LSE SPECTRUM
Annual Report 2016-17
Contents
Foreword 3
Mission and Vision 4
Terms of Reference 5
Events 6
Community Engagement 8
Communications 10
EDI and HR Liaison 12
Operations 14
Training and Conferences 16
Appendix – Public Events List 2016-17 18
2
Foreword
Welcome to our round-up of Spectrum activity in 2016-17. Over the year, we were involved with hosting eight public events at LSE, publicised event blogs and podcasts, and attended training by Stonewall and by trans awareness charity GIRES. We co-founded a cross-London collaborative, spoke at three internal events for staff, launched LSE's first LGBT+ Role Models and Allies Directory, and won an award.
In terms of progressing LGBT+ equality at LSE, we were very pleased to be a part of LSE's jump of 52 places in the Stonewall annual Workplace Equality Index. We have contributed to working group initiatives, consulted on numerous internal policies and processes, mainstreamed LGBT+ internal communications, lobbied for positive change and provided confidential support for staff.
Our proudest moment this year? Flying LSE's first ever Pride flag with complete support from LSE Interim Director Julia Black and Chief Operating Officer Andrew Young. We have had so many comments from staff who said it made them feel that they belonged! LSE joined Stonewall's Global Diversity Champions programme at the same time, which we hope is a clear signal that LGBT+ equality is something we will all continue to strive for.
Andra Fry and Gillian Urquhart, Spectrum Co-Chairs
3
Mission and Vision
Spectrum is LSE's LGBT+ staff network. We support and represent staff from all minority sexual orientations and gender identities. All staff are welcome to join our network.
Network aims Our aim is to support and represent lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and other gender identities and sexuality minorities at the School.
Lobbying and representation To act as the officially recognised staff representative group for issues relating to LGBT+ equality regarding School policy and formal consultations which the School may undertake.
Culture and education To organise in-School cultural and educational activities that focus on LGBT+ issues, particularly in areas where the School has academic expertise, to promote greater awareness of debate on LGBT+ issues and the School's contribution to these areas. Events are open to all.
Social networking and support To provide a social support network for LGBT+ staff at the School, to encourage staff to feel open and confident about their identity, and to demonstrate the School's commitment to diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace.
4
Terms of Reference
Membership of the network Membership of the Network is open to anyone employed by LSE, including the Students’ Union, freelancers, contractors and graduate students. Members can be LGBT+, supporters and allies.
Managing the network The Network is managed by a Committee of LGBT+ staff volunteers, which elects a Chair/Co- Chairs annually. Committee vacancies are open to the wider Network. Non-Committee members are welcome to get involved, e.g. by volunteering ideas or helping with events.
Joining the network Email [email protected] and ask to join the mailing list. This mailing list and any correspondence to it are confidential. Individual email addresses will not be displayed in group communications. Members receive a termly newsletter and ad-hoc communications by email. Twitter users may follow @LSESpectrum. The Spectrum website is regularly updated.
Events All members are invited to attend a Michaelmas Term Welcome Reception and monthly meetings. Members will be invited to cross-London HE staff network events. Spectrum will commemorate important LGBT+ dates and anniversaries. Spectrum will also hold LGBT+ themed events that are open for anyone to attend. Events will be publicised by email, social media and on the Spectrum website.
Spectrum committee 2016-17
Heather Anderson (from May 2017) James Deeley - Secretary Andra Fry - Co-Chair Daniel Payne - Communications Hayley Reed (Co-Chair until May 2017) - Communications lead Andrew Sherwood – Community liaison lead Dan Smith (from May 2017) Chris Thomas – Events lead Gillian Urquhart - Co-Chair from May 2017
5
Events
We hosted free LGBT+ public events on sexual orientation and gender identity with high profile speakers, followed by networking receptions. These events were organised by Spectrum committee members, or co-hosted by Spectrum. Each event provided an opportunity for Spectrum members, the wider LSE community and the public to come and find out more about different parts of the LGBT+ experience. Co-hosting events with other parts of LSE is a great way for us to reach more people.
In 2016-17 we were involved with hosting eight public events at LSE. Event podcasts and blog interviews with speakers extended our reach globally.
Image: speakers at Rising through the Ranks, May 2017. Credit: Andrew Sherwood
6
October 2016 We held our annual Welcome Reception on Spirit Day in October 2016. Attendees included LSE's interim Director Julia Black and COO Andrew Young who are now our senior champions.
January 2017 Trans man and activist Stephen Whittle spoke at LSE on 10 January in Pressing for Change: 25 years seeking trans equality, a public event we co- hosted with LSE Library. The event podcast has had over 44,000 downloads.
February 2017 During LGBT History Month we worked with LSE Library on events on 22 and 24 February to coincide with their exhibition "Glad to be Gay" and LSE's Literary Festival, and a reading from writer Stuart Feather on 28 February. We were pleased to help promote LSE Library's excellent LGBT+ resources, including the Hall Carpenter Archives.
We also hosted writer and activist Peter Scott Presland on 15 February in an event that Spectrum's Daniel Payne organised with local charity Opening Doors London.
March 2017 Stonewall CEO Ruth Hunt spoke at LSE in Stonewall: then and now, a public event we co-hosted with LSE Library on 14 March. The podcast of Ruth's talk has had over 34000 downloads. An interview with Ruth by Spectrum's Hayley Reed and Artemis Photiadou of the LSE British Politics and Policy blog is posted on both the LSE British Politics and Policy and EDI blogs.
May 2017 On 4 May we teamed up with the EDI Taskforce to host a public event about the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index. It was arranged and chaired by Spectrum's Chris Thomas. An interview with speaker Bex Stinson by Spectrum's Hayley Reed and Alex Free of EDI appeared on the LSE EDI blog.
We attended a General Election LGBT Hustings at LSE, which was organised by Pink News, Pride in London and Stonewall. LSE's COO Andrew Young introduced the event.
July 2017 We teamed up with two other staff networks at LSE, Power and Embrace, to co-host an LSE Staff Networks Summer Reception on 24 July. This was an opportunity for staff to join any of the networks or find out more in an informal setting.
Stephen Bourne joined us for a public event and reception on 27 July to launch his new book Fighting Proud, which was arranged by Spectrum's Daniel Payne. The podcast is available online.
7
Community Engagement
Internally, we engage with our members, our wider colleagues and other staff networks at LSE, and relevant student groups like the LSESU Pride Alliance. We have received recognition in terms of invitations to speak at events, and awards. Externally, we are benefiting from joining forces with similar staff networks at other universities.
In 2016-17, we spoke at three internal events, co-founded a London network and won an internal award.
Image: Andrew Young and Hayley Reed, LSE Values in Practice awards, January 2017. Credit: Candy Gibson
8
September 2016 We participated in the New Academic Induction exhibition and met with the SU LGBT officer and the LSESU Pride Alliance Chair before the start of term, in order to establish a relationship that would work for both parties, even though we have different focuses.
January 2017 LSE's 2016 Values in Practice Awards were presented in January 2017. Hayley Reed won an award for citizenship due to her work as Spectrum Co-Chair.
March 2017 COO Andrew Young invited Spectrum to speak at the March 2017 PSS briefings. Gillian Urquhart, Hayley Reed and Andra Fry spoke about Spectrum's background, what we achieved during LGBT History Month, and how staff can get involved.
From April 2017 We are founder members of LUKI: the LGBT+ network for staff at LSE, UCL, King's College London and Imperial. The four networks are all at different stages of development and operate in varying ways. We have all learned from each other and benefited from mutual support and advice. The group first met in April 2017 and held its first event in September.
June 2017 Spectrum's Hayley Reed and Spencer Javangwe of Embrace, LSE's BME staff network, were invited to speak at a conference hosted by LSE Power, the staff network for women in professional service divisions at LSE. The conference theme was Overcoming barriers: the next steps in your career. Hayley and Spencer spoke about personal barriers they have faced as an LGBT+ and a BME person respectively.
July 2017 Along with EDI and LSE's other staff networks, we were invited to deliver a mini workshop at LSE Library's Speed Updating session for Library staff. Andra Fry, Hayley Reed, Andrew Sherwood and Dan Smith devised three games to promote awareness of LGBT+ identities, UK history and international laws. Feedback from attendees was very positive.
Interim Director Julia Black attended Spectrum’s July meeting.
9
Communications
We try to make our members feel that they are part of a wider network; one that understands them and offers them activities, support and opportunities to get involved. We also aim to mainstream Spectrum's activities by using LSE's central communications channels for large campaigns, as well as using our own channels to provide more targeted and specific information.
In 2016-17, we held 12 monthly meetings with corresponding newsletters for members, as well as special edition newsletters for the start of terms and for events. Our sexual orientation and gender identity awareness raising social media and internal communications campaign used international LGBT+ dates as starting points, in particular LGBT History Month, IDAHOBIT and Pride in London.
Image: LSE's first Pride flag, July 2017. Credit: Gillian Urquhart
10
September 2016 Bi Visibility Day
October 2016 Coming Out Day, Spirit Day, Black History Month, Intersex Awareness Day, Asexual Awareness Week
November 2016 Trans Awareness Week, Trans Day of Remembrance
December 2016 Pan Pride, Human Rights Day, World AIDS Day
February 2017 LGBT History Month – planning began in December
March 2017 Women’s History Month, Transgender Day of Visibility
April 2017 Lesbian Day of Visibility
May 2017 Pan Day of Visibility, IDAHOBIT, including LGBT Reading list for Review of Books blog
July 2017 Pride in London and raising the Pride flag - planning began in June
11
EDI and HR Liaison
Spectrum has over the last year contributed to many of the initiatives committed to improving the lives of LGBT staff and in advancing the School’s EDI objectives. Our ability to work with supportive and proactive central EDI and HR colleagues is hugely beneficial to the progression of LGBT+ equality at LSE.
Image: Andrew Young and Julia Black with a rainbow flag for LGBT History Month, February 2017. Credit: Andra Fry and Daniel Payne
12
August 2016 Stonewall Workplace Equality Index (WEI) preparation LSE Trans policy consultation Sexual Orientation policy consultation Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) consultation – PLP monitoring form, Timetables
September 2016 EDI Diversity Calendar feedback EIA consultation – Data Protection policy Badging office titles Stonewall WEI submission Stonewall Role Models and Allies training
October 2016 Athena Swan Charter Mark meeting and submission
November 2016 Inclusion Policies Working Group GIRES – trans awareness training Consultation on consent matters online training course EIA consultation – Research Ethics Policy, Ethics Code
January 2017 Stonewall WEI rankings announcement Consultation on EDI's application for HEFCE funding Inclusion Policies Working Group
February 2017 Launching Role Models and Allies Directory Staff networks meeting with Power, Embrace
March 2017 Publicising newly launched LSE Trans policy
April 2017 Stonewall WEI feedback meeting IMT naming records and convention consultation
May 2017 Consultation on new Mentoring scheme forms Consultation on EDI Strategy Inclusion Policies Working Group GIRES – trans awareness training LGBT staff Network of Networks conference
June 2017 Athena Swan 2017 meeting Consultation on Ehics at LSE online module Gender neutral language use by frontline staff Meeting with Andrew Young and Joy Whyte
July-August 2017 Stonewall WEI preparation 2017 Attended Stonewall Global Diversity Champions event with EDI
13
Operational
Substantial effort is spent making sure the network runs as efficiently as possible with the resources we have, which are: volunteers, time and budget.
In 2016-17 we received a substantial budget increase. Correspondingly, we have recruited two new committee members and introduced more specific areas of expertise for committee members to lead.
Image: Stephen Bourne and Hakan Seckinelgin at the Fighting Proud event, July 2017. Credit: Daniel Payne
14
September 2016 We introduced MailChimp for monthly newsletters and event invitations, and an inbox rota.
January 2017 Our budget was increased from £500 to £3000.
February 2017 To increase awareness around campus and in communications, had new banners and promotional materials created by the Design Unit.
May 2017 We introduced committee roles and started using Slack for committee communications. Following a call for new committee members and co-chair – Hayley handed over to Gillian; Heather and Dan joined the committee.
June 2017 We purchased our first replacement pull-up banners for events, and an LGBT flag for LSE to fly during Pride in London 2017.
July 2017 Our annual committee planning meeting took place in the summer. It's an opportunity to review, reflect and strategize for the academic year ahead.
15
Training and Conferences
We think that training is an important part of development, which is not confined to the workplace. As LGBT+ people, we have benefited through the year from attending four specific events, and also by sharing what we learned with our colleagues.
Image: Ruth Hunt speaking at LSE, March 2017. Credit: Hayley Reed
16
September 2016 Stonewall Role Models and Allies training was held at LSE in September 2016. Following this training the LSE LGBT+ Role Models and Allies Directory was formed.
November 2016 The gender identity research and education charity GIRES visited LSE in November 2016 and May 2017 to deliver trans awareness training to staff and students.
April 2017 Three members of Spectrum and two members of EDI attended the Stonewall London Conference in April 2017. Spectrum's Heather Anderson, HR Consultant at LSE, delivered a session on being a trans ally.
May 2017 Our Co-Chairs attended a staff networks workshop organised by LSE Power, LSE's professional women's network. It was led by Jonathan Lamptey, an LSE PhD student whose work focuses on the role that staff networks can play within organisations.
17
Appendix – Public Events List 2016-17
Pressing For Change: 25 years seeking trans equality 12 January 2017 Speaker: Stephen Whittle, trans man, activist and Professor of Equalities Law at Manchester Metropolitan University Chair: Hakan Seckinelgin, Associate Professor, Department of Social Policy, LSE and LSE LGBT+ Role Model Podcast (44k downloads) Event listing
The 1967 Act and Beyond: a tale of North and South 15 February 2017 Speaker: Peter Scott-Presland, author and activist Chair: Martin Reid, Deputy Director and Head of the Academic Services, LSE Library Podcast Event listing
Experiments in Living and Working: squats and collectives in 1970s and 80s London 22 February 2017 Speakers: Matt Cook, a lecturer of History and Gender Studies at Birkbeck College, University of London and Co-director of the Raphael Samuel History Centre. Sue O’Sullivan, involved in women's liberation movement. Chair: Anne Summers, Chair of the Friends of the Women’s Library. Podcast (31k downloads) Event listing
A Bill Called William 24 February 2017 Chair: Gillian Murphy, Curator, LSE Library Event listing
18
Stuart Feather on Gay Liberation, Radical Queens and more 28 February 2017 Speaker: Stuart Feather, author Chair: Gillian Murphy, Curator, LSE Library Event listing
Stonewall: then and now 14 March 2017 Speaker: Ruth Hunt, Stonewall CEO Chair: Julia Black, LSE Interim Director Podcast (35k downloads) Event listing
Rising through the Ranks: the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index and organisational change 4 May 2017 Speakers: Rob Childe, Pinsent Masons. Claire Harvey, Diversity Role Models. Jacqueline Newcombe, Leicestershire Police. Rebecca Stinson, Head of Trans Inclusion, Stonewall. Chair: Chris Thomas, Assistant Professor, LSE Law and Spectrum committee member and LSE LGBT+ Role Model Event listing
Fighting Proud: The untold story of the gay men who served in two world words 27 July 2017 Speaker: Stephen Bourne, writer and historian Chair: Hakan Seckinelgin, Associate Professor, Department of Social Policy, LSE and LSE LGBT+ Role Model Podcast Event listing
19
Spectrum is the LGBT+ staff network at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
We support and represent LSE staff who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and from all minority sexual orientations and gender identities. All staff are welcome to join our network and mailing list.
Web lse.ac.uk/spectrum
Email [email protected]
Twitter @LSESpectrum
Get involved Join our mailing list
September 2017 20