EngInf and MPS enjoy LGBTQ+ STEM Day Celebrations
By: April Yeatman
Last updated: Monday, 28 November 2022
The display in Chichester I lecture theatre foyer.
The LGBTQ+ Progress flag was flown outside Chichcester I all week.
Friday 18th November was LGBTQ+ STEM Day. This day was created to celebrate the achievements of LGBTQ+ people in STEM, and to recognise the barriers that the community still faces. November 18th was chosen symbolically as it is the anniversary of Astronomer Frank Kameny’s historic supreme court fight against workplace discrimination.
This is a barrier that LGBTQ+ people still face today. In the 2018 LGBT in Britain - Work Report a staggering 35% of LGBT+ people reported having to hide or disguise that they are LGBT at work because they were afraid of discrimination.
Colleagues in EngInf and MPS celebrated with a display of notable LGBTQ+ people in STEM that was put up in the Chichester I Lecture Theatre Foyer and in Pevensey 2 Foyer. The notable people celebrated were:
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Lynn Conway - Computer Scientist, Electrical Engineer, and Trans Rights Activist
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Audrey Tang – Software Developer and Digital Minister of Taiwan
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Sally Ride – Astronaut and Physicist
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Arti Agrawal – Physicist and Electrical Engineer
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Robert D Macpherson – Mathematician and Inventor
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La-Chun Lindsay – Aerospace Engineer and LGBTQ+ in STEM advocate
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Angela Clayton – Physicist and Trans Rights Campaigner
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Alan Turing – Mathematician and Computer Scientist
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Frank Kameny – Astronomer and Gay Rights Activist
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Nergis Mavalvala – Astrophysicist and Dean of MIT School of Science
A panel discussion was also held on LGBTQ+ experiences in STEM in the Bridge Café on 18th November. Panellists discussed ways to improve representation, LGBTQ+ inclusivity at Sussex, why they went into STEM and shared advice for LGBTQ+ people starting their STEM journey.
LGBTQ+ STEM Day also fell at the end of Trans Awareness week, which culminated in the Trans Day of Remembrance on Sunday 20th November. You can find information about support for Trans staff and students in a news article on the website.