{"id":169,"date":"2023-12-13T23:48:43","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T23:48:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/?p=169"},"modified":"2023-12-15T12:47:17","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T12:47:17","slug":"new-lgbtq-safe-space-opened-by-newcastle-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/2023\/12\/13\/new-lgbtq-safe-space-opened-by-newcastle-university\/","title":{"rendered":"New LGBTQ+ Safe Space launched by Newcastle University"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Image by Daniel Finch<\/summary>\n<p><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\">Daniel Finch<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A new communal area exclusive to queer students has been introduced by Newcastle University.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The LGBTQ+ safe space was opened on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. An announcement was posted to social media by the university&#8217;s current Welfare and Equality Officer, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CzGujxhorHl\/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1\"><mark class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Lucy Leeds<\/mark><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The room can be found in the Frederick Douglas Centre with opening hours of 9am-5pm every weekday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lucy said: &#8220;Our LGBTQ+ Safe Space is a social space where any students who are part of the LGBTQ+ community can enjoy with friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;There is no need to book, we want this space to be buzzing with activity so please come along and enjoy anytime.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"891\" src=\"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23010\/2023\/12\/Screenshot-2023-12-14-at-14.53.42-1024x891.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-206\" srcset=\"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23010\/2023\/12\/Screenshot-2023-12-14-at-14.53.42-1024x891.png 1024w, https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23010\/2023\/12\/Screenshot-2023-12-14-at-14.53.42-300x261.png 300w, https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23010\/2023\/12\/Screenshot-2023-12-14-at-14.53.42-768x668.png 768w, https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23010\/2023\/12\/Screenshot-2023-12-14-at-14.53.42.png 1126w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Welfare and Equality Officer, Lucy Leeds, opens LGBTQ+ Safe Space. Image credit: @newcastlesu on Instagram.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>According to the official <a href=\"https:\/\/nusu.co.uk\/spaces\/safe\/lgbtq\"><mark class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Newcastle University Students&#8217; Union website<\/mark><\/a>, their aim is to provide a relaxed and welcoming space for the community. The room features an array of games and entertainment, whilst signposting outlets of support within the union and university itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The process was prompted by the feedback of students themselves three years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A spokesperson for Newcastle University added: &#8220;This development of this area&nbsp;stems back to 2020 when student representatives came to us and let us know that they thought it would be beneficial for us to have a safe space on campus for the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;After a lot of research undertaken by the team, and conversations with the university around acquiring a permanent space, we were delighted to launch this space for students to use.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@cannyqueeries\/video\/7307717045695597857\" data-video-id=\"7307717045695597857\" data-embed-from=\"oembed\" style=\"max-width:605px; min-width:325px;\"> <section> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"@cannyqueeries\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@cannyqueeries?refer=embed\">@cannyqueeries<\/a> <p>I headed over to the Frederick Douglass Centre to check out its new LGBTQ+ community safe space! Definitely worth a visit if you\u2019re looking for somewhere quiet to study or just chill \ud83c\udf08 <a title=\"lgbtq\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/lgbtq?refer=embed\">#lgbtq<\/a> <a title=\"newcastleuni\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/newcastleuni?refer=embed\">#newcastleuni<\/a> <a title=\"fyp\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/fyp?refer=embed\">#fyp<\/a> <\/p> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\u266c i walk this earth all by myself - Ekkstacy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/i-walk-this-earth-all-by-myself-6927075762659035138?refer=embed\">\u266c i walk this earth all by myself &#8211; Ekkstacy<\/a> <\/section> <\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">TikTok video exploring the safe space. Follow @cannyqueeries for more!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The room&#8217;s establishment corresponded with further efforts of inclusivity by the university during Transgender Awareness Week. This year, these activities took place throughout the week commencing Monday, November 19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As explained by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CzrJ6NPvGQ8\/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1\"><mark class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">NUSU<\/mark><\/a> via social media: &#8220;This week leads up to Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual observance on November 20 that honours the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from reinforcing support available, a Trans Clothes Drive was organised on campus in the Hadrian Building&#8217;s Lindisfarne Room. This encouraged transgender and non-binary students to find gender-affirming clothing and community support. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"988\" src=\"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23010\/2023\/12\/IMG_9076-1024x988.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-208\" srcset=\"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23010\/2023\/12\/IMG_9076-1024x988.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23010\/2023\/12\/IMG_9076-300x289.jpg 300w, https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23010\/2023\/12\/IMG_9076-768x741.jpg 768w, https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23010\/2023\/12\/IMG_9076.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Donation bins placed outside the Support and Advice Hub at NUSU. Image credit: @rainbow_ncl on Instagram.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The need for support in place for the LGBTQ+ community is perpetual today, especially in Newcastle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2021, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ons.gov.uk\/census\/maps\/choropleth\/identity\/sexual-orientation\/sexual-orientation-4a\/lesbian-gay-bisexual-or-other-lgb\"><mark class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">ONS Census<\/mark><\/a> asked people about their sexuality and gender identity for the first time. Data regarding how many lesbian, gay and bi people live in main university student areas in the country revealed that 7.3% of Jesmond residents identify as queer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"814\" src=\"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23010\/2023\/12\/Screenshot-2023-12-14-at-14.41.52-1024x814.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-203\" srcset=\"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23010\/2023\/12\/Screenshot-2023-12-14-at-14.41.52-1024x814.png 1024w, https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23010\/2023\/12\/Screenshot-2023-12-14-at-14.41.52-300x238.png 300w, https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23010\/2023\/12\/Screenshot-2023-12-14-at-14.41.52-768x610.png 768w, https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23010\/2023\/12\/Screenshot-2023-12-14-at-14.41.52-1536x1220.png 1536w, https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23010\/2023\/12\/Screenshot-2023-12-14-at-14.41.52-1170x929.png 1170w, https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23010\/2023\/12\/Screenshot-2023-12-14-at-14.41.52.png 1654w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ons.gov.uk\/census\/maps\/choropleth\/identity\/sexual-orientation\/sexual-orientation-4a\/lesbian-gay-bisexual-or-other-lgb\">ONS Census 2021<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Recent research from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stonewall.org.uk\"><mark class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Stonewall<\/mark><\/a> configured a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.feelguide.com\/2019\/09\/23\/the-top-lgbt-friendly-universities-in-the-uk\/\"><mark class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">list of the ten&nbsp;universities<\/mark><\/a> ranking highest in their degree of gay-friendliness and openness to improvement. Newcastle University failed to make the cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Second-year student at Newcastle University and LGBTQ+ advocate, Nathan Hannah, said: &#8220;I definitely feel there is still room for improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The majority of my lectures are around the Helix area and I didn&#8217;t even know about the safe space opening. I think the concept of a segregated room in a building furthest from campus could be seen as an afterthought, rather than an act of genuine support. But it&#8217;s a start.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Newcastle University students seeking further support, the Union&#8217;s sabbatical officers are available to contact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Email Tom (LGBTQ+ Officer): <a href=\"mailto:lgbt.union@newcastle.ac.uk\"><mark class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">lgbt.union@newcastle.ac.uk<\/mark><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Email Lucy (Welfare and Equality Officer): <a href=\"mailto:welfare.union@newcastle.ac.uk\"><mark class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">welfare.union@newcastle.ac.uk<\/mark><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new communal area exclusive to queer students has been introduced by Newcastle University. The LGBTQ+ safe space was opened on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. An announcement was posted to social media by the university&#8217;s current Welfare and Equality Officer, Lucy Leeds. The room can be found in the Frederick Douglas Centre with opening hours [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":204,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":21,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[4,8,5,22,14,23],"class_list":["post-169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus","tag-gay","tag-lgbtq","tag-newcastle","tag-newcastle-university","tag-students","tag-transgender-awareness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=169"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/daniel-finch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}