We are excited to provide members with Staff Pride Network black biro pens, made with recycled cardboard. Although we had to sacrifice our beautiful, colourful logo for a simple black design, our logo designer Kael Oakley was happy to help so we could have them made on recycled cardboard instead of the usual plastic. If you would like some for yourself and maybe to share at your office (always good for visibility and attracting new LGBT+ colleagues and allies to register!) you can pick them up at any of our Coffee & Cake, evening social or special events such as our upcoming Transgender Remembrance Day event on 17^th November. Alternatively, let us know in advance and you can pick them up from Jonathan at the Business School PGT Office. We hope you like them!

We are looking for Social & Events volunteers to join our enthusiastic, fun-loving and wonderful team! You’ll be be involved in developing event ideas, and helping to organise them by booking rooms, creating advertising, and performing tasks at the events like welcoming people and setting up catering.

We also need an extra S&E committee member to go to a committee meeting every 6-8 weeks, who will agree the events strategy and coordinate volunteers.

If you think you’d like to take on any of these responsibilities, please contact us at StaffPrideNetwork@ed.ac.uk.

In commemoration of Transgender Day of Remembrance on 17 November, the Staff Pride Network is organising a special screening of the Chilean movie A Fantastic Woman (2017). Following the screening, a post-movie panel of speakers will hold an open discussion on the issues the film raises.

Directed by Sebastian Lelio and starring trans actress Daniela Vega, A Fantastic Woman tells the story of trans character Marina, whose life undergoes upheaval following the death of her lover. The film looks at the attitudes of her lover’s family as well as the reaction of law-enforcers. Winning best screenplay at the 2017 Berlin film festival, the film is described by The Guardian’s Ryan Gilbey as ‘a timely film, but it is its timelessness, as well as its depths of compassion, that qualify it as a great one.’

The Staff Pride Network Committee is thrilled to welcome Ayesha Sodha as our new Black & Minority Ethnic Officer. She is particularly interested in doing what she can to help so that no-one ever feels alone or challenged between being who they are and fitting into where they come from. Her passions are inspiring conversations, the amazing friends she’s been blessed with, fashion, art, travel and climbing on things (mainly trapeze, pole or silks).

“I’m excited to join the Staff Pride Network committee as the BME Officer. As with any new role there’s lots of scope to be creative, but there’s absolutely no point me doing that in ignorance of what the members would like to see. Please feel free to e-mail me about any ideas you have, or have a chat with me at the next social. We would love to have a calendar of events and initiatives that are representative of our BME members, which also provide a new and fun experience for other members. I look forward to meeting you personally in due course.”

With World AIDS DAY in just over a month’s time, we will be providing Waverley Care’s tartan ribbons as well as World AIDS Day red ribbons at our Coffee & Cake events and evening socials.

Digital Marketing Officer Jerrard Doran will be flying down to London to run 10km in the Red Run, to raise money for the Brigstowe Project.

“I’ve never done anything like this before (I am a long-established couch potato) so all support is very welcome! The Brigstowe Project is one of the only organisations in Bristol and North Somerset which supports people living with HIV. If proposed funding cuts go through, the charity may well disappear, leaving hundreds of vulnerable people without vital support services. One of my best friends works for this organisation and has seen first hand the immense good it does for the community. I want to raise money to help Brigstowe stay on its feet and continue its vital work. Please give anything you can – all donations welcome!”

You can donate to this excellent cause at Jerrard’s JustGiving page.

Looking back, I guess, like most trans people who grew up in the 70’s and 80’s, being transgender was always there but has been repressed. Coming to terms with who I am really only began less than three years ago and it has been a bumpy ride with depression, anxiety, self-doubt (and much worse) featuring along the way. Not to mention the shock (and some hurt caused) to friends and family. I could write much more on that but I’d like to focus on one thing – The University of Edinburgh is still a great place to work and has been incredibly supportive of me since coming out. Read more…

As a millennial photographer that works in the printing industry, I’m often told “You’ll not remember…”, “Before your time…” and “Real photography is…” followed by something about going to a photo lab or waiting for the negatives to see what the image looks like or having to make sure the picture was perfect when you took it. Then I tell whoever is making these assumptions “Actually, I run my own darkroom and shoot mostly film”. Read more…

Come along to this free yoga class on Saturday evenings for LGBTQ people, with a particular focus on creating an inclusive safe space where trans and non-binary people can practise and feel comfortable. It welcomes beginners as well as seasoned yoga practitioners, and is free – though booking is preferred. You can find out more information on the LGBTQ Yoga Edinburgh Facebook group.

A PG student from the Business School has been awarded 78 for her dissertation entitled ‘The Invisibility of ‘B’ in ‘LGBTQ’: Shaping a Supportive Working Environment for Bisexual Employees’. Zoe was happy to share it with SPN members and describes her dissertation thus:

‘Heteronormative assumptions, together with binary attitudes toward sexual orientation however have left bisexuality largely misunderstood and overlooked both within the academic sphere and in an organisational context. My dissertation discusses the invisibility of bisexuality in the workplace by exploring disclosure and perception of bisexuality, and organisational supportive practices. In turn, recommendations are made for how firms can best support and maximise the potential of their bisexual employees.’

If you know of any UoE LGBT+ related academic research or dissertations please upload this to the SharePoint or email the mailbox.

You can read Zoe’s full dissertation on the Staff Pride Network SharePoint.