Sleeping out in support of homeless LGBT youth

LGBT-sleepout
12 Feb 2014 16:47:00.523

LGBT history month is a celebration of how far the LGBT community has come in terms of achieving equality and tackling prejudice. But with young people still forced to live on the streets because of their sexuality, The University of Nottingham’s LGBT Network is holding a charity sleepout at University Park on Thursday 20 February.

The Society is raising funds for the Albert Kennedy Trust, a charity which supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people aged 16-25 who are made homeless or living in a hostile environment.

The charity sleepout at Portland Building is just part of the LGBT history month celebrations organised by both the University and Students’ Union.

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LGBT sleepout

Lucy Wake, from the Students’ Union’s LGBT Network, believes it’s important to use the month-long celebration to raise money for an invaluable charity within the LGBT community.

She said: “The work of the Albert Kennedy Trust is incredibly important. We want people to spend one night outside to appreciate how hard living on the street is and to raise awareness of the plight of what some young LGBT people still go through. We raised over £400 by doing this last year and want to double that amount this year.”

Donations to the network’s sleepout can be made via http://www.justgiving.com/UoNLGBTSleep-Out

LGBT history month

The sleepout is a key part of the Students’ Union and the University’s four-week celebration of this year’s LGBT history month.

Jack Salter, LGBT Officer at the Students’ Union, said:“LGBT History Month is an important time to reflect on the journey that our community has been through to fight oppression, and to remember those who have been affected by laws and discrimination, much of which is in living memory. For me, it is also a great time to recognise those people who have stood up to challenge this, to celebrate our achievements and to rally for the challenges we still face.

“It's also a great excuse to do something fun, and I am looking forward to joining our members at our social events over the coming weeks.”

LGBT history month highlights at Nottingham

  •  Transamerica — Screening Room, Hallward Library, University Park at 6.30pm on Wednesday 12 February: The film tells the story of Bree, a transsexual woman (Felicity Huffman), who goes on a road trip with her long lost son Toby (Kevin Zegers).
  •  Pride Concert — The Den, Portland Building, University Park at 7pm on Friday 21 February: A festival of local, home-grown talent to raise money for Nottinghamshire Pride, the charity that organises the LGBT Pride event in Nottingham. If you would like to perform, email sulgbtofficer@nottingham.ac.uk
  •  Queer in the academy: tracing absences and presences in academic life — A35, School of Education, Jubilee Campus at 12.30pm: Dr Max Biddulph delivers a lecture in celebration of the work of gay activist Eric Rofes, 1954-2006.

Ends —

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More than 90 per cent of research at The University of Nottingham is of international quality, according to the most recent Research Assessment Exercise. The University aims to be recognised around the world for its signature contributions, especially in global food security, energy & sustainability, and health. The University won a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for its research into global food security.

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Story credits

More information is available from Jack Salter, LGBT Officer at The University of Nottingham’s Students’ Union, via sulgbtofficer@nottingham.ac.uk

Fraser Wilson - Communications Officer

Email: fraser.wilson@nottingham.ac.uk Phone: +44 (0)115 846 6691 Location: University Park

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