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Hey

Just finished reading the booklet and though the content was great and deeply moving is this the finished version? I can see huge amounts of work have gone into this and that it is incredibly personal and I really don't want to offend but I cannot see this being read by many people. I understand the need for a comprehensive document and that includes length but at times I felt that things was a great deal of repetition and that some of the answers were too long. Also it appears to be quite schizophenic as the second half is an academic essay whereas the first half is an information brochure. Also who is the document aimed at and what is its pupose? These factors dramatically influence style and content and subsequently its effectiveness. If it is meant to be picked up by students (LGBT and/or other) it needs to be condensed. Also if it is meant to simply raise awareness of LGBT discrimination, to actively change policy and affect decision makers, or to try and change everyday attitudes.

Just my two pence worth and I know how frustrating it is when people criticise something I have worked so hard on. I am fully prepared to help in anyway I can and more than happy to discuss my comments, my email is ics2pr.

Also is the assembly meeting every week? I'd thought it was monthly and all the ones I'd seen had clashed. Any more details would be appreciated?

Paul

Assembly meetings are every other week. But no matter how much they are publicised not many ppl bother turning up, which is a pain cos theres this flaming rule in the union constitution that there has 2b at least 10 members at an assembly meeting to make a decision count as an official decision, which the union will listen to. General apathy or whatever seems to keep stopping this from happening, no matter how much I try to get the importance of it across to people. Hence me thinkin that no1 would really care about the booklet, especially seems that trying 2 get people 2 contribute personal experiences anonymously was like tryin 2 get blood out of a stone. (Thanks again to everyone who contributed, it means alot).

Also thanks for the comments on here. In response to Proughan, yup its the finished version. It was meant to be moving, so that ppl reading it could get a feel for LGBT issues, but also easy enough to understand and in sections so that people can pick and choose which bits to look at based on what they want to know or what's applicable. I know its lengthy but it covers pretty much everything and theres nothing saying that people have to read the whole booklet, its split into sections so people can pick and choose what they want to read.

Theres a fair bit of repetition, but thats because it is split into sections and not all people will read all of the sections, people such as LSR will probably read the terminology and stereotyping bit but not the issues and personal experiences, unless something comes up surrounding LGBT issues. Whereas nightline will probably read the contact list, the issues and personal experiences and the law. As for the repetition in the issues n personal experiences, well the experiences are there to provide an insight into the issues and back up what is being said, its not me editing it to be that way, its just the general experience that people have had surrounding the issues and contrasting experiences have also being included to show that there is a variation as to how these issues affect different people.

Overall the booklet was produced partly for the media teams around LUU based on problems we've had with some of them, to provide an idea of the issues in depth for nightline because they've seen an increase in calls from LGBT people but are unsure of how to deal with them or how that person is feeling (thats why the answers are abit long, but they provide insight and people can imagine themselves in that position) and for union councillors/students who don't have an understanding of LGBT issues and cant see things from an LGBT persons perspective.

The essay bit, well when the booklet was started it was going to be the introduction because it provided an overview, but it ended up being used as the summing up for people who didn't want to read the whole booklet but wanted an idea of what it was about and also because having it as an introduction would more than likely have put people off reading the booklet, cos it throws ppl in at deep end. I know it's still a structured academic essay, but it covers points that the booklet doesn't, such as the theories used to teach us which all come from a heterosexual view point and don't account for homosexuality/bisexuality and a little bit of history. As I hadn't wrote it, I didn't want to touch it or play about with it, but wanted to keep it as it is good, informative and sums up the situation with LGBT people and society today, as well as asking questions about the future and suggesting ways of moving forward. (is pretty much the whole of the first half covered in 6 pages, with further reading attached)

Think that pretty much explains why its all over the place, but at the end of the day it gives people a basic insight and understanding, which is better than nothing Seriously, don't worry about the possiblity of offending me by providing criticism cos u raised some genuine points and I hope I've managed to answer the questions you had about the booklet.

-- Edited by NickyDyke85 at 02:36, 2006-01-11

i couldn't get to it from the link either.

will it be added to this website at all?

Couldn't access the link to read it, it just says,...,something that I can't remember. Hopefully I'll read it in the near future. Congratulations on getting it done anyway Nic, I hope it makes a difference in the way that you hope.
Steven. xxx

Cheers, booklet update is that...

its gone 2 accommodation services, they r sendin it round their staff. Erm its also gone 2 the VC, and now the universitys equality & diversity board who are having a meeting in April and are looking to disseminate it to teaching staff (they will let me know the outcome of the meeting) and services.

I know, I sent it just on the off chance that something might come out of it, even if it were just people reading it and getting something out of it, and well its gone round accomodation services, who sent it 2 equality n diversity ppl 2 have a look at, then the VC sent it 2 equality & diversity n got it put on the agenda for the big meeting between all the important people and its looking good cos they are talking bout dissemminating it and passing info on2 the uni's teaching staff...

Cheers.

Gonna try and get an addition made to the constitution of the society at the AGM stating that it should be updated n sent round annually, just so everythings kept up2 date. Cos it is really useful.