dunno if i'm allowed in here but i am applying for entry in 2007, and i'm probs gonna base my decision on how good LGBT life is... lol. (this sounds lame, and pretty homo obsessive of me, but you know. gonna be living there for like 3-4 years...) but well leeds is one of the top for my course and i was just wondering what the gay scene is like. i tried to ask one of the peeps in the student union at one university and he didn't reeaally know so i thought i'd try doing my own research... :S lol. sooo basically i have a few questions... :
Iiis the gay scene gooood? is it like spaced out like you have to walk from miles from gay bar to gay bar to club or is it all kind of close ish?
have you had any difficult/weird coming out experiences in halls and stuff? is it ok to be out?
are people generally gay friendly?
and not that if i go to leeds that i'll be there during the summer, but how was pride?
are there a lot of gay peeps at leeds? like more than you'd expect?
taa a lot for answering these questions, i'm forever grateful! xx
Is the gay scene gooood? is it like spaced out like you have to walk from miles from gay bar to gay bar to club or is it all kind of close ish?
- Its all on one street near leeds city trains station, can walk from bottom of it 2 top of it in bout 5mins. Its not the best gay scene, far 2 much hype bout it.
have you had any difficult/weird coming out experiences in halls and stuff? is it ok to be out?
- There used 2b alot of difficulty in halls, mainly cos u get randomly housed with people theres no screenin process 2 weed out dickheads really. However the LGBT Assembly did alot of work with accomodation services last year, now if there are problems with discrimination in halls, there is a fast track process for changing rooms, disciplinary action for the offenders (can go as far as expulsion from uni depending on the seriousness of the offence) and emergency accomodation is available if needed, its quite rare that it is tho. All of the staff are aware and understanding of LGBT issues and are there to help, the assembly is around to make sure campus stays LGBT friendly after havin a massive battle last year to sort out a million & one problems and make it LGBT friendly.
are people generally gay friendly?
- like everywhere else there are a few dickheads but generally its ok, most hassle ur likely 2 get is little 14yr old chav lads shouting comments n laughing
and not that if i go to leeds that i'll be there during the summer, but how was pride?
- honestly it was crap, but it was the first one so mistakes have 2 be made 2b learnt from & I'm still psyched about been 1 of the people leadin the parade with a 60ft rainbow flag.
are there a lot of gay peeps at leeds? like more than you'd expect? - the society pulls in around 200members a year. on the scene theres quite a few more.
__________________
Nic // LGBT Society Events Officer 05/06 // LGBT Assembly Chair 05/06 - NUS LGBT Society of the year 2006(winners) //
LUU honarary life member - Awarded 2006 // LGBT Assembly Mentor 2006 -Onwards.
Contact me at nicturner_85@hotmail.com
Oh & ur fine 2 use the forum, its always good 2 get 2 know ppl if ur thinking of coming here... easier 2 settle in n that if u do
__________________
Nic // LGBT Society Events Officer 05/06 // LGBT Assembly Chair 05/06 - NUS LGBT Society of the year 2006(winners) //
LUU honarary life member - Awarded 2006 // LGBT Assembly Mentor 2006 -Onwards.
Contact me at nicturner_85@hotmail.com
hello muppet I'm assuming you are an English student by your name. I would really recommend you come to Leeds. The course here is really great, especially for postcolonial things, which you get to do in 2nd and 3rd year. The gay scene is pretty vibrant... its no manchester or london though, so if that is one of the main things you are basing your decision on, you might be best off in either of these two cities.
Also, apparently Leeds Uni is one of the best places to be gay at. We have a much acclaimed lgbt assembly who do lots of nice things and our society is one of the best in the university, running at least 5 events a week!
By all means get to know us all on the forum, and if you have any more specific questions please add me to msn
Hey muppet! hehe Course you're allowed on here. But don't worry so much about what Nic says - it's not all doom and gloom! Most people I know here haven't had a problem in halls or on their course. In fact, lots of people find other gays in one or other of these places! The gay scene is all together, so no trekking around required. Some new nights are just starting up, so it remains to be seen how good they are and how much diversity they bring. But many of us can be found out on the best gay nights (and there are quite a lot of us I'd say, both in the society and in general) So you should be alright. And of course, we're all lovely
Furthermore, if Leeds is one of the best places for your course, that's the main thing in the end. Look at it this way: if the scene does turn out to be terrible for what you want and yadda yadda, it is only 3 years. If you come out with a great degree, you can get an amazing job in a gay place you want in the world! Which you might not be able to do if you go to a different uni, perhaps?
But honestly, the scene isn't that bad!!! How about coming up (or down, depending on where you are!) sometime and seeing what it's like. Cos someone else's idea of good might not be yours.
Good luck with what you decide x
__________________
Communications Officer
ics5eaj@leeds.ac.uk
"Just a bit of harmless brain alteration..."
The halls thing wernt dom n gloom, just tryin 2 get point across that u can't control who u get housed wi 1st year but there are alot of things in place to support LGBT students. Not just in accomodation services but every single university & union service.
And yes it's true, Leeds is one of the best uni's 2b gay at... 2004/05 we were listed as 6th best univeristy to be gay at in the Times & Diva, things that meant we didnt get higher up the list were things like a not so gay friendly attitude, however all that has changed over the last year... LGBT students are actively welcomed and involved in life on campus (the universities Vice-Chancellor even speaks highly of the LGBT student community here) and those changes & gr8 attitude around campus haven't gone unrecognised, in July we won the most prestigious award that the NUS (national union of students) LGBT has to offer, beating off stiff competition from several other universities, so we are currently the leading uni 2b gay at!
-- Edited by Rt hon NickyDyke85 at 00:31, 2006-10-01
__________________
Nic // LGBT Society Events Officer 05/06 // LGBT Assembly Chair 05/06 - NUS LGBT Society of the year 2006(winners) //
LUU honarary life member - Awarded 2006 // LGBT Assembly Mentor 2006 -Onwards.
Contact me at nicturner_85@hotmail.com
I wouldnt get too excited about the Leeds Pride for next year but dont be too disheartened as Manchester Pride is only a short and cheap train ride away!
__________________
Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but you're a total bitch.
thanks for all your responses! and i'm not an english student lol, i am applying for music :) i dunno why my name is that lol. leeds in general is quite a good uni apparently, (i will visit when i get an offer, hopefully haha...)
and leeds is probably like third best on my list in terms of requirements, but a very respectable uni and the course topics look nicer than at some other places; it's not mainly about the gayness i'm just asking what it is like haha!
and i went to manchester pride this year, and am deffo going back lol. though it's frustrating; as it's the same time as leeds festival...
it sounds like it's a good place, everybody who went to the open day said it was amazing and they loved it... lol. :) hopefully I'll see you all next year unless you are finishing lol... :S
