Monday 24-09-2018 - 11:21

We spoke to the lovely Sam Johnson-Audini to find out some tips and advice to help LGBT+ freshers settle into Durham.

I’m Sam and I’m the current President of the LGBT+ Association! This year will be my third year studying History and Politics at Castle!

Before coming to Durham I was really sceptical about the LGBT+ scene. I was coming from a sixth form that had a strong LGBT+ community and most of my friends were LGBT+. I am quite privileged in that sense as I know many people’s first interaction with the LGBT+ community is at university. While the LGBT+ scene is smaller at Durham than at other universities, for example we don’t have a gay nightclub in Durham – we have one LGBT+ club night a week – it’s often underestimated as to how large and diverse the community is! There are plenty of LGBT+ people with a variety of courses and hobbies.

To get a head start on making friends and feeling comfortable in the LGBT+ community here in Durham, the association runs a parenting scheme, similar to colleges’ parenting schemes, where you’ll be adopted by second or third years, so there’ll always be a friendly face at LGBT+ events!

Before Freshers’ I joined the LGBT+ Association Freshers’ group chat, which helped me to know I wasn’t alone in being LGBT+ at Durham and provided a nice community to talk to about struggles during college Freshers’ Week. During Freshers’ I frequently consulted the LGBT+ chat and even made friends in my own college from the chat!

Osbourne’s (the LGBT+ club night on Mondays) is not everyone’s cup of tea – don’t feel like you have to force yourself to enjoy it. The association runs weekly socials and plenty of non-alcoholic socials too, so you can find your niche! There will still be opportunities to make LGBT+ friends outside of clubbing.

Your college will have some form of LGBT+ group or at least an LGBT+ frep – scout them out! Have a chat! Often, they’ll host meetups during Freshers’ Week so you can meet other LGBT+ people within college and build a support network there too.

If you have any more questions on LGBT+ life in Durham feel free to contact me or the association Facebook page! The LGBT+ Association also has Welfare Officers who hold weekly drop ins, so keep an eye out for information surrounding that on the Facebook page too. We'll also be out and about during Freshers’ Week at college meetups and the Freshers’ Fair!