Fighting to support students and improve lives.
Hi! I’m Ollie, an international student in my second year of Film and Theatre studies. I am also Bi and Trans, and the current president of the Pride Society. I am running for LGBT+ Students’ Association Chairperson. I would like to set up a better system of well-being and support for LGBT+ students. I also would like to engage in campaigning work on LGBT+ issues, both at local and national levels, with campaigns such as the Gender Recognition Act and banning conversion therapy for all.
I have also established a network of local businesses, charities, and individuals with whom we could work, such as The Rainbow Project, HERe NI, and Paperxclips, and an awareness of how the SU functions. Most relevant of all, I have experience leading a committee to build community, something that I look forward to continuing as chairperson. In this role, I would like to focus on anti-discrimination work, campaigning, support systems, and connections between staff and student LGBT+ networks.
Additionally, I would like to work on the following:
- Advocacy support against discriminatory teaching and behaviour from Queen’s staff.
- Increasing the amount of queer safe spaces across campus and in the SU.
- Fight the stigma and improve education on HIV/AIDS, as well as increase the amount of sexual health support catered for LGBT+ individuals on campus.
- Raise awareness for the resources for LGBT+ people in Queen’s that are available but not well known
- eg. the pronoun feature on canvas, and the Trans Equality Policy, which allows students to change their names on resources and documents.
If this sounds like something you would like to see, make sure to vote for me so we can improve student lives in Queen’s.
Olivier Gastinel