So, what’s all this fuss about OUT UWE [LGBTx] this year then, I hear you ask?   

Well, it’s pretty simple. OUT UWE is getting OUT and about this year. It’s bigger, better and fresher. We were unmissable at Fresher’s Fair, full of colour and life, and offering you so much more! Because let’s face it, there’s so much more to being an LGBTx student. So, this year we’re giving you just that.

Starting from a change of name, OUT UWE [LGBTx], with the "x" highlighting that it is an all inclusive society, and that regardless of what you identify yourself as, OUT is the place to be. We’re going big on socialising this year, building stronger relationships with neighbouring LGBT’s of Bristol Uni, Bath Uni, and Bath Spa. We’ve got a newly refurbished sponsor (to match our jazzed up society) The Pineapple, St. George Street, Bristol, which is a great place to start your night out. We hold our student nights on Thursdays, where paid up members get the chance to take advantage of our amazing drinks deals, meet other people in the society and have a great night OUT. What more can you ask for?

We’ve got so much planned this year, I’m rather excited about it myself! OUT is planning a huge awareness day for World AIDS Day, December 1st. Now you’re probably thinking, why should I care, AIDS has nothing to do with me. False.

It’s easy to think that AIDS is something for other people to worry about - gay people, drug users, people who sleep around. This is wrong - all teens, whoever they are, wherever they live need to take the threat of HIV seriously. To be able to protect yourself, you need to know the facts, and know how to avoid becoming infected." (www.avert.org/young.htm)

Here’s something else to get you thinking:

That’s all very well, but what can you do? A lot. Showing your awareness makes a difference.

We’re planning to cause a stir in the University that day, so keep an eye OUT for it. Because HIV and other STI’s are closer than you actually think.

LGBT also has a political side to it. A strong campaign that is currently going is "Love without borders". In many countries around the world, lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people are prosecuted, imprisoned and even murdered by their own governments.

• More than 73,000 people living with HIV in the UK
• One in three people with HIV are undiagnosed
• One in every 450 pregnant women in the UK is HIV positive

"To persecute people for their sexual orientation is to violate their fundamental human rights."

(www.nus.org.uk/en/Campaigns/LGBT/Love-without-borders1/)

In the UK we’ve won many legal rights over the past years. But this doesn’t mean that the problem is solved. The NUS LGBT is actively working to change that, through campaigns and awareness and pushing the government to change their laws. But it all starts with raising awareness. You’ve got the power to start it off. So do it with us!

OUT UWE [LGBTx] this year, in my opinion, is bloody brilliant. We must be doing something right to have gotten such an amazing response from Fresher’s week, and have seen such growth in numbers and happy faces! It must because of our great coffee gatherings on Wednesdays.

"For us it was a big thing coming to Uni. and being lesbians but the OUT group were very inviting and made the experience a whole lot easier. The group is for everyone and it’s so easy to talk to each other and the night out are fantastic!" Gemma and Spence, Fresher’s 2008.

Why not just come and see for yourself? Looking forward to seeing you OUT and about soon!   

OUT has very much been a growing experience for me. I joined back in my first year rather shyly, and now fancy that, I’m Vice-President. Why? I ask myself the same question at times too... As soon as I saw that I had the opportunity to give something back to the society and make a difference, I jumped at the chance. If you knew OUT last year, it’s nothing compared to now. We’ve built upon their successes and jazzed it up to fit around the new ideas of this year’s committee.