hey, im a year 13 from London. I received an offer to do history at Leeds a couple of months ago. I am gay and was wondering if i could ask a few questions related to this.
At Leeds, is it an accepting community for gays? Is there at all a gay community/scene?
I've been on your site a couple of times and it seems like you have a blast, can't wait to be here next year, well hopefully.
Welcome, Steve! Well, different people have different opinions of Leeds. You still have to be careful and, for instance, you shouldn't generally hold hands in the street if you don't want to encounter disagreeable situations, but University is a safe space (as is the Student Union, with its zero tolerance policy).
When I first arrived in Leeds I found it liberating (and I still do). Coming from a provincial and morally backward city in the North of Spain, it wouldn't be too hard to improve my situation, but even so, I think in Leeds you won't be at a loss to feel integrated and to find that you can talk about your issues openly.
The gay scene is tolerably big and everyone finds his/her cup of tea in it. And if they don't like the scene, they come to our coffee hour meeting every day to moan abotu it. ;o)
Hope that helped. :o)
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'I've discovered the secret of life. A lot of hard work, a lot of sense of humor, a lot of joy and a whole lot of tra la la.' Kay Thompson
Don't get me wrong, it's not my intention to hold hands and sing every abba song ever written in the streets. I am completely out in my home town, watford, about 17 miles from watford, and my being gay isn't a problem. I just want to know that i won't be hunted down for being gay! Leeds seems a great place, and i hear the nightlife is great. I am usually more comfortable in normal clubs than "gay clubs", but knowing there are other gays is quite comforting.
Hi. England in general seems like a gay friendly place. Obviously, I haven't seen any gay couple holding hands in the street here, unlike London. I'm openly gay, but nothing has happened to me at all. Gay life wise, it is obvious that London is far better. There are several gay bars and two major gay club, and that's 'bout it. Considering the fact that there are many palces in England, where gay scene just sucks, Leeds is O.K. I can't gurantee that you will have better time in Leeds, compared to other choices you have. But as far as I've see it, Leeds is a nice place, and I like it. Well, it is better than Kent. You'll never be bored here.
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I've got a sweet poison cake, gonnabe high Take me higher higher I've got a sweet creature song, It's a lemon, lemon lemon & I scream
looking at this thread has made me giggle and makes me think about what my southern housemates though the north was going to be like before they cane to leeds in the first year. i have noticed a common trend that people from the south tend to think that we are all blood thirsty barbarians in the north that like to hunt down and kill anyone that is different to ourselves. i must say to some degree that this is a bit true but on the whole we are a jolly nice bunch and im sur that you will love leeds (although i dont advise you venture any further north as i hear they paractise ritual sacrifice and eat babies!). he he.
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don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.
I grew up in Cumbria, it's funny to think that you consider me to have such a low knowledge of Northerners. As for London being better, live close enought to it and you get the impression that it's very much 1990s cool, and places such as Manchester and Leeds, the northern cities are much more interesting.
I think Alberto has hit the nail on the head. Basically, Leeds is accepting with regards homosexuality (in its many forms) and being gay is fine with nigh on everybody! The society is a really nice environment and will make you feel welcome should you elect to join it.... meanwhile, nightlife in general (both gay scene and breeder scene) is fabulous and the university itself is brilliant!
Look forward to seeing you here next year, where the society will be ruled by Nickydyke, lord of the lesbians.
its true u will recieve a fine rug rap awareness education which forms the basis of all incestuous behaviour in our society! and regularly partake in breeder bashin sessions, its all good
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Nic - Union Council LGBT Assembly Chair
Contact me at - lgbt.assembly@leeds.ac.uk / nicturner_85@hotmail.com
Well, I will take your word for it Steve. I just know that there are more gay bars/clubs in Manchester and London. As for holding hands. I was at Kent, and I saw two girls kissing. I think it is safe to hold hands in public in Leeds, but it's just that no one ventures for it.
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I've got a sweet poison cake, gonnabe high Take me higher higher I've got a sweet creature song, It's a lemon, lemon lemon & I scream
hey steve, i wasnt (and still not) out in my home town, and coming to leeds was a whole new experience. i agree with what ppl have said, there are quite a few gay bars and clubs and generally, i have found ppl to be very accepting. like all big cities, there are homophobes obviously, and like in all big cities, eg, holding hands in public would i think be tolerated by most people.
if you do choose to come to leeds, definately join the lgbt society (if thats ur thing), we do have a lot of fun, and its a great way to meet new people.
any.hoo, good luck with exams and such which im sure you will have soon (or later).
i've wandered around town holding hands and I didn't get beaten up
Just to warn you though, there is a tramp in Headingly who follows me around when he sees me shouting at me for being a faggot - I'm not sure if that is just me, or gays in general. Other than that Leeds is a great place.
And Alberto - I don't like it, when you turn my voice around - I hope you know that
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I reserve... I reserve... I have a reservation... I HAVE a reservation.. What do you mean its not in the computer?
i love you already, steve. and i reckon you'll love leeds. i've been back to liverpool for christmas, which was great, but i love this place now and after nearly 6 years it's the closest thing i have to a home.
plus with the lgbt on the job, you'll have more friends than you can shake a butt plug at!
dave x
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burn down our home, RAPE OUR DEAD MOUTHS. Just as long as I don't have to hear anymore of your disgusting babble
We didn't need to get a Christmas tree in the end because that was a perfectly adequate stand in. It looks so festive and sparkly sitting in our front room!
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Shock me, shock me, shock me with that devious behaviour!!
(splodge9@aol.com)
you can't get to town on a pound shop. they don't move. they have foundations. unless the pound shop was bought for a pound at a pound shop shop, or should i say a pound shop pound shop, in which case they're probably bunged into a hole in the ground using only cheap rubber gloves, plastic garden gnomes and other bargain garden features.
i shít a pound :)
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burn down our home, RAPE OUR DEAD MOUTHS. Just as long as I don't have to hear anymore of your disgusting babble
Yeah, but you said you can't get aaaaaaaanything for a pound, and I am calling you a big fat lier who obviously wants all the things that cost a pound for himself and was just trying to hide the truth.
Whilst we're talking about pounds I collect them! (cool aren't I!) I currently have 13 different kinds i.e. they have diff pictures on the front..My coolest one has to be the one Pete found me from the Isle of Man with a mobile phone on the front.. I would have 14 except the one I found most recently has vanished from the world.. So if anyone finds an Isle of Man one with a weird pattern on the front which looks like a sattelite thing but is actually apparently a cricket wicket thingymebob, then I'll have it thanks..I really am very cool!..
-- Edited by EmilyL at 02:38, 2004-12-30
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Shock me, shock me, shock me with that devious behaviour!!
(splodge9@aol.com)
No i don't think I do have any channel island pounds!!.. Gimme one gimme one! (Dave steal it for me! Do it bitch!..and i'll hug you and call you GAY!!)xx
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Shock me, shock me, shock me with that devious behaviour!!
(splodge9@aol.com)
