This is an awareness-raising day for people who feel comfortable doing so to be visible and proud of who their are, regardless of sexuality or gender-identity. In the spirit of the day, I thought I'd share one of my experiences recently of being a visible LGBT+ presence on campus.

I'm not the campest of men and so I often can 'pass' for straight, which has made the past few weeks interesting when introducing myself to new people as the LGBT+ officer. The reactions are either positive ('Ah, cool!') confused ('What does that mean?') or, what's been most shocking, surprised. I've been told on at least 3 occasions 'Oh, but you don't look gay!' or 'You're the straightest gay man I know!' I've found this a very odd reaction, but not wholly incomprehensible.

Even now most people's perception of what LGBT+ people are (or should be) is coloured by the long-standing stereotypes of dandies and butches. Non-het(erosexual) men are assumed to be femmes, like Quentin Crisp, one of the "stately homos of England"; whilst our women counterparts are assumed to be short, spiky-haired, pierced kings.

I thought at least in a place which has had 40 years since legalisation and some of the most vibrant LGBT+ communities in the world would have moved pass the antique stereotypes. We now have a (fairly) diverse group of out celebrities (from Neil Patrick Harris and Ellen DeGeneres to Derren Brown and Freddie Mercury). The days have passed when the only portrayals of gay and lesbian (never bi or trans) characters were as caricatures. Surely it's time to move on and accept that LGBT+ identities do not necessitate crude pastiches of long worn-out clichés.

So, happy Coming Out Day, whatever your identities and whoever you are.