SeLBGT Officer Election Manifesto, Michaelmas 2009

TAZ RASUL

Three principles: “Uni”-lateralism, Inclusivity and Awareness

“Uni”-lateralism. This beautifully-coined term means multilateralism with the whole university, as one entity and as
separate colleges. College LBGT groups seem to exist in their own vacuums, only connecting with one another during
formals. But we can certainly benefit from more intercollegiate communication and CUSU LBGT integration. We should all
know what’s happening on a uni-wide scale naturally and without specifically having to seek it out; that is the nature of a
community. I have engaged in discussions with past and current JCR and MCR LBGT reps and members from a variety of
colleges, to inform myself of what works and what does not work, what advice people who held this post would give, and
where we need to go from here. I have been on the LBGT scene for over a year now, and have built up pretty solid
connections to this open and friendly contingent. Little may we all know, CUSU LBGT has a number of different branches
(e.g. grad, trans, bi, men’s, women’s, staff) and it usually takes individual research and initiative to get involved with them,
which should not be the case. I am also a big supporter of political involvement, interest and transparency, and feel that
the actions and discussions of CUSU and of the JCR should be more accessible and well-known. I can mobilise this change
for the SeLBGT group.

Inclusivity. SeLBGT is part of the JCR and therefore part of the entire college community, but it’s easy for it to appear
irrelevant and unwelcoming to a large number of students. “Not Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Trans? Then sorry, this doesn’t
concern you.” This should not be the atmosphere at all. Firstly, many people don’t acknowledge themselves as coming
under any of these four categories – I know that I don’t, and the term makes me feel uncomfortable. It deliberately
excludes straight people and therefore seems quite separatist, which is completely against the original integrationist aims
of the LBGT movement. It forces people to label themselves before entering, and is therefore offputting towards the many
people at this age who are unsure, questioning or curious. It may come across as only open for new membership at the
start of Michaelmas, and then closed off, unheard and cliquey for the rest of the year. We need to rectify this by making
people aware of our hospitable presence all year round. And LBGT should not be thought of as a society which only
organises drinking events and club nights; for those who prefer daytime socials, informal events and discussions an
equally supportive and close LBGT community should exist for you too!

Awareness. This works in both directions. We need to work on SeLBGT visibility. SeLBGT plays an important and unique
role in a welfare-oriented as well as a political and social capacity. Everyone should know that we exist, and that our
figurative doors, and my actual door, is always open for those who want to talk (about their personal problems as well as
wider, more objective issues). As well as people being aware of us, we need to be more aware of others. I support JCR and
CUSU transparency and awareness, because this is our college and our university, and we need to be a democratic part of
it. Also, we do not live in SeLBGT isolation. There are sexuality-related things happening everywhere 24/7, including news,
crimes, campaigns, triumphs, debates, political scandals and outrages – did you know, for example, that three young men
are currently on death row in Iran for the criminal offence of homosexuality? And, in Lithuania, parliament will soon be
legislating against the public portrayal or expression of homosexuality or any information about it. As an interested party,
we could be made more aware of things like this that we are likely to feel strongly about, and might want to get involved
in. SeLBGT could be so much more than a society for organising swaps (although swaps are imperative!).
Why I’d be a brilliant SeLBGT Officer 2009/2010

I am friendly, approachable and trustworthy. Lord knows I don’t come across as “too cool/aloof” for anyone to speak to ☺

Being a PPS student and having no other commitments, I have bags of time to dedicate myself to making SeLBGT as good
and useful as I aspire for it to be.

I have passion and a personal investment in LBGT-related issues and an independent desire to have this community be
more integrated, well-positioned, open and visible to the college and uni societies.

I have been involved and visible in SeLBGT stuff for a year. I am well-connected with other LBGTers and their reps,
including the CUSU LBGT Social, Ents, Bi, Sponsorship, Trans and Women’s Reps. This makes for a brilliant headstart on
instigating a more multilateral approach to the SeLBGT community.

Proposals

Pending permission from the SeLBGT mailing list, to make the mailing list a better resource for information, including
events around university which are partly related (such as Amnesty talks), interesting articles and news items, and updates
on major campaigns from organisations such as Stonewall and London Pride. E.g. The update that World AIDS Day is on 1
December. Possibly set up a Facebook group or public blog as an archive for articles and events of interest.

Liaise with every other LBGT college rep in the university to get some coordination happening with events, swaps and
socials. This would mean a greater variety of swaps, including hopefully more multi-college formals. This would also put
me, and thus you, more in the know about LBGT stuff happening all around uni.

Attend all JCR and Open meetings as well as the occasional CUSU Women’s Forum to be more in the know about what’s
going on around college and what discussions are being had and decisions are being made regarding your welfare.

Organise more regular non-drinking social events, such as coffee mornings and meet-ups, which are open and made
aware to all Selwynites, advertised in E-Lav as opposed to just on the SeLBGT mailing list (why make things exclusive when
they don’t need to be?).

Try to negotiate a bigger LBGT-allocated budget. It’s good that we have annual Awareness Cocktails, but awareness and
inclusion are tasks for all-year round, and that involves time, effort and resources. LBGT issues can affect and be of
interest to anyone – we are not a marginal group and this position should be reflected in our budget.

Debate, discuss and seriously reconsider the name of the group as “LBGT”, which not only exempts the majority of the
college population, but also is not a comfortable or accurate term to denote what we are and why we exist.

Attempt a SeLBGT forum (anonymity issues considered), whether by email, on Facebook, or some other medium, for
discussion about issues of concern that I can bring to college and university meetings. The LBGT Officer role requires
attendance at JCR and CUSU meetings, where reps are expected to advocate the views, comments and concerns of their
groups. I would like to perform this role as fully as I can, and can do this only if we can openly discuss real issues that need
to be raised at a higher level.

Already, I am on the SeLBGT and LBGT Men’s, Women’s, Bi, Grad, Vacation and Central mailing lists, as well as Amnesty
and The Cambridge Hub. Particularly salient information from these I can pass on through the SeLBGT mailing list. I will
immediately set up a SeLBGT Twitter account (I already personally follow LBGT Twitterers) to receive tonnes of other
updates on LBGT issues, which I can bring to you.

I am truly a very interested and passionate member of the LBGT – and wider college and university – community. So if I am
not elected, out of enthusiasm I am happy to stand by and support the candidate who is, particularly if they are elected
because they are perceived to be in a better position to effect change. But I do personally believe that I would be a worthy
college LBGT representative and organiser, and I’d love this opportunity to strive to do as much for the SeLBGT and college
community as possible.