Birmingham Metropolitan (BMet) College’s Inclusive Support Department have organised an LGBTQ+ panel discussion for students, staff and invited guests to mark this year’s LGBT+ History Month. The event, which will be held on February 27, will feature five speakers including: two of the department’s D&I Ambassadors; Naomi Rowe; George Mattu; and An Verleysen. After each person has delivered their speech, the audience will be encouraged to interact with a Q&A session.
Kathryn (Kathy) O’Connor is a BMet Apprentice Learning Support Assistant in Inclusive Support, one of the D&I ambassadors at BMet and a genderfluid (non-binary to female) gay artist, author, performer. They are going to talk about the challenges of growing up during Section 28 and about their genderfluid (non-binary to female) identity, gay sexuality, and their project.
Their colleague, Aimee, is a D&I ambassador and bisexual woman. She explains: “I’m sharing my experience of being partially ‘out’ and why it’s okay to not come out to certain people if you don’t want to. I am a proud member of the queer community but certain circumstances within my family have led me to refrain from disclosing who I am to them for safety.
“I feel like it is important to talk about stories of coming out, as every circumstance is different. In an ever-turbulent world, for some LGBTQ+ people coming out to certain people is a lot more of a risk than it is for others. So, I wanted to share my experience to help at least one person feel less alone in what they are going through. Because they’re not alone and their experiences are valid.”
Naomi Rowe, trustee and volunteer from the Trans Tearoom, adds: “Events like these allow young people to see themselves reflected in adults, not just through media but within the local community. Representation will always be important and a reminder that diversity isn’t an agenda, it’s just who we are.”
George Matthu will be speaking about the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ Asians from his childhood to the present day. He will share his thoughts on how attitudes have changed and the work that still needs to be done in our communities to promote tolerance and acceptance.
“Events like this one are important and for showing that LGBTQ+ people of colour exist and are more visible than ever,” George tells Scene.
Finally, An Verleysen who will be joining the event from Belgium via video link will talk about intersex identities. They are a chairperson at Intersex Flanders – a Belgian foundation where intersex people are happy to speak and be the voice of a community of survivors, sharing their personal stories to show awareness about today’s intersex needs.
Kathy O’Connor explains: “Events like this offer an opportunity for people to come together and learn from each other’s authentic lived experience. Only by talking and listening authentically with each other like this can we hope to better understand one another.”
