LGBTQ+

WELFARE AND LIBERATION

LGBTQ+

Hi JCR!

We’re Astrid (they/he) and Elijah (he/him) and we are the JCR officers for 2024-25. As your officers, we want to strengthen the queer community within Catz so that all LGBTQ+ students can feel safe and supported here! We regularly work with the other liberation officers through JCR and EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) meetings to ensure we are promoting intersectional inclusivity within college. We also put on events, including (but not limited to) LGBTeas, which are an opportunity to chat with other queer people over free tea and snacks; formals; commemorations of key dates like Trans Day of Remembrance; and activities with other communities and societies at Catz (e.g. the Shirley Society, LGBT and Faith events with our chaplain Ally). Please reach out to us if you have any concerns, suggestions for events, or would just like a chat! You can contact us via email (jcr.lgbtq@caths.cam.ac.uk), through the Catz LGBTQ+ Instagram (@catzlgbtq), or through the Catz Queer WhatsApp group (contact us if you’d like to be added to this!). 

For those with the relevant social media, you can find us:

Useful LGBTQ+ links/contacts

  • Events suggestion form

  • Anonymous LGBTQ+ Reporting form here

  • The Cambridge SU LGBT Campaign and their Facebook Group (there is also an identical private group for those who are not able to be in the public one). This is a great Campaign that provides a range of detailed information on LGBT+ related topics and also advertises any fun LGBT+ events happening throughout term. They have also recently introduced a uni-wide LGBT Parent Scheme, so keep an eye out if you would like to take part!

  • We’re so excited to be one of the only Cambridge colleges to have an appointed LGBT+ Fellow, Dr Caroline Gonda. We encourage you to contact her if you have any questions about LGBTQ+ life in college or if you ever have any issues. She is there to represent you on a higher level.

  • We regularly work with college staff and the MCR LGBT+ Officers to integrate the SU Care+ Campaign into college life at St Catharine’s, to ensure that our students are protected both during term-time and outside of it. Find out more about our progress on the St Catharine’s College website.

  • In college, you can always contact your tutor (or any tutor – there is also a duty tutor on call 24 hours a day), the Head of Wellbeing (Mary Simuyandi), the Senior Tutor (Dr Holly Canuto), the Chaplain (The Rev’d Ally Barrett), the College Nurse (Janette Dougal) if you ever face any issues.

The Gender Recognition Fund

The Gender Recognition Fund is a JCR-run fund that aims to support trans students with accessing gender affirming products or services. This can include contribution towards:

  • Travel for gender affirming care

  • Changing legal documents

  • Gender affirming items of clothing (e.g. binders)

If you would like to access this fund, or you have any questions about it, please get in contact with one of the JCR LGBTQ+ officers. We will release a termly Google form where applications can be made formally.