STUDENT VOICE | Page 17

COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS History Month ‘Looking after our own’ (staff support and the LGBT+ workforce) ‘Step outside’ (coming out in Ayrshire) ‘Beginners guide to trans’ (empowering the transgender community) There were a number of fantastic events on in February to celebrate LGBT+ History Month. LGBT+ forums throughout the month at Ayr and Kilwinning. The Ayrshire College Students’ Association rasied funds for LGBT Youth Scotland in the final week across the College. The Association recognises the important work done by LGBT Youth Scotland in supporting young LGBT+ people and their families. We were also joined by a representative from the Scottish Transgender Alliance, Oceana, who visited each campus for a Q&A. This provided an excellent opportunity to learn more about the trans experience in a friendly and supportive way. Meanwhile the Ayrshire LGBT+ Development Group held an extremely valuable LGBT+ Conference in Kilmarnock on 29 February. The free conference was held at East Ayrshire Council’s building for those working in the public and voluntary sector. The workshops included: A key highlight of those fundraising activities was ‘Purple Friday’, held on the last Friday of the month. Students were encouraged to wear purple and tweet their support using #Purpleselfie before donating £3 to support LGBT Youth Scotland. The Association also held THE STUDENT VOICE: SPRING 2016 ‘Voices unheard’ (gender based violence, domestic abuse) ‘Where to go’ (reporting LGBT+ hate crime) ‘Educating Ayrshire’ (LGBT+ awareness and education) contact... If you would like to discuss any LGBT+ issues, then get in touch with our LGBT+ Students Officer, Amy-Beth Miah, at amybethlgbtacsa @gmail.com Click here to read Oceana’s blog 17