Staff Support and Guidance
We want to make it as safe and easy as possible for you to bring your whole self to work, and be comfortable being who you are in the workplace.
Please click through the headings below to find documents, resources, and information which will help to support you as an LGBTQ+ member of staff at the University of Exeter. For additional queries or support, please contact the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team.
You can update your personal information (name, gender, sexual orientation) on Trent. You can access Trent via any University computer at a time convenient to you, or via your own computer, tablet or mobile phone.
You can view and update your personal data in the following sections within Trent:
• ‘Sensitive Information’ in ‘My Details’ or ‘Update your Ethnicity & Diversity info’
• ‘Personal Details’ in ‘My Details’ or ‘Update your Ethnicity & Diversity info’
• ‘HESA details' (for your gender identity) in 'My Employment'
All employee information held by the University is covered by the University’s HR Services Data Protection statement.
Updating your information is important to as it helps the University understand who staff really are. This information informs priorities, initiatives and support to meet staff needs and improve the quality of everyone's working life.
IT Systems
IT Systems information is fed from Trent. This will allow you to define your Preferred Name for use across most of the University IT systems, for example how your name is displayed within ELE, Emails and the Email Address List.
ID Card
If you have updated your personal information via Trent, you can request to have a new Staff ID Card printed free of charge. Please e-mail universityreception@exeter.ac.uk to request a new card. Cards are printed with a title, initial and surname, using the data on Trent. Trent offers many options for a Title including Mx and 'no title'.
Coming out in the workplace can be a very daunting experience for many people.
The University of Exeter supports all staff to be themselves in the workplace.
It may be useful to speak to another member of staff who is out in the workplace. The LGBTQ+ Staff Network has a number of coordinators who can listen to your concerns and help you approach your colleagues and managers.
The University has provided a number of documents, including the LGBTQ+ Guidance Document, aimed at managers and colleagues. It may be useful to refer those who work closely with you to this document if you would like them to know additional information about how to support you.
You may find it helpful to update your e-mail signature with your pronouns, this is an effective way of ensuring that other staff and students use the correct pronouns, and helps other LGBTQ+ people to feel comfortable adding their own pronouns to their e-mail signatures. It can also be helpful to encourage your managers and colleagues to do the same.
It may be useful to read the University's policies and guidance which are in place to support you.
For additional support please contact the LGBTQ+ Staff Network or the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Team
The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team are currently developing a map of accessible and inclusive spaces at The University of Exeter, including a map of gender-inclusive facilities across our campuses. Please keep an eye on this page for updates.
The LGBTQ+ Staff Network exists to offer staff a space to fully express their sexual orientation and/or gender identity without fear of intimidation or harassment.
The Network is open to all staff and PGR students of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
The Network runs and promotes a number of events, including a monthly Coffee Morning, and Pride on Campus.
Most events are open to all but some may be specifically for those that identify as LGBTQ+.
The network is organised by a group of volunteer coordinators who:
- act as a point of contact for support for LGBTQ+ Staff.
- provide advice and input into the University's inclusivity agenda, training, policies and guidelines
- represent the Network at the University's Inclusivity Group
- review survey results that tell us about how we are performing as an LGBT-inclusive workplace, such as the Employee Engagement Survey and Stonewall's Workplace Equality Index
- work with other LGBTQ+ groups outside the University.
There are also specific roles within the network for areas of support. Please visit the web page for more information or contact LGBTQPlusStaff@exeter.ac.uk.
The Trans and Non-binary Café offers a chance to come together with other trans people and discuss whatever you would like. Usually at some point being trans comes up but they believe there’s great value in being with other trans people, having a chance to catch up and talk and make friends with people who share the same sorts of experiences.
To find out more about the Trans and Non-binary Café, click HERE
Exeter has an ever-growing LGBTQ+ community. It may be useful to find support outside of the University environment.
Local Charities and Support Groups:
The Intercom Trust - An LGBTQ+ charity working across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, and the wider South West, providing help and support, advocacy, counselling, support groups and information.
Non-Binary South West - A safe environment where non-binary people across the South West can exchange experiences, share resources, advice and information, and meet other people who know what it's like having a non-binary identity.
Transfigurations - A transgender support group based in the South West of the UK, set up to help all trans people come to terms with their gender identity and provide a safe meeting place whilst they explore their feelings.
The Eddystone Trust - An independent organisation providing information and support for anyone affected by HIV across the South West. Some services also relate to wider sexual health. Services include pre and post-test discussion, emotional and practical support, counselling etc.
Local Organisations and Social Groups:
ActiveOut Exeter - A social group for LGBT people and friends in Exeter and the surrounding area to keep fit and healthy.
Devon Lions FC - Devon's first and only advertised LGBT-friendly football club, with members from Exeter and wider Devon. Devon Lions welcome players of all ages, abilities and sexualities.
Exeter Pride - Exeter's LGBTQ+ annual Pride event which takes place in May, with other events happening throughout the year.
Prism Exeter - A network for LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies working and studying in the local Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) sector.
Spectrum Choir - Devon's first and only advertised choir for LGBTQ+ people and their friends who enjoy singing.
The University of Exeter is an inclusive community, where everyone has the right to be treated with respect. Harassment, bullying, intimidation, and discrimination go against all we stand for and will not be tolerated. If you have experienced or witnessed any of the above, we encourage you to report it and to get the support you might need.
Report confidentially
There are three ways to report an incident, anonymously, informally, or formally. Please visit the Speak Out pages to use these reporting tools.
Help and Advice
Dignity and Respect Advisors - A team of trained University and Guild staff who provide a confidential service for those involved in cases of harassment or bullying. Advisors can listen, talk through the options available and, if appropriate, signpost to other sources of support and advice.
LGBTQ+ Support for Managers
As a manager, line manager, team leader, or PI, it is your responsibility to ensure that your working environment is inclusive for all staff. Let your colleagues and teams know that they will be treated with fairness and respect, regardless of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, by being a visible, supportive ally.
Make sure the language you use is inclusive and respectful and communicate a zero-tolerance approach for inappropriate jokes and comments.
The resources below will help you to understand more about what it means to be an inclusive manager.
The University has developed an LGBTQ+ Guidance Document CLICK HERE. This is aimed at all staff, but focuses particularly on the actions and steps that managers can take to be more inclusive of LGBTQ+ staff within the University. The document explores different identities, and gives practical advice for day-to-day actions, as well as giving information about your legal responsibilities.
It is important as a manager to not make assumptions about your staff. For example, do not assume that your staff are straight unless you are told otherwise. The LGBTQ+ Guidance Document includes quotations from current members of staff across the University of Exeter, stating what they would like their managers and colleagues to know. Please take the time to familiarise yourself with the document.
The LGBTQ+ Staff Network provides a number of ways for you to show that you are an active ally at the University. For example, the network provides staff with rainbow lanyards, free of charge, to become visible as an ally. There is also joining the LGBTQ+ Staff Network. Joining this network will add you to a distribution list, to receive updates about events and initiatives which support LGBTQ+ people at the University.
Often people don't feel able to be a supportive ally as they believe they don't know enough or are afraid of saying the wrong thing or offending someone.
It's OK to not know everything about the LGBTQ+ community, and you can still be a visible and supportive ally. However, it can also be really useful, and interesting, to learn more about the many diverse identities within this community, and the language that is used.
It is important for managers to use inclusive language within the workplace, and learning about terminology and language is the first step to doing this.
The University of Exeter's LGBTQ+ Guidance Document has a terminology list, containing language which current staff at the University want you to know about.
If you have further questions about terminology here are some other useful resources:
Stonewall - The UK's leading LGBTQ+ charity. Stonewall provides a glossary of terms as well as a number of other informative resources.
GLAAD - GLAAD is a U.S. non-governmental media monitoring organization founded by LGBT people in the media. They produce documents and resources which help people to understand more about the LGBTQ+ community.
Pronouns
A simple way to be inclusive is to ask about peoples’ pronouns. Pronouns are words such as ‘he’, ‘she’, or ‘they’, which refer to a person. You can simply ask ‘what pronouns do you use?’, or ‘how should I refer to you?’. To be an active ally, it is a good idea to put your own pronouns in your e-mail signature, for example, ‘my pronouns are he, him, his’. This encourages other staff to do the same and prevents misunderstandings and embarrassment. This useful blog explains why adding pronouns to e-mail signatures is important.
LGBTQ+ Support for Lecturers & Teachers
As teachers, lecturers, or members of staff with student-facing roles, it is important to be knowledgeable of the ways in which you can support LGBTQ+ students, and create an inclusive learning environment.
Please click through the headings below to find documents, resources, and information which will help to support you. For additional queries or support, please contact the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team.
Guidance on how to create an LGBTQ+ Inclusive Environment
The Ward-Gale Model was developed by researchers at The University of Birmingham.
The guidance document linked above details some best practice options and gives the advice to support colleagues across higher education to be inclusive about LGBTQ+ identities in their teaching practice and to feel confident in making gender and sexual diversity visible within the curriculum.
It is important as a member of staff to not make assumptions about your students. For example, do not assume that your students are straight unless you are told otherwise.
The LGBTQ+ Staff Network provides a number of ways for you to show that you are an active ally at the University. For example, the network provides staff with rainbow lanyards, free of charge, to become visible as an ally. There is also joining the LGBTQ+ Staff Network. Joining this network will add you to a distribution list, to receive updates about events and initiatives which support LGBTQ+ people at the University.
Local Charities and Support Groups
The Intercom Trust - An LGBTQ+ charity working across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, and the wider South West, providing help and support, advocacy, counselling, support groups and information.
Non-Binary South West - A safe environment where non-binary people across the South West can exchange experiences, share resources, advice and information, and meet other people who know what it's like having a non-binary identity.
Transfigurations - A transgender support group based in the South West of the UK, set up to help all trans people come to terms with their gender identity and provide a safe meeting place whilst they explore their feelings.
The Eddystone Trust - An independent organisation providing information and support for anyone affected by HIV across the South West. Some services also relate to wider sexual health. Services include pre and post-test discussion, emotional and practical support, counselling etc.
LGBTQ+ Support for Allies and Colleagues
As allies and colleagues, it is important to be knowledgeable of the ways in which you can support fellow colleagues and students, and create an inclusive place to work and study.
An active step you can take to being an LGBTQ+ ally is to join the LGBTQ+ Staff Network. Joining this network will add you to a distribution list, to receive updates about events and initiatives which support LGBTQ+ people at the University.