Support
If you would like to find out more about issues affecting LGBT+ people or are seeking more background information to support a colleague or student our list of resources (which will expand over time) may be of help.
The University Library also provides access to hundreds of resources, digitally and in print, across a wide variety of topics.
If you have any feedback on the following information, please get in touch.
Support
Support is available at the University for our our LGBT+ community.
- Guidance for managers on supporting LGB staff;
- Supporting Trans* Staff and Students;
- Supporting Trans Staff Training;
- Supporting a member of staff undergoing gender reassignment.
Staff network groups are a fantastic way to network with people from all over the University. Many of the groups also offer confidential support and advisory services from their members to any member of staff.
Policies and guidance
We have a number of policies and guidance documents available to support our LGBT+ community:
- Guidance on how to make meetings and events accessible;
- Guidance on how to make your teaching content accessible;
- Overseas travel guidance for staff and students with protected characteristics;
- Inclusive language;
- Inclusive celebrations;
- Trans Policy;
- Guidance on email signatures;
- Guidance on dress code;
- Guidance on updating your pronouns on your signature, Zoom and Teams profile;
- Overseas travel guidance for staff and students with protected characteristics;
- LGBTQ+ information for students.
Training
Resources
We support events that raise awareness about our LGBT+ community. These include:
- LGBT+ history month
- Transgender Day of Visibility
- Lesbian visibility week
- International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT)
- International Non-Binary
- Manchester Pride
- Bi Visibility Day
Our It Gets Better podcast series features gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans members of staff as well as people whose intersectionalities have made their coming out that bit more challenging.
Tom Donnai, Lecturer in Initial Teacher Education in the School of Environment, Education and Development has created a blog focusing on creating an inclusive LGBT Curriculum.
Our interactive university map now includes a list of Universal Toilets.
We recognise there are many intersections within the LGBT+ community, one of them being faith. Our Chaplaincy, St Peter's House, is fully inclusive and Chaplain Rev Ben Edson welcomes all.
We have a number of DVD resources available to loan that includes:
- Visibility Matters - 'Jan's Coming Out' - looking at Lesbian 'coming out';
- Visibility Matters - 'Talking Transgender';
- Age Concern - 'Gateway to Heaven' - looking at LGBT and age.
If you wish to loan any, please contact the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team.
There is also a wide range of LGBTQ+ films and documentaries available via the University-wide resource, Kanopy streaming which appears in the library search.
External resources
Sometimes staff feel more comfortable talking to someone outside of the organisation. There are a number of well-known external resources which may be useful*.
*The University of Manchester cannot be held responsible for the content of external websites.
Stonewall
Stonewall is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights charity based in the United Kingdom. Over the last 30 years, Stonewall have helped create transformative change in the lives of LGBTQ+ people in the UK.
LGBT Foundation
Established in 1975, LGBT Foundation exists to support the needs of the diverse range of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans. The LGBT Foundation is a nationally significant charity firmly rooted the local communities of Greater Manchester
Advance HE
Advance HE is a member-led, sector-owned charity that works with institutions and higher education across the world to improve higher education for staff, students and society.
The Proud Trust
The Proud Trust is our community partner and provideseducation, support and advocacy for LGBT+ young people and their communities.
The Kinsey Scale
The Kinsey Scale is used in research to describe a person's sexual orientation. The scale typically ranges from 0, meaning heterosexual, to a 6, meaning homosexual:
Trans
Stonewall have developed this Q&A to answer some of the common questions about trans people:
Trans activists Fox & Owl Fisher explain why non-binary identities are valid and non-binary people deserve to live with dignity and authenticity:
UK-based news podcast hosted by self-proclaimed 'snarky' trans fact-finding duo Michelle and Ashleigh:
The Trans Vibe Podcast is hosted by a range of guests and aims to educated and inspire:
Transgender activist Samy Nour Younes hosts this TED Talk addressing the question - Why are trans people suddenly everywhere?:
A Real Stories Indie Doc about Drag Kings in the UK:
Produced by The Proud Trust, Incoming Transmissions is a short animation focusing on trans children's experiences across Manchester:
Trans activist Charlie Craggs meets trans teens waiting to be seen by the NHS:
Lesbian
Hosted by Stonewall, The Lesbian Hub hosts a range of articles and stories about lesbian visibility and representation are
- Visit the LesbianHub
Stonewall have also developed a number of blog posts focusing on issues of particular relevance to the lesbian community.
- 7 lesbians talk about the importance of visibility
- Access to IVF is a postcode lottery
- “I knew that my family were queer, but ‘lesbian’ felt like a dirty word in school.”
- The joy of a whole week of lesbian visibility (written by Nancy Kelley, CEO)
- 8 Lesbians of Colour you should know about
- Campaign to make access to IVFequal for LGBTQ+ people. As a part of this campaign, Stonewall is working with ‘Wegan’, who are a lesbian couple fighting for fertility equality.
Ellie Medhurst, a lesbian fashion historian, considers lesbian fashion in the workplace
Non-binary
Stonewall has developed a number of blog posts focusing on issues relevant to the non-binary community.
- Advancing non-binary inclusion in the workplace
- Impact of the pandemic on LGBT+ women and non-binary people
Stonewall has also put together a list of 10 ways you can step up and become an ally to non-binary people:
Bisexual
Tania Israelm Professor in Counseling, Clinical, and School of Psychology at the University of California Santa Barbara, takes us to a non-binary world while she talks about her idea of sexuality.
Misty Gedlinske, founder of Fond du Lac Pride Alliance, a community outreach effort connecting local LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies with services, resources, and welcoming organisations talks about how visibility can break down stereotypes, eliminate shame and secrecy, and create accessible, realistic representation and role models.
A collection of workplace stories gathered by Stonewall about being bi in the workplace: