Februrary is LGBT+History Month. The events below are confirmed at this point, but do check for updates and details at our D&I Events page here.

Jessica Lynn’s Transgender Journey, Wednesday 6 February, 17:00, Room 108 Henley Business School, Whiteknights Campus

In recent years, Kinsey Institute Global Ambassador, Jessica Lynn, has become well-known for her activism on behalf of the transgender community. Her experience, exuberance, and extraordinary life produce a presentation that has put her on over 700 stages in 22 different countries. After a prejudiced Texas judge stripped her of all parental rights to her youngest son, Ms. Lynn dedicated her life to combating the intolerance and ignorance of the public toward peoples who share her plight. Addressing audiences unabashedly and answering any-and-all questions has earned Ms. Lynn worldwide renown, the prestige of a Stonewall School Role Model, and a position advising the medical community by request of the National Health Service England.

All (staff, students, local community, etc!) welcome. Click here for more details and to book.

Offences against the person? Discovering hidden LGB histories in Berkshire court archives, Monday 11 February, 16:30-18:00, Berkshire Record Office, 9 Coley Avenue, Reading RG1 6AF

As part of LGBT History Month, join us to hear University of Reading students Amy Hitchings and George Stokes discuss the findings of their summer 2018 UROP research. Learn about some previously forgotten lives, see some of the documents Victorians and Edwardians used for research and enjoy tea and cake. Exhibition and refreshments from 16:30pm, discussion from 17:00

All (staff, students, local community, etc!) welcome. Admission free, booking via email to mailto:arch@reading.gov.uk

Becoming a UoR LGBT+ Ally: Information and Recruitment Session, Wednesday 13 February, 13:00-14:30, G01, Building L22, London Road Campus

This is a recruitment event for our new LGBT+ Allies Programme, hosted by the RUSU Diversity Officer and the Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, and led by LGBT+ staff, students and allies. The event will focus on:

• Are LGBT+ allies needed for UoR staff and students?
• What is an ally?
• What do we want allies to do?
• Q&A.

The session will be followed by a networking lunch.

All students and staff welcome. Booking (for lunch numbers) via email to Sinead O’Flynn for students, via the usual booking system on ESS for staff.

Trans Awareness Training (led by local teacher and former UoR student Rosemary Taylor), Thursday 14 February, 10:00-12:00, Room 128, Edith Morley, Whiteknights Campus

The Transgender Spectrum is complex. This session looks at the range and variety of people who identify in one way or another as Transgender. An important aspect of this is to realise that there are many misconceptions that come from media coverage of trans people. The variables of gender, sexuality and other aspects are explored and explained, including: What it is like to be Trans; Coming Out; Being Trans in Public; Being Trans at work; How do staff react to trans people? The session includes time for discussion, questions and answers.

All students and staff welcome. Booking via email to Sinead O’Flynn for students, via the usual booking system on ESS for staff.