Join The LJMU Together (LGBTIQ+) Staff Network

A message from Ray Burns, Co-Chair of the LJMU Together (LGBTIQ+) Staff Network:

Hi Everyone,

I am Ray Burns; many of you may already know me either from my time as a student or from my various roles within LJMU over the years. This year I have taken on a new role as Co-Chair of the LJMU Together (LGBTIQ+) Staff Network. The network is there for members of staff who identify themselves as a member of the LGBTIQ+ community. Whether you are out and proud or on your own road to discovery, the network is here to help and support you, while you are at work.

Meriel Box founded the LJMU Together (LGBTIQ+) Staff Network. Meriel made great strides in developing the network, creating policies and essential work in LGBTIQ+ community. Former Co-Chairs Phil Bakstad and Lucy Day have built upon that work and have made LJMU a more inclusive place to work. New Co-Chairs Cath Bonser and I thank them all for their hard work and dedication and hope that they will continue to work with and support the network. Moving forward we want to develop the network even further, by introducing new policies and increasing the staff membership and participation while also making the network more visible around LJMU.

There are many opportunities for individuals to assist and get more involved with the network along with attending the regular meetings. We need people to assist with the following roles:

• Network Advocates
• Event Coordinators
• Marketing and Social Media
• Community Liaison

A link to the role descriptions can be found here. 

We know many people are already overworked and the thought of taking on more is not appealing. You can put as little or as much into the network as you like. You do not have to do it on your own; other members of the network can/will assist you. We need your support, assistance and input to keep the network going strong.

So if you are a member of LJMU/JMSU staff and define yourself as homosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, pansexual, asexual, transgender, transman, transwoman, transsexual, androgynous, genderqueer, non-binary or many more of the umbrella names used for LGBTIQ+ we would like to welcome you all to be part of the LJMU Together (LGBTIQ+) Staff Network.

To stay informed of all meetings and events, please sign up to our Network E-Mail address by E-Mailing Equality@ljmu.ac.uk with the subject heading “LJMU Together (LGBTIQ+) Staff Network”.

If you are a member of LJMU/JMSU staff and would like to become an offical "LJMU LGBTIQ+ ally" (a supporter of the LGBTIQ+ community) and recieve invitations to related events and some Staff Network meetings throughout the year, please email the EDI Team Equality@ljmu.ac.uk to "opt-in" to the "LJMU LGBTIQ+ Allies Mailing List". 

You can also follow us on social media. On twitter search for @LJMULGBT

Our next LJMU Together (LGBTIQ+) Staff Network meeting is on Thursday 30^th January from 12:30 – 14:00 in Tithebarn Street Building, Room 220. We look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.

- Live the rainbow.

Ray Burns, Co-Chair of the LJMU Together (LGBTIQ+) Staff Network