Essex LGBT Alliance
Minutes of meeting
Wednesday 25 June 2014
University of Essex
TC2.14 and TC2.15
Attendees
Luise Usiskin
Mark Healy
Hannah Hunt (Chair)
Katie Kennington
Ian Ball
Allan Hildon
Teresa Warren
Karen Stephenson (Secretary)
Adam Coll
Madelyn Wright
Fotini Grammatosi
Richard Alderman
Stonewall
Essex County Football Association
The Essex Community Rehabilitation Company Ltd
The Essex Community Rehabilitation Company Ltd
The Essex Community Rehabilitation Company Ltd
University of Essex
University of Essex
University of Essex
University of Essex, Students’ Union
University of Essex
University of Essex
University of Essex
Minutes
HH introduced the meeting. Following on from the inaugural meeting, three
main objectives were collated and formed the first three Agenda items.
Agenda Item 1 – Raising Awareness (of the Alliance)
Handouts were distributed and the meeting was asked to work in pairs to
list ideas on how to raise awareness of the Alliance and to also list any
special skills they may have which can be used to promote ELGBTA. Here
are the suggestions:
Create a logo
Facebook, twitter presence
Include the private sector
especially LGBT friendly
organisations like the Co-op.
Presence at Essex Pride, etc.
Ask U of E students to create a
website
U of E internal advertising, Rabbit,
SXTV, etc.
Put posters up in LGBT venues
throughout the county
Use the 650 nationwide Stonewall
Diversity champions as a resource
Create a list of E and D reps to
contact within organisations
Flyers, leaflets, etc.
Each member write a piece for the
local press
Essex Teachers Forums
Agenda Item 2 – Sharing best practice
HH asked the meeting to list ideas about what they would like to learn more
about. Sharing best practice could then become a regular slot at meetings.
Members were then asked to list the things they feel qualified to share:




ECRC - booklet explaining what a Straight Ally is.
ECRC - Bullying and Harassment policy and training programme
around homophobic language.
KK - working as a Union Rep - tips on how to challenge.
TW – possibility of sharing information following a conference on
Action
‘Gender issues in the early years’ or asking the speaker to come to
an Alliance meeting.
 KS - how to set up and run a Harassment Advisory Network.
 KS - how to set up and run compulsory Equality and Diversity online
training.
 LU - ‘Unconscious bias’.
 FG – would like to learn more about how homophobic people think –
could a survey be undertaken?
Agenda Item 3 – Campaign strategy for promotion of LGBT issues
It was decided the main focus would be on two events during the next year:
October 2014 – Proposed ELGBTA Diversity Careers Fair at the University
of Essex. KS is going to find out if the Alliance can ‘piggyback’ with
Employability and Careers at Essex during the University’s ‘Welcome
Week’. It may be possible for members to set up display stands and
advertise the fact that they are LGBT-friendly employers.
KS
(Post-meeting note – University of Essex ‘Welcome Week’ will take place
before the next meeting. KS will send out information about display stands
before then.)
KS
LGBT History month – February 2015 – AC from the Students’ Union is
planning a series of events during LGBT History month. There is the
possibility of the ELGBTA ‘piggybacking’ on one or two events. KS will
liaise with AC and report back at the next meeting.
KS/AC
MH is planning to organise for one of the teams from the Gay Football
Supporters Network to play against Uof E at the University of Essex during
LGBT History month in 2015.
Terms of Reference
The ELGBTA Terms of reference were agreed together with the aims and
objectives. The system of a ‘rolling’ Chair and ‘rolling’ secretary was
also agreed. IB from ECRC will act as secretary at the next meeting. A
Chair for the next meeting needs to be agreed. Please let KS know if you
would like to volunteer.
Any other business
MH will find out if it is possible to hold the next meeting of the Alliance at the
Essex County FA premises.
MH
ELGTA
MH
(Post-meeting note – The University of Essex will be used as the venue for
all future meetings of the ELGBTA).
LU asked the meeting to consider inviting other institutions to join the
Alliance, such as the NHS, Social care agencies, Children’s charities, Age
charities, etc.
Next meeting :
Date: Wednesday 22 October 2014
Time : 10.00 am start with buffet lunch to follow.
Venue : University of Essex Colchester campus. Room 4SA.6.19.
ELGBTA