Hi! I’m Justin (he/him). I’m a 32-year-old bisexual cis man, LCF student, drag performer, and I’m queer. I’ve worked on numerous queer-centric campaigns individually and in groups – notably in a team that raised over £20,000 for COVID affected queers in lockdown. I volunteer with Book28, a queer library in The Outside Project, and do beekeeping with a charity that helps recovering addicts.

These are things I will work on as LGBTQ+ Students Officer:

• Work closely with fellow UAL Student Officers to ensure the most marginalised in our communities are being heard and helped.
• Due to COVID many students will be struggling; I will help reach out to all of the LGBTQ+ community at UAL, continuing the UAL Companion Scheme, helping people feel welcome and supported.
• LGBTQ+ students need mental health support. I’ll work with LGBTQ+ students to find support with their peers and teachers, and with the professional support offered by UAL’s counselling service and external mental health services.
• Create a Queer Mutual Aid group for LGBTQ+ UAL students. Ongoing projects like online performance nights, skill-share sessions, political and social campaigns, and virtual hang outs will drive this group, and this community.

For many LGBTQ+ people, coming to university, perhaps moving away from home, is a chance to follow their hopes and dreams, to be themselves, to be out. Connecting with a queer community in London has helped me blossom, and I want to be a part of that for other LGBTQ+ people, for you.