Where’s an LGBT officer when ya need one?

It’s no secret that City’s Students’ Union has a hard job filling its rosters every year. And once again, we’ve been left with an empty spot on the campaign board – this year it’s the LGBT officer’s spot that’s been left out in the cold.

This year’s LGBT officer Astrid Crowley, speaking to The Square from Manila, where she is successfully recovering from a year in student politics, said: “I was really upset to hear that that’s the case this year, and I was fairly surprised too.

“I think with this officer role, it’s quite a statement, because being in the position alone already puts this label on you and many LGBT students may not want their sexuality to be the main thing they’re known for.”

Current president of the university’s LGBT society, Alex Thorn, is up in the elections. But it’s VP activities she’s got her eye on. She admitted she was disappointed by her fellow students’ reluctance to step forward.

“It’s really quite upsetting. There was a couple of people that actually said ‘why is no-one running’ and my question is ‘why aren’t you!?’

“If I get elected I will personally address LGBT issues as VP, but obviously a separate LGBT officer would be great.”

However, despite her campaign pledge to fight for LGBT rights, Alex also confessed she didn’t state her role as LGBT society president on her own manifesto because she believes “some audiences would be put off reading a manifesto that says LGBT on it.

“I’m a big advocate for LGBT rights but I’m not oblivious to the fact that there are a lot of people who don’t find that appealing. They would look at a manifesto, see that on there, and feel excluded from it because they’re not part of that group.

“It’s not like I’m trying to stay in the closet or anything…It’s more I don’t want to come across as excluding any other groups. I just put the rainbow badge on there instead!”

Alex also agreed with Astrid’s suggestion that not every LGBT student at city is happy “to broadcast and promote the fact that they are LGBT.

“At the end of the day, it’s a personal preference: whether you are happy to tell the entire world, fly a rainbow flag and say ‘hey! this is me and I don’t care what you think!’, and some people just don’t feel comfortable doing that and they are completely entitled to be that way.”

When asked if she thinks there are equality and diversity problems at City, Alex simply stated: “There’s equality and diversity issues everywhere.”

Student Union executive Craig Stewart declined to comment on the reasons for the empty slot, but confirmed that there will be a by-election for the position in October.