►The highlight of the first term of the University of Essex LGBT events is “Freshers Pick and Mix”. Running throughout October there are over 7 events on different days you can attended intended to give you a taste of what the society does and allow you to check us out.

►Come to one of them or all off them there will be new and old members at every event and you will be made to feel right at home from the start.

►Last year saw a trip to the largest Gay night in Essex, a film night, Quasar and lots lots more and this year will be bigger and better!

►Check back soon for all the details and in the mean time check out our facebook group!

Also be sure to check out our facebook groups: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=13598095673&ref=ts

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000145004336&ref=ts

CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE HERE: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=13598095673&ref=ts

]]> http://essexlgbt.co.uk/http:/essexlgbt.co.uk/university-of-essex-lgbt-society-autumn-term-events/feed 0 http://essexlgbt.co.uk/http:/essexlgbt.co.uk/summer-term-events-2010 http://essexlgbt.co.uk/http:/essexlgbt.co.uk/summer-term-events-2010#comments Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:00:00 +0000 RobWayman http://essexlgbt.co.uk/?p=805 Tuesday 27th to Wednesday 28th April – Donation not Discrimination
Two days of events organized by the Students Union LGBT Officer and Committee looking at ban on gay or bisexual men giving blood. The two days will feature a stall, publicity stunt, petition and a talk from NUS LGBT committee.
Check back for more details soon – Free Entry

Syphilis/Chlamydia/HIV testingThursday 29th April – Free

It does not matter if you are (you’re) gay, str8 or bi, if you have ever had unprotected sex, you could have an STI, such as Syphilis, Chlamydia or HIV.

With testing here on campus, free and easy, you have no excuse not to go and look after your sexual health. As well as free testing their offering sexual health advice and free contraception.
Details to be confirmed – Free Entry

Saturday 1st May – LGBT Soc go to South-end and Adventure island Theme Park

With the University of Essex having a campus here, it’s time we go visit. Hopefully we can meet with some south-ender’s and have a wicked day. It’s on the sea side and with roller coasters and more. It’s no Alton towers but what else can you expect from South-end. http://www.adventureisland.co.uk
FREE Return Rail Travel to South-end and Unlimited rides wristband is £22. Leaving outside SU bar at 9am and returning home in the evening. Please let us know if you plan on attending at events@essexlgbt.co.uk.
If you are from South-end and like to meet us please get in touch.

Wednesday 5th May – OPEN MEETING – NUS LGBT Conference

Your chance to come see what we will be voting on at NUS LGBT Conference. We want to know what you think about the motions being put forward and how you would like us to vote. This is your chance to be represented nationally.
6pm – LTB – Room TBC – Free Entry
Wednesday 5th May – AGM
Chance for all paid members to come and see what the society has achieved this year and to give us your feedback. Without you there would be no society so we want to know how you feel. Also it will host the elections for next year committee, more details to follow. We need a turn out of 18 people to hold the elections, so it important for you to come along and cast your vote.
7pm – LTB – Room TBC – Free Entry

Wednesday 12th May – Film Night – Kissing Jessica Stein
With exam period starting on the Monday, we are going to start a weekly film night. Gives you the chance to come along and chill out for a few hours before heading back to do some revision!
Our first film is Kissing Jessica Stein. Sex and the single girl gets a fresh new spin in this “very funny movie”! (Joel Siegel, Good morning America) Fed up with her fruitless search for “Mr. Right” and tired of blind dates from hell, attractive journalist Jessica Stein whimsically responds to a classified ad – from Helen! Making and breaking new rules of dating as they go, the two women muddle through an earnest but hilarious courtship that blurs the lines between friendship and romantic love in this “smashing romantic comedy”
More details at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264761/
6pm – LTB – Room TBC – Free Entry

Sunday 16th May – Treasure Hunt
After the success of the Easter egg hunt with a turn out of over 20 people we decided to go event bigger and better with this second hunt! With games, challenges and a treasure hunt it is a fun filled afternoon! There will be treasure for the winning team too!
4pm – Meet in Su Food Bar – Free Entry

Wednesday 19th May – Film Night – The Birdcage
A drag club on the South Beach. Albert, Starina, the star of the show – one half of a couple with Armand. Val is Armand’s son from a long-ago heterosexual experiment, and has been raised in the Armand and Albert apartment. His intended is Barbara, daughter of the very right wing U.S. senator John Keeley, co-founder of the Coalition for Moral Order. She is bringing her family to visit Val and meet his family (her parent’s think that Armand is a Greek diplomat). Results – mix-up, pretense, and farce.
More details at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115685/
6pm – LTB – Room TBC – Free Entry

Saturday 22th May – Night Out – LGBT Soc. Go to Enigma
With Discounted entry it’s a chance to go and enjoy Colchester’s gay scene at this monthly night. More details to follow about the night soon.
9.30pm –SU BAR– £4

Wednesday 26th May – Film Night – Brokeback Mountain
In the Summer of 1963 Wyoming, two young men, Ennis a ranch hand and Jack an aspiring rodeo bull rider, are sent to work together herding sheep on Brokeback Mountain, and what had otherwise been anticipated to be a rather uneventful venture, will soon turn into an affair of love, of lust, and complications that will span through 19 years of their lives. Through marriage, through children, and through the mighty grip of societal confines and the expectations of what it is to be a man.
More details at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388795/
6pm – LTB – Room TBC – Free Entry

Wednesday 2nd June – Film Night – Kinky Boots
Charles Price may have grown up with his father in the family shoe business, but he never thought that he would take his father’s place. Yet, the untimely death of his father places him in that position, only to learn that Price & Sons Shoes is failing. While in despair at his failed attempts to save the business, Charles has a chance encounter with the flamboyant drag queen cabaret singer, Lola. Her complaints about the inadequate footwear for her work combined with one of Charles’ ex-employees, Lauren, leads to a suggestion to change the product to create a desperate chance to save the business: make men’s fetish footwear. Lola is convinced to be their footwear designer and the transition begins. Now this disparate lot must struggle at this unorthodox idea while dealing both the prejudice of the staff, Lola’s discomfort in the small town and the selfish manipulation of Charles’ greedy fiancée who cannot see the greater good in Charles’ dream.
More details at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434124/
6pm – LTB – Room TBC – Free Entry

Wednesday 9th June – Film Night – Holding Trevor
A moving and funny drama about growing up and breaking free, ‘Holding Trevor’ is the story of a beautiful and intelligent gay twenty-something (screenwriter Brent Gorski) who vows to take his life in a brand new direction. After breaking up with old-boyfriend with bad habits (Shortbus’ Jay Brannan), Trevor faces the challenge of a mature relationship with Ephram, an ambitious medical intern. Rich in emotion and detail, ‘Holding Trevor’ is an unforgettable portrait of figuring where we fit in.
More details at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0960770/
6pm – LTB – Room TBC – Free Entry

Thursday 10th June – Big Gay BBQ
With nearly all exams over and hopefully the sun shining it chance to relax and celebrate for a hectic 2 days ahead of you! Bring some drinks, a Frisbee and anything else to make the afternoon pass by!
Meet by Lakeside theatre at 2pm – Please bring £3 toward food
Please email if you plan to attend and if you’re a veggie events@essexlgbt.co.uk

On the 12th February 2008, openly gay, 15 year old Larry King (top left) was shot twice in the head by his 14 year old class mate. What did Larry do to deserve this? He asked his male classmate to be his valentine. One third of young gay people aged under 19 surveyed in the UK said they had been the victim of violent homophobic abuse. Homophobic bullying in schools, colleges and university is rife, its existence continued by staff ignoring or not knowing how to deal with the issue.

Where LGBT students differ from those of other minority groups is that we do not have the inherit support granted to say ethnic minorities. A lesbian girl growing facing prejudice would find it difficult to go to her straight parents for support, unlike a girl of an ethnic minority facing an issue of prejudice being able to talk to her family of similar ethnic descent. This is one of the key factors to why LGBT youths are six times more likely to commit suicide, they feel abandoned and lonely. An LGBT society can give these students the support they need.

As a proud, openly gay man I can tell you that our society is not as tolerant as it would appear to the ‘omg i love gay people!’ gang, though your support is welcome if slightly misplaced. I see myself as lucky, I have never experienced the level of homophobia that ruins so many lives but i bear witness to the small things. Kissing my boyfriend in public, holding his hand, giving him the affection that feels so natural, draws glares and comments from those who feel love is something that must fall within the criteria set out on a really old piece of paper.

For those who I hope have taken the time to read this article and cannot comprehend the importance of LGBT equality please take a moment to consider being shunned by your closest friends, bullied in school, attacked in public, not being able to find a job, unable to show public affection, not being able to marry him or her, being beaten, just because you loved them!

- Ashley Rudge

Every year, the National Blood Service (NBS) collect around 2.1 million blood donations, thoroughly testing each one, saving the lives of thousands of people each year. However, there is still a shortage, particularly of the more rare blood types. A shortage which could be filled by gay and bisexual men.

The NBS screening policy does not allow any man who has ever had oral or anal sex (unprotected or protected) with another man to give blood. This is a lifetime ban which affects all gay and bisexual men, irrespective of whether they practise safe sex or are in a monogamous relationship. And its not only gay/bi men affected – if you’ve ever experimented with another man you’re banned too, and any woman who has had sexual contact

with a bisexual male cannot donate blood for 6 months.

This policy is based on the misconception that most gay men have unprotected sex, and that HIV/AIDS is a “gay disease”. This is certainly not the case.

Thousands of people across the UK are calling for the NBS to follow in the footsteps of France, Italy and Sweden, and review this policy so that healthy, low-risk, gay and bisexual men are able to donate blood and help to save thousands more lives every year.

On 23rd May, the NBS are holding a blood donation session in Sub Zero,here at Essex University. We would urge you to jump at this opportunity,grab your free cup of tea and biscuits, and do something amazing today. Just give a thought to those who are unable to donate today, and please support our campaign in the Autumn/Winter term.

- Written by Alison Lemon and Lewis Collantine, on behalf of the LGBT Society