Trinity LGBT+ Staff Network
What does an LGBT+ Staff Network Do?
The Trinity LGBT+ Staff Network is an independent, member-led group which aims to represent LGBTQIA+ staff at the university and contribute to making Trinity a boldly and radically inclusive environment for LGBTQIA+ people.
We aim to operate differently from the many other committees at Trinity. We are a non-hierarchical and dynamic group which aims to reflect the diversity of the staff at the university and embed an LGBTQIA+ inclusive perspective into everything that we do. Our activities are decided on and driven by our members and include a range of activities from professional, research-focused, social, and personal development. This includes regular monthly social events, research presentations, training, workshops, film screenings, performance events and more. A key part of our work is actively contributing to and engaging with Trinity policies and practice that affect LGBTQIA+ people.
The Network is always aiming to expand and develop - if there's something you'd like to see us contribute to (or an event you'd like to organise yourself!) just let us know.
Who can become a member and how?
Any employee of Trinity College Dublin is invited and encouraged to become a member of the LGBT+ Staff Network. We take a broad view of who is a staff member, and for the avoidance of doubt this includes all professional, academic, technical, and support staff, post-doctoral researchers, adjunct staff, and staff on part-time and occasional contracts.
We encourage a self-determination perspective for members – if you feel an LGBT+ staff network and our activities are for you, then you are welcome. We also invite staff who do not identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ experience to join (e.g. straight and/or cisgender staff). Our activities are primarily focused on creating an inclusive environment for LGBTQIA+ people and the support and integration with other colleagues is an important part of that.
You can join the Network by using this link, by emailing lgbtstaff@tcd.ie, or by speaking at a committee member at one of our events.
The experiences of LGBTQIA+ people are diverse, rich, and complex. While we share some common experiences, each individual has a different and distinct understanding of their own life, and how it overlaps with their sexuality and gender identity. We also share a range of connections with our colleagues in the wider university community, professionally and personally.
A network supports the active inclusion of LGBTQIA+ individuals in the university in a range of ways:
- Providing an opportunity for differing individuals to come together and learn from each other
- Gives new (or newly interested) LGBTQIA+ staff a starting point for engaging with LGBTQIA+ culture and community
- Gives staff who are not part of the LGBTQIA+ community a structured way to engage and support their colleagues
- Combining our personal and professional expertise to ensure that LGBTQIA+ themes are not only part of equality-related conversations, but also interwoven into discussions about research, policy, community engagement, and more
- Giving a mechanism for us to speak with a collective voice, raise and address issues, and both support and ensure the University continues to create an actively inclusive workplace culture for everyone
About and History
With support from the Equality Office, the Director of Diversity & Inclusion and Human Resources, a number of successful initial meetings and events were organised including an Éigse Thuar Ceatha / Trinity Rainbow Celebration, organised by the Irish Language Office and initial proposers of the network in collaboration with An Cumann Gaelach and Q Soc – Trinity LGBT, and an event celebrating the anniversary of the same-sex marriage referendum.
We consider the Network to take inspiration from the rich history of the LGBTQIA+ civil rights movement in Ireland. The first formalised gay rights organisation, the Sexual Liberation Movement, was formed following a meeting in House 5 on Trinity campus. We’re proud of the connection Trinity has had to this over the years, which evolved into the Trinity Gay Soc (the first version of what is now Trinity’s student Q Soc). Over the years, Trinity’s LGBT society also includes many staff members, and was first recognised by Trinity in 1983, ten years before the formal decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1993.
In 2015, the LGBT+ Staff Network became the first EDI representative group for staff at Trinity, and one of the earlier groups of this kind in the country, inheriting the legacy of staff representation.
Since then, the Network has grown to be one of the largest and most active staff representation groups at Trinity and across the higher education sector. Our volunteer committee organise a range of activities each year including a monthly social, a ‘Pride in Research’ academic symposium, and Pride Month celebrations including a Pride Celebration in the Provost’s Garden for Network members and guests. We also work on a number of projects to contribute to the LGBTQ+ experience at Trinity, including engaging with the College on policy and best practice, supporting external LGBTQ+ organisations in working with Trinity, promoting the queer history of the university, and more.