This week’s Campus Cutie is super cute LGBT+a Welfare Officer, Molly Smith!
Name: Molly Smith
College: Cuths
Course: Psychology
Year: Second
Hey Molly! What does your role as LGBT+a’s welfare Officer entail exactly?
My role is basically to be here for anyone in Durham’s LGBTQ+a community if they have any issues or worries that concern their welfare. This means people can come to me if they’re feeling like they need someone to talk to about anything, and I will be there to listen and try to help out anyway I can. Students get in touch with me via the LGBT+a Durham welfare group on Facebook, via email on welfare@durhamlgbta.org.uk, come to my drop in sessions or just come find me and talk in person anytime. Chances are I will be at Osbourne’s every Monday! Sex, ex’s, coming out, being out, or anything just a little bit LGBTQ+a and I’m your gal. Always confidential, and completely anonymous.
What’s the best part about the role?
I really enjoy the welfare aspect of it, but just being involved generally is awesome. The exec this year are so committed to trying to make Durham better for LGBT+a people, and I think even though we are still in Term 1 of this year there is a greater presence of us here, more events and just generally more students getting involved. It’s really great to work with other people, who I have really become friends with, who like me want to get involved and do as much as we can because we are all so passionate about it.
How would you describe Durham’s LGBT+a’s scene?
Unfortunately because it’s a small place it’s not that big. Having said that, over the last three years there have been major reforms. There is a gay night once a week at a bar in town called Osbourne’s, which always gets good attendance and has really great vibes. Also, new this year we have brought in a safe space social in Cuths bar prior to this. We have control over the bar, which means we can employ the safe space policy we have, and basically do what we want as long as they’re happy. We get gender neutral toilets and have special drinks. There is also potentially something very exciting we are working on for Cuths Rainbow Night, so watch this space! Then, Durham Pride are also getting a much bigger presence with events. They had a club night this term, and obviously Pride last year and the year before. It’s small, but it is growing. And my favourite thing about the scene is the people I have met on these socials. Going as a fresher for the first time can be a bit daunting, because you don’t really know what to expect. But I have met some really good friends because of the LGBT+a’s socials, so even though it’s a smaller community it makes it very friendly and welcoming.
Sum up, if you can, how fantastic Durham’s first Pride was last term?
I loved it. I’m from Leeds, so I’m used to massive Pride days. But I was so happy to see the Durham version. It was much bigger than I expected it to be. There was so much support from all the colleges, societies, associations, just so many people who don’t identify as LGBT+a themselves coming down to show support too. And the event they had in Loveshack was good too. Tess Tickle being an absolute babe as always!
Finally, what LGBT+a events can we look forward to for the rest of this term?
We only have a couple of things left, it’s been a busy term. Firstly, this Friday we have a panel discussion. This is basically a Q&A where people are invited to come and ask our panel questions about LGBT+a issues they feel might be a bit inappropriate to ask or potentially offensive. The idea behind this was just to close the knowledge gap between those who are regularly involved with LGBT+a issues and those who are not, to educate people on the questions they genuinely want to know and ask someone it affects. We have been working with someone from the NHS for World Aids Day. We are planning to have some involvement with a fair they are running for the day, as well as having our own red- themed social to show support and hopefully raise some money for the cause. Then, we have our Christmas Party at the end of term. This is a new thing this year! We are doing a black tie party on a boat which goes down the river through Durham, and excitingly we are having our own DJ from DJ Soc who is also a service user!
Check out the Durham LGBT+a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/durhamlgbta/?fref=ts