“I wrote this guide because I had such a wonderful time as an LGBTQIA+ student at Kent, I was able to discover myself, find new friends and a partner for life. I want future LGBTQIA+ students to have the same amazing experience, if not better, and for them to be able to experience the fantastic, rich LGBTQIA+ life that the University and Canterbury has to offer.”
“I’m a mature student in the second year of my film PhD, and also studied my BA and MA at Kent. I wrote this guide because it took me a while to find my feet in the LGBTQIA+ community at Kent, and I wanted to make it easier for new students to engage with our vibrant community and make use of all the facilities and services available.”
You can get your preferred name listed on your student record, if it's different to your legal name. Remember – your legal name will be on your degree, so if you change it any time between applying to Kent and graduating make sure to let the Student Record Admin Office.
There isn’t an option to list your pronouns on your profile (yet!) but don’t be afraid to email lecturers ahead of time when you get your timetable – all staff at Kent have training on LGBTQIA+ issues and it will help them get into the habit of using your correct pronouns ahead of time.
When you pick up your ID card you can also pick up one of the LGBTQIA+ pride lanyards so you can wear your pride on campus. A lot of students like to personalise their lanyards with pins – adding specific pride and pronoun pins can help you find your community.
If you're going to be living in uni student accommodation, use Facebook to find WhatsApp chats for others staying in the same building – this is an easy way to find friends to hang out with on your first nights away from home.
Westgate Hall and Penny Theatre are two local venues that sometimes host fun queer-friendly events like drag bingo.
Student Support and Wellbeing offers fantastic support for any student who is struggling.
Spectrum life is an out-of-hours support line which can be contacted over the phone or through webchat.
Galop offer targeted support for LGBTQIA+ who have been the victim of hate crimes and abuse and are a fantastic resource to be aware of.
For trans and non-binary students you have to check out the gender affirmation fund – they offer grants of up to £100 per student for gender-affirming items like binders (my personal fav) and haircuts, which can make a huge difference on a tight student budget.
Canterbury trans network runs a trans support group open to folks who are trans, non-binary, intersex, or questioning their gender identity. They hold meetings on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month – check the schedule to find out where the next meeting is.
