VC's coming out story aims to empower LGBT students and staff

De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard has shared his experiences as a gay academic in today’s Times Higher Education magazine.



Prof Shellard, who first came out to his manager in 1993 while working at the University of Salford, said he hoped telling his own story would help students and staff at DMU. He did so as part of a video produced sharing staff and students' coming out stories.

He wrote: “I tell my students that some people may cause difficulties for you when you come out and you may even lose some friends, but it will still be the most empowering decision you’ve ever made: to be honest to yourself about who you are and what you are.”

Prof Shellard said he wanted to use his position as Vice-Chancellor to make students and staff feel more comfortable about coming out.

The Times Higher’s feature follows the news that a record 12 universities had been named by campaigners Stonewall as among the top 100 best places for lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender staff to work.

DMU strives to be an inclusive university where people feel comfortable regardless of race, gender or sexuality.

Since Prof Shellard arrived at DMU, the number of honorary degrees given to role models from LGBT communities has increased to recognise their “hidden voices” and help reclaim history.

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Last year, DMU opened the Centre for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Research, led by Professor Julie Fish. The centre will focus on the experiences of LGBT people within healthcare, including transition.

DMU now runs a month-long #DMUpride festival to celebrate LGBT History Month, involving students and staff and staging events across the city.

It has close links with Leicester’s LGBT centre to support people across the city and county through counselling and volunteering. De Montfort Students’ Union has a thriving LGBT student society and there is a staff and students group.

This year DMU rose 17 places to 58 in the prestigious Stonewall Top 100 Employers league table, an annual audit of workplace culture for LGBT staff.

Stonewall was originally formed in 1989 to campaign against Clause 28, legislation which stigmatised the LBGT community. It became a charity in 2003 and has successfully campaigned for equality and secured civil partnerships and then same-sex marriage.

The piece in today’s Times Higher concludes with an anecdote from Prof Shellard about how coming out can confound stereotypes:

‘When I came out, I had a conversation with a friend and said: “I know I’ve been masquerading as a bit of a straight man, but I want to share with you the fact that I am actually gay.” His initial response was: “But you were the football captain!” If you’re an extreme queer theorist, you might be absolutely outraged, but I would say that it wasn’t a malicious comment, it was just a perplexed one. I needed to work through with him why it is quite possible to be keen on football and to be gay.’

The full article can be read here.