February is LGBT History Month and with this in mind we have chosen the University LGBT Staff Network as our Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month.

This is the first time we have chosen a group of people and the first time we have chosen university staff.  The LGBT Staff Network was born out of a survey in the HR Directorate newsletter Staff Matters asking whether staff would be interested in a network of this type.  The answer was a small but resounding Yes!  The Network had its official launch in September 2013 with a well attended reception being held at our Greenwich Campus.

The Network is supported by senior management at the University with Christopher Hallas as the Senior LGBT Champion and Linda Burke as the Senior Straight Sponsor.  The LGBT Network Committee works very closely with the Equality and Diversity Champion on a number of issues in particular the Stonewall Submission for the Equality Workplace Index and they are the main reason why we have managed to climb up the index to our current position of 182 out of 397 participating organisations.

Since its launch the Network has grown steadily in numbers and holds events throughout the year including ‘Tea on Tuesdays’ on the first Tuesday of every month, an informal drop-in & catch-up session. It’s an ideal opportunity to meet up with colleagues and new acquaintances for a general chat, networking, or to catch-up on the Network’s ongoing\future activities. For details of ‘Tea on Tuesdays’ and other activities and events please visit the ‘What’s On’ page of the Network’s blog.

The LGBT Staff Network is a huge supporter of the annual University Celebrate Difference and Diversity Event and will be taking part again this year.  So come along and see them at their stall in March.

You can also find further information on the Network on the HR webpages at http://www.gre.ac.uk/offices/hr/e-and-d/lgbt-staff-network or follow them on Twitter @UoG_LGBT.