College LGBT society?

SeanieRawks

Hi!

I'm going into my 3rd year in college and for the past 2 years my college has failed to have an active LGBT society. So I've decided to try and do my best to ensure that one is set up this year.

I have no experience of being in an LGBT society before and I guess I'm just looking for a few pointers in regards to events and the various aspects of setting up/maintaining the running of an LGBT society.

deirdre_dub

SeanieRawks wrote: »

Hi!
I have no experience of being in an LGBT society before and I guess I'm just looking for a few pointers in regards to events and the various aspects of setting up/maintaining the running of an LGBT society.

Disclaimer - I was never in an LGBT society, but I was in other societies.

I guess your first step is to approach the student's union? I'm also guessing that they will want to know what the society will be doing and/or what it is about. At this stage, I would list the things that are missing from your college life that has prompted you to take this step, and I would also list things that you think other LGBT students might like.

You don't have to do all those things, and I'm sure the club members will come up with ideas that you didn't think of.

You might visit the LGBT societies in other colleges for ideas and/or support. USIT might also have ideas?

One last thing - if what you are setting up is truly an LGBT society, then PLEASE don't forget about trans. The needs of trans are a bit different to those of LGB. I'd be more than willing to give a talk on trans life and trans issues, and I'm sure TENI would too.

Hope that answers some of your questions.

The best of luck!
D.

deirdre_dub

Of course, what I should do is answer the question - if there had been an LGBT society in the college I was in when I was there, what would I have liked from it?

The main thing I would have needed was support in coming out. I see that the LGBT society in the college I went to now has a "buddy" system, whereby a prospective member can email someone in the committee and ask to meet for a coffee and a chat. I think that's a great idea. However, being trans, I would really liked to have met another trans person, as trans is different to gay. Still, a gay person with good understanding of trans issues would have been brilliant!

After that, what I would have needed was social events. And some talks would probably also have been of interest.

I think a LGBT society with enough "out" members could also do more public things, like a charity table quiz, or something else that could involve the straight community in a positive venture.

Again, best of luck!
D.

Annasopra

What college are you in? If its part of USI - you should also be able to get support from the USILGBTRO - Union of Students in Ireland LGBT Rights Officer and you will also get a lot of helpful information and tips if you attend Pink Training as well

http://www.usi.ie/officers/lbgtr-officer.html

If you are in a very small college there may be lots of gay people who don't want to openly attend a society - larger colleges are much easier because they are anonymous

Also a small college could possibly attend the events of a larger college eg When I was in NCI we attended DIT and also sometimes TCD and UCD events

SeanieRawks

Thanks for the tips so far, I'm in IT Tallaght, so it is one of the smaller colleges, the LGBT society in previous years didn't have enough committee members to continue on past clubs and socs day.

I will definitely get in contact with the USILGBTRO and some other LGBT societies to see about partnering up on events, hopefully we will get some signups on clubs and socs day and I intend on attempting to have an option to sign up online for people who might not be comfortable with signing up on the day.

baby and crumble

In my experience I think it's important to not only do 'gay' stuff. By that I mean don't just have club nights. It did my head in that my LGB (as it was at the time, many moons ago...) Society was cliquey, queeney, and only did gay stuff like go to the George or have movie nights showing gay movies. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it needs to not be the be-all and end-all.

With regards to the admin side of things, if there already has been an LGBT soc, chances are your societies administrator for the college will have a copy of the constitution. You need to check this to see if it's feasible with a smaller society. If it's not, you may need to redraft it so that it'll work properly.

Annasopra

SeanieRawks wrote: »

Thanks for the tips so far, I'm in IT Tallaght, so it is one of the smaller colleges, the LGBT society in previous years didn't have enough committee members to continue on past clubs and socs day.

I will definitely get in contact with the USILGBTRO and some other LGBT societies to see about partnering up on events, hopefully we will get some signups on clubs and socs day and I intend on attempting to have an option to sign up online for people who might not be comfortable with signing up on the day.

Ok heres a few more ideas

* Talk to the welfare officer in the students union -
* Try to make clear on sign up day what LGBT means - some first years might not have a clue - and others as well might be questioning
* Ask other ITT clubs and socs how they are run
* Contact other LGBT socs now cause they will already be planning
* Definitely try and send as many people as possible to pink training
* Always make sure that you have a "safe space" - and make sure that everyone knows this ie somewhere that people feel comfortable to go to but won't be outed
* If there are straight people who are supportive - great
* Run various events like bowling, perhaps coffee morning drop ins - Try not to just do club nights etc but some different stuff
* Put your contact details up all over the place -,around the college, in GCN, posters in Outhouse, Forums (gaire.com, boards.ie, queerid.com, angrypotato.net)
* Have a look at the websites of other college LGBTs if you can find them particularly small ITs

Eebs

SeanieRawks wrote: »

Thanks for the tips so far, I'm in IT Tallaght, so it is one of the smaller colleges, the LGBT society in previous years didn't have enough committee members to continue on past clubs and socs day.

I will definitely get in contact with the USILGBTRO and some other LGBT societies to see about partnering up on events, hopefully we will get some signups on clubs and socs day and I intend on attempting to have an option to sign up online for people who might not be comfortable with signing up on the day.

A few of my mates used to run the IT Tallaght LGBT soc. If you want I can pass on your email or something? Maybe they'll have advice.


The main thing I found with running a soc is to simply have events. That's it. Make a mailing list, run a coffee morning (try get sponsorship or some money for the coleg for this) and an event every week and you're laughing. We didn't have much (read: any) money my year so even if your event is as simple as going to the G, or to the cinema it can still be good. Definitely try get sponsorship and run events in conjunction with other socs. Also definitely email the bigger LGBT societies in other unis and see if they're interested in running joint stuff.

Ultimately though just try make it a friendly environment for other LGBT students in the college. All the best with it, I hope you have a great year.

Eebs

Oh and what other posters have been saying about visibility for contact details is crucial. Posters, stickers, flyers with your email address and ways to sign up to a mailing list are really important.

SeanieRawks

Just taught I'd update people, we got quite a few signups during the 3 days of clubs and socs and today we elected our committee! (which is further than the society has reached in the past few years!)

rainbow kirby

Good to hear - would be good to try and get a couple of events going over the next while too (even if it's just a few coffee mornings) to keep the momentum going.

CdeC

Hi SeanieRawks,
I was in DIT and when I started there was no LGBT society, nearly 10 yrs ago. There was a girl who set one up and it wasn't for me at the time. In my final year of college four years later I joined again and had a great time and met some great people. So sometimes like any group it is just luck. Also Tallaght had an LGBT society abck then somewhat small but still the guys went out quite a bit and were good fun.
Some Advice.
1. Approach student union and get all the formal stuff, probably constitution available and check for funding.
2. Mail some of the bigger colleges societies and ask for help, join in on their nights out as well which they shouldn't really mind.
3.Pink training if it is on is an essential weekend away.
4. Pick a night where there is something on and make that a weekly social night, like a night in one of the bars perhaps with a show or something on. We used to go and see Katherine Lynch in GUBU now Panti back in the day on a wednesday and was a great laugh.

Good luck with it,

CIaran

Annasopra

This link may also be of use

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nusconnect.org.uk%2Fasset%2Fnews%2F26624%2FLGBT_handbook_web.pdf&h=2e628R4V1JAW_2AjZmvZ_l1zXOQ