Trinity LGBT+ Staff Network

Welcome from the Trinity LGBT+ Staff Network!

The purpose of the Network is to be a collaborative and empowering community for LGBTQIA+ staff of Trinity College Dublin which acts as an active and bold leader in creating, fostering, and representing an inclusive university experience for LGBTQIA+ people.

You can learn more about our Network and how LGBTQIA+ staff members can get involved and thrive at the university.

If you've any questions or would like to get in touch, you can reach us confidentially at LGBTStaff@tcd.ie

Latest Headlines for the Network

• LGBTQIA+ Pride at Trinity is taking place throughout June! Check out all the activities here: 2025 Pride at Trinity Calendar

• The GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival is taking place in Dublin from 29th July - 4th August 2025. Check out the programme of events for the upcoming season.

• Join the Network Committee | We're actively seeking new members to join the organising committee of the LGBT+ Staff Network. Getting involved in the committee is a great opportunity to actively contribute to shaping LGBTQ+ activities at Trinity, meet new colleagues, and learn new skills in community organising. Check out our Pride Newsletter for more.
  
  
• Pride in Research | One of our flagship events, Pride in Research is an annual symposium by, for, and about queer research and researchers. An all-island event, we invite submissions from all stages from undergraduate to senior researcher for a day of learning. Registration is open until Sunday 8th June. See more in our Pride Newsletter

What does an LGBT+ Staff Network Do?

The Trinity LGBT+ Staff Network is an independent, member-led group which aims to represent LGBTQIA+ staff at the university and contribute to making Trinity a boldly and radically inclusive environment for LGBTQIA+ people.

We intend to operate differently from the many other committees at Trinity. We are a non-hierarchical and dynamic group which aims to reflect the diversity of the staff at the university and embed an LGBTQIA+ inclusive perspective into everything that we do. Our activities are decided on and driven by our members and include a range of activities from professional, research-focused, social, and personal development. This includes regular monthly social events, research presentations, training, workshops, film screenings, performance events and more. A key part of our work is actively contributing to and engaging with Trinity policies and practice that affect LGBTQIA+ people.

The Network is always aiming to expand and develop  - if there's something you'd like to see us contribute to (or an event you'd like to organise yourself!) just let us know.

Read more about how we operate: LGBT+ Staff Network Terms of Reference 3.0

Who can become a member and how?

Any employee of Trinity College Dublin is invited and encouraged to become a member of the LGBT+ Staff Network. We take a broad view of who is a staff member, and for the avoidance of doubt this includes all professional, academic, technical, and support staff, post-doctoral researchers, adjunct staff, and staff on part-time and occasional contracts. 

We encourage a self-determination perspective for members – if you feel an LGBT+ staff network and our activities are for you, then you are welcome. We also invite staff who do not identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ experience to join (e.g. straight and/or cisgender staff). Our activities are primarily focused on creating an inclusive environment for LGBTQIA+ people and the support and integration with other colleagues is an important part of that. 

You can join the Network by using this link, by emailing lgbtstaff@tcd.ie, or by speaking at a committee member at one of our events.

Why is it needed?

The experiences of LGBTQIA+ people are diverse, rich, and complex. While we share some common experiences, each individual has a different and distinct understanding of their own life, and how it overlaps with their sexuality and gender identity. We also share a range of connections with our colleagues in the wider university community, professionally and personally.

A network supports the active inclusion of LGBTQIA+ individuals in the university in a range of ways:

• Providing an opportunity for differing individuals to come together and learn from each other
• Gives new (or newly interested) LGBTQIA+ staff a starting point for engaging with LGBTQIA+ culture and community
• Gives staff who are not part of the LGBTQIA+ community a structured way to engage and support their colleagues
• Combining our personal and professional expertise to ensure that LGBTQIA+ themes are not only part of equality-related conversations, but also interwoven into discussions about research, policy, community engagement, and more
• Giving a mechanism for us to speak with a collective voice, raise and address issues, and both support and ensure the University continues to create an actively inclusive workplace culture for everyone

About and History

The LGBT+ Staff Network was formally established in 2015.

With support from the Equality Office, the Director of Diversity & Inclusion and Human Resources, a number of successful initial meetings and events were organised including an Éigse Thuar Ceatha / Trinity Rainbow Celebration, organised by the Irish Language Office and initial proposers of the network in collaboration with An Cumann Gaelach and Q Soc – Trinity LGBT, and an event celebrating the anniversary of the same-sex marriage referendum.

We consider the Network to take inspiration from the rich history of the LGBTQIA+ civil rights movement in Ireland. The first formalised gay rights organisation, the Sexual Liberation Movement, was formed following a meeting in House 5 on Trinity campus. We’re proud of the connection which Trinity has had to this over the years, which evolved into the Trinity Gay Soc (the first version of what is now Trinity’s student Q Soc). Over the years, Trinity’s LGBT society also includes many staff members, and was first recognised by Trinity in 1983, ten years before the formal decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1993.

In 2015, the LGBT+ Staff Network became the first EDI representative group for staff at Trinity, and one of the earlier groups of this kind in the country, inheriting the legacy of staff representation.

Since then, the Network has grown to be one of the largest and most active staff representation groups at Trinity and across the higher education sector. Our volunteer committee organise a range of activities each year including a monthly social, a ‘Pride in Research’ academic symposium, and Pride Month celebrations including a Pride Celebration in the Provost’s Garden for Network members and guests. We also work on a number of projects to contribute to the LGBTQ+ experience at Trinity, including engaging with the College on policy and best practice, supporting external LGBTQ+ organisations in working with Trinity, promoting the queer history of the university, and more.

Select LGBT+ Staff Network Activities to date

• Established by staff as the first staff affinity group at Trinity (2015) See: University Times article and follow-up
• Key contribution to Trinity's success at receiving the 2016 Gay and Lesbian Equality Network Awards for Best Public Sector Employer and 5th place overall for LGBT Equality. See: University Times article
• Contributed to the development and implementation of the 2016 Gender Identity and Gender Expression Policy, the first of its kind in Ireland (2016) and it's continued development
• First formal proposal to the Trinity Board to fly the Pride flag to recognise Trinity's LGBTQIA+ staff (2017)
• Co-developed the 1st LGBTQIA+ focused student careers fair (2019)
• With the support of the Provost, launched the inaugural Trinity Pride Celebration in the Provost's Garden (2022)
• Celebrated 50 years since the establishment of the Sexual Liberation Movement (2023)
• Led on the establishment of the first national Network of LGBT+ Staff Networks with colleagues across higher education on the island of Ireland (2023)

How does the network operate?

Our Terms of Reference outlines our basic principles, responsibilities, and operating structure.

At the most essential level, we are here to provide a welcoming environment where you can be yourself and spend time with colleagues who understand your experiences. We take our responsibility to be confidential and inclusive seriously – our membership list is held securely by Network committee organisers only and we take all reasonable measures to ensure our activities and events are accessible for members of all levels of comfort and familiarity with LGBTQIA+ gatherings.

• The Network exists wherever its members are, and we recognise that this is evolving and shifting over time.
  
• To enable our activities, the Network uses an organising committee which is elected by the members. You can find out more about them here
• The Network is an independent representative organisation which is recognised by Trinity College Dublin. We are listed in the College Calendar here
• If an event is aimed at a specific section of the community, or is only open to LGBTQIA+ staff, this will be noted.

Partnerships

• We collaborate with and advise staff and departments across Trinity on the how best to support LGBTQIA+ staff
• We are supported by and collaborate regularly with Trinity's EDI Office
• We are a founding member of the National Network of LGBTQIA+ Staff Networks
• We are a member of Trans Equality Together (TET)
• Some of our members are also part of the Professional Association for Trans Health Ireland (PATHI)

Representation

The Network is committed to representing all aspects of LGBTQIA+ history and culture in Ireland, in all its multifarious and contradictory forms. We most commonly use the terms LGBT+, LGBTQIA+ and queer to describe our community, and we recognise that language is an evolving and emotive thing for people when it comes to their personal identity. We ascribe to an inclusive and broad understanding of diverse sexual and gender identity and seek to encourage a brave space where people outside the heteronormative majority can feel welcome. This includes where there is disagreement, difference, and contrast of various personal, generational, political, and social points of view within the bounds of intersectional and inclusive ethos of our Network and University.

The Network is an intentionally and staunchly inclusive group and we stand with those in our community who experience multiple marginalisation in society, including transgender/non-binary people, disabled people, and people with racialised experience.

Our Activities

The Network organises a range of activities about and for LGBTQIA+ people throughout the year. We aim to include a variety such as social, professional development, research, and advocacy focused. Some of these include:

Monthly Evening Social | Join us at 5:30 PM on the last Thursday of each month for a social drink (of your choice) at a local LGBTQIA+ venue. We invite all our members, partners, friends and the networks from neighbouring higher education institutions. You'll get a reminder from us and you can meet us at the Campanile in Front Square beforehand if you'd like

Monthly Daytime Social | Join us at 11:00 AM on the second Wednesday  of each month for a morning break - grab your coffee or tea and catch up with your colleagues

Regular Newsletter | We circulate updates by email to our members on any activities at Trinity or beyond that will be of interest

Pride in Research | One of our flagship events, Pride in Research is an annual symposium by, for, and about queer research and researchers. An all-island event, we invite submissions from all stages from undergraduate to senior researcher for a day of learning

Pride at Trinity  | We help coordinate Trinity's collaborative Pride celebrations which include flying the Pride flag over Front Square, the annual parade attendance, a queer history tour of campus, social events, talks, and more, culminating in...

Provost's Pride Celebration | Our annual gala event held in the Provost's Garden in Front Square, this is our opportunity to recognise our community and affirm Trinity's fundamental support for LGBTQIA_ rights

Trans and Intersex Pride | We coordinate attendance at the annual Trans and Intersex Pride March in July, in solidarity with our trans and non-binary community members who need and deserve our unreserved support

Find out more | by checking out the local News section for updates from the Network, follow us on Instagram, and see our photo galleries!

What are your priorities and how can I get involved?

Priorities

The Network's operating priorities are determined by its members and driven by our organising committee. In 2025 these include:

• A review and expansion of our communications strategy
• A formalisation of our collaborations at Trinity
• A revised and expanded Terms of Reference modernising our principles of engagement
• Expanded online presence
• Establishing new partnerships with key areas
• Continuing to advocate for our members and the community we support, in particular those experiencing significant marginalisation such as trans and non-binary people, people with disabilities, and racial/ethnic minorities

How can I get involved?

If you want to be part of what we're doing, there's a few different ways you can engage

• Email us! Let us know you're interested in your work and meet one of the committee for a coffee
• Have a question that could benefit from discussing confidentially with another LGBTQIA+ staff member? Let us know. If you're not sure where to go for something on campus, we can advise
• We provide rainbow lanyards to staff on request so they can demonstrate support for the community
• Join the committee! We always need more help. No specific experience is required, only an interest in advancing our work. We particularly encourage expressions of interest from people with experience underrepresented on our current committee