LGBTQ Association AGM
Hey - I've just come back from the LGBTQ association's AGM. Firstly I'd like to send a big congrats out to the new committee members! - can't remember you all off by heart now but i'll update this to include names when the list gets put up. We also voted on a few changes to our constitution and to the make-up of the committee. Namely, we now have an additional open place reserved for a self-defining man, one of the open places has been changed into a campaigns officer position, and the role of Information, Communication and Publications officer has been renamed to Communications Officer.
Also congrats to the people who made the places for NUS LGBT Conference delegates, hope you have a fun time up in Manchester!
Here's a link to the report I made for the AGM
Peace out <3
Daniel Guzman
LGBTQ Student's Officer
University of Birmingham Guild of Students
LGBTQO@guild.bham.ac.uk
Safe Space in the Guild (and liberation rooms)
Hey fellow guildies, firstly I'd like to apologise for not blogging recently - big bad on my half.
That out the way, I thought I'd post about one (of many) controversial motion that was discussed at guild council last night. One which I (to perhaps the surprise of some) disagreed with. The motion, put forward by the cross-liberation group recently formed, called for permanent rooms in the guild to be allocated for each of the liberation associations. The reasoning behind this being that although the guild is attempting to provide a safe-space throughout its premises it has not yet achieved it. This means that until we reach the point where discrimination in the guild is non-existent, we still require specific safe space for liberation groups.
I'd like to make it clear that I do in fact agree with all the reasoning. The NUS liberation officers were generous enough to write a statement on the motion's behalf, stating the need for a safe space for liberation groups, as it empowers individuals and provides safe havens from discrimination. I agree with everything they said in that statement as well.
What I do not agree with is the idea that a safe space equates to a physical space. In my first year the LGBTQ room in the guild was used every week. We had our name on it. We had our posters on the walls. We had our magazines and literature around the room. Was it a safe space when we had our coffee afternoons up there? Sure it was. It wasn't perfect, but safe space was enforced to the best of our abilities, and negative vibes were kept to a minimum. The room was locked outside of these events, and only committee members had access to the key to the room. It normally sat around gathering dust.
The following year, it was brought to our attention how inaccessible our little room was, so we moved the same event to Beorma bar. This didn't have our name on it, no posters were on the walls, although we did still bring our magazines and literature down for all. Now, was this a safe space for LGBTQ students? Yes! The fact that we were in a different location made no difference (except that we had more room and it was much brighter). We still had the friendly atmosphere, offensive comments weren't tolerated, and it ended up being one of the busiest years for the LGBTQ.
Back to the motion - guild council received an amendment to the motion which suggested created a working group consisting of the VPAD, the liberation officers, and a few more guild council members in order to discuss how the 4 rooms would best be allocated. Now - I still disagreed with this because it was still working on the basis that we needed 4 rooms.
What safe space actually is, is rather subjective and needs some debate. I wholeheartedly think that we should still set up a working group, as there IS still discrimination in our guild of students and we need to make sure that our members feel safe and free from prejudice. However, this does not necessarily come in a permanent space. For me, it was the passion of the LGBTQ association's members that created this safe space. It was the students themselves that empowered others into becoming liberation activists.
We do face a serious issue, and to say there's nothing to be done for liberation groups would be completely sweeping it aside. However, I do believe that liberation groups can work with the guild to achieve safe space. Safe space for liberation groups to feel free from discrimination, and eventually creating an environment free of all forms of prejudice. Hopefully sooner rather than later.
Daniel Guzman
LGBTQ Students Officer
University of Birmingham Guild of Students
lgbtqo@guild.bham.ac.uk
My first post here, and where I stand on a few things :)
Hey folks, this is my first post as UoB guild of students' elected LGBTQ students officer (thanks and much love to all of you who voted for me!) and my first personal blogging site! Keep that in mind if I write rubbish blogs 
So to begin, I'll tell you a little bit about myself. I started the role of LGBTQ association chairperson in my first year. I learnt a lot from it and there's some things I wish I had done differently, but I can definitely say it was a great experience and it changed me as a person. Experiences such as going to NUS LGBT students' conference and pride events led to me feeling very passionate about the LGBTQ movement. I met people who inspired me to be active in fighting for the goals of equality. I also learnt about the queer and feminist movements and I realised how entwined they were with what I believed in.
Cheese aside, and onto more topical issues; cuts to education and the rising of student fees. Around this time last near I was in London protesting somewhere near the front alongside NUS LGBT. Of course this is an issue very close to home for all students and prospective students. However, I believe these cuts have greater implications for LGBTQ students in general. One of the greatest fears an LGBTQ teenager has is coming out to there parents and facing estrangement from their families. Its not a very nice topic, but it does happen unfortunately. However, of the two thousand people who claimed estrangement from their families when seeking financial aid at university, less than 30 got their amounts requested on time. Cuts to our universities' budgets also results in courses being cut. The first to go will be gender studies, queer studies, etc. which are vital to the LGBTQ movement and to creating an accepting society. This is not acceptable in my eyes, so if there's a protest against these cuts in the local area, don't be surprised if you see this face!
Now on to my term as officer. I have a few ideas for a campaign targeting LGBT-phobia (perceived or actual) in sport. Seeing as 60% of LGBTQ people in sport teams choose not to come out, there's definitely an issue. I will start this be circulating some questionnaires to find out what people's experiences are. Another area that I take an interest in is links between faith and sexuality. There have been some great events in this spirit on campus before and I intend to see more!
I have some ideas about what direction I want to head in, but I want people to be as involved as possible. Don't be afraid to email me at lgbtqo@guild.bham.ac.uk or find me on Facebook and let me know if you have any ideas/suggestions on what you think I should be focusing on (or if you have any questions you'd like to ask me!)
So yeah - that was my first officer blog. I'll be updating this at least every month (or i get censured!) so watch this space to find out what I've been up to!
Thats all from me. Peace out guys.
Daniel Guzman
LGBTQ Students Officer
University of Birmingham Guild of Students
lgbtqo@guild.bham.ac.uk