99 PAGE TITLE A FRESHERS’ GUIDE TO TO TO GUIDE GUIDE FRESHERS’ FRESHERS’ A A OUTOUT && LONDON LONDON LGBT+ LGBT+ FRESHER’S FAIR 2016 ABOUTABOUT 99 PAGE“BE WHO TITLE YOU ARE AND SAY WHAT YOU FEEL, BECAUSE THOSE WHO MIND DON’T MATTER AND THOSE WHO MATTER DON’T MIND.” Dr. SUESS Writer and Cartoonist (1904 - 1991) IQ Imperial College Union LGBT+ 3 CONTENTS 4 President’s Note 6 All About IQ 8 Committee 16’/17’ 10 Help! 11 Sexual Health 12 What’s On... 14 LGBT+ London (Bars) 18 LGBT+ London (Nightclubs) 20 LGBT+ London (Map) 22 I Don’t Feel Like Dancing 24 Culture Club 26 A Little History 4 PRESIDENT’S NOTE When I joined IQ I wasn’t sure what I was going to find. Having had no LGBT+ friends at school (that I knew of) I was simply looking for a chance to meet people like me. This will be the case for many of you reading this as you take your first steps into university life. For others, you may be coming to Imperial with years of experi- ence in the LGBT+ community under your belt. Whatever your background, rest assured that IQ is a so- ciety open to everyone, with members that have a wide range of experiences. We hold events, both silly and serious, that cater to our diverse group of members. For me, I found a great bunch of people, a greater awareness of the challenges facing LGBT+ students and the chance to get involved and change things for the better. Join me in the best society at Imperial and have a fantastic year! - Scott 5 “THE IMPORTANT THING IS NOT THE OBJECT OF LOVE, BUT THE EMOTION ITSELF.” Gore Vidal American writer (1925 - 2012) 6 ALL ABOUT IQ IQ (or Imperial Queers long ago) is the LGBT+ society for Imperial College Union. We support and aim to unite those under the LBGT+ banner at Imperial College. We are an open, judgement free society and welcome people of all genders and sexualities. We’re here to help people get to know each other, to provide support for people and gen- erally to have a great time doing it! facebook.com/iqlgbt twitter.com/iqlgbt union.ic.ac.uk/iq 7 WHAT DO WE DO? - We organise events for the LGBT+ student community. We do everything from going out clubbing, to discussions about really important things, with a few film nights and days out thrown in on the way. - We provide safe spaces and a confidential peer support service to any part of the community. - To promote awareness to the student body about LGBT+ and related issues. PRIVACY Everyone is welcome to join, regardless of how you (or don’t) identify and you don’t have to ‘out’ to join! We promise to value, respect and protect your privacy; we have a main closed and private facebook group and any- one asking for support shall be given utmost confidentiality. 8 COMMITTEE 16/17 PRESIDENT TREASURERS SCOTT REDMOND BEN WALKER and CEMRE CANKAYA SECRETARY THOMAS WONG EVENTS OSCAR TUCKER WEB & PUBLICITY MATTY HAYWARD 9 WELFARE CLEVELAND DOUGLAS WOMEN’S OFFICERS and WILLIE RUSH ERICA CHF and BELEN BARBED POSTGRAD OFFICER GENDER DIVERSITY HENRY LI BECCA SIMPSON and BEN WINDO SEXUALITY DIVERSITY GEORGIE LOBO-HOTH and RACHEL HUGHES 10 HELP! Sometimes you just have a burning question (or something else burning) that you need help with. Sometimes friends are helpful, but most of the time you just want to find out anonymously. This section lists places and people that are there to help you out. Switchboard Formerly the London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard (LLGS), Switchboard provides an information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men, bisexual people and anyone who needs to consider issues around their sexuality. http://switchboard.lgbt Daily, 10am-11pm: 0300 330 0630 Queer Youth Network A National LGBT Youth Organisation in the UK. Run by and for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Youth and Teens. http://www.lgbtyouth.org LGBT Foundation The LGBT Foundation provide a wide range of support services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans* people. http://lgbt.foundation Imperial College Councelling Service The Student Counselling Service offers short-term counselling to registered students of Imperial College London. It is free and confidential. Counsellors are available at the South Kensington, Hammersmith and Silwood Park Cam- puses. http://imperial.ac.uk/counselling 11 SEXUAL HEALTH Sex. Sex, sex, sex, sex; you’re not going to be able to avoid it. In fact, you’ll probably have some, and enjoy it too! The important thing to remember is that you have got to look after yourself, have safe sex and get yourself checked. Terrance Higgins Trust The THT is the largest HIV and sexual health charity in the UK. Don’t ignore them just because you think HIV has nothing to do with you - their website has some great info on sexual health. http://tht.org.uk CLINICS Dean Street Express - 34 Dean Street, Soho, W1D 4PR http://deanstreetexpress.nhs.uk/ John Hunter Clinic - Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, SW10 9NH www.chelwest.nhs.uk/services/hiv-sexual-health Guys @ Mary’s Clinic - Jefferiss Wing, St. Mary’s Hospital Praed Streed, W2 1NY https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/our-services/sexual- health-and-hiv West London Centre - 10 Hammersmith Broadway, W6 7AL for Sexual Health www.chelwest.nhs.uk These are just some of the many clinics available across London and facilities such as PEP are available at some A&E Departments. Gay/bi men should also get vaccinated against Hepatitis B, which is free from these clinics. 12 WHAT’S ON... We have much planned over this first term of the year! Join us whenever you like throughout; be mindful that this is a provisional list - Watch the facebook group, mailing list or the website to keep updated! Fresher’s Fair Come and meet us at our stall at the Fresher’s Fair in the first week of term! Across South Kensington Campus, Imperial College Tuesday 4th October, 11am to 5pm South Kensington Pub Crawl Get a grips with the local surroundings as we tour the pubs around Kensing- ton. The first social event of the year - a great way to introduce yourself! Meeting at Imperial College Union Thursday 6th October, Evening Soho Bar Crawl An evening to explore the famous gay bars of Central London. Meeting at Imperial College Union Saturday 8th October, Evening 13 ...AUTUMN ‘16 Family’s Events If you sign up to be part of IQ’s Familys scheme, events throughout the term invite you to come as a group to ones such as games nights or discussions! Various Monday 10th October, 7pm-9pm, then throughout the term LGBT Discussions Starting this term we aim to host LGBT topical discussions and debates var- ying from the ease of being LGBT at IC, to the challenges concerning faith. The first will be, of course, about coming out. Room TBC, Imperial College Usually every other Tuesday evening Film Nights We regularly show themed movies, complete with snacks! Lecture Theatre TBC, Imperial College Wednesday 2nd November, then throughout the year Trips! This term we plan to go out to the Tate Modern, a selected theatre, go ice skating at the Natural History Museum and visit a petting zoo to destress those revision stresses! Various, throughout term Christmas Dinner We annually hold a three-course christmas dinner in London, and is a great way to mark the end of the first term! TBC Wednesday 10th December, evening 14 LGBT+ LONDON TAKE YOU TO A GAY BAR Gay bars. If you want to head out for an evening of chilling out with your mates we’ve put together this list of bars to go to. Ku Bar The original Ku Bar on Lisle St has two bars across two levels, with decent drinks and friendly staff. Girls will enjoy Ruby Tuesdays! The other Ku Bar on Frith St has a fairly large lounge bar in the basement. Both are usually busy with a good atmosphere. 30 Lisle St, W1 and 25 Frith St, W1 noon to 3am (Mon-Sat) noon to midnight (Sun) G-A-Y Bar Camp pop classics, cheap cocktail pitch- ers, always busy with a good crowd for those random fun evenings with friends. 30 Old Compton Street, W1 noon to midnight (Mon-Sun) The Yard A courtyard bar and lounge area with a wide range of cocktails. Recently under planning threat. Slightly more professional crowd and happy hours 6pm till 8pm Monday to Thursday. 57 Rupert St, W1 2pm to 11.30pm (Mon-Thur) 2pm to 12am (Frid-Sat) 2pm to 10.30pm (Sun) I WANNA 15 TAKE YOU TO A GAY BAR Rupert Street A large bar with a slightly older crowd and average prices. Of- ten busy in the evenings and with a good range of cocktails. Lim- ited seating but lots of standing space indoors and outside. 50 Rupert St, W1 noon to 11pm (Mon-Fri) 11am to 12am (Sat) 11am to 10.30pm (Sunday) She Soho A stylish and luxury venue designed exclusively for lesbians. S he teams its spirited evenings out with regular quirky events, with live music mixed in with comedy shows to make this one a fully rounded ven- ue with something going on every day of the week. 23a Old Compton St, W1D 5JL 4pm to 11:30pm (Mon-Thur) Ruby Tuesdays Ruby Tuesdays is the super established, pop & R’n’B night with added chart music mixed in. It take place every Tuesday at Ku Bar and is always busy, always with a diverse female crowd with a few male friends thrown in to the mix.