LGBTQ+ STUDENTS

DCU has a vibrant LGBTQ+ student community. DCU LGBTA is the resident LGBTQ+ society of DCU. LGBTA stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Ally students. Of course, there are a number of LGBTQ+ or queer identities that are captured by the society.

DCUSU supported Marriage Equality in 2015 in ROI and Marriage Equality in NI until it became law. We similarly support protections of LGBTQ+ persons in Chechnya & Poland, actively work with Equality for Children, and unreservedly respects our trans, non-binary, and gender minority students. We attend both Dublin & Belfast Pride each year, and attend Dublin Trans Pride each year.

If you would like to talk to someone discreetly about your gender/sexuality, feel free to get in contact with sam@dcusu.ie. You can also search #PrideinDCU on Twitter and Instagram to see stories of LGBTQ+ DCU students.

Rainbow Week

Rainbow Week is an annual campaign week in Second Semester which celebrates the queer community and highlights issues facing the community. The week is organised in collaboration with DCU LGBTA. During Rainbow Week each year, DCU LGBTA organise DCU Drag Race - the largest student-organised drag competition in Ireland. DCU Drag Race is one of the largest fundraising efforts for LGBTQ+ individuals each year, with last year’s event raising over €5,000 for Dublin Lesbian Line.

Gender-Neutral Bathrooms

In 2017, DCUSU alongside DCU introduced at least one gender-neutral bathroom in every building on campus. The 2nd floor of the U has an entire floor of gender-neutral bathrooms for our students, too.

Pink Training

Pink Training is the largest LGBTI+ training in Europe and is organised by the Union of Students in Ireland. The weekend sees delegates from each LGBTQ+ Society in Ireland (TCD, DCU, NUIG, Queens’ University Belfast,TUD, UCC, DkIT, among others) attend one University for a weekend of workshops on varying aspects of the queer experience.There are also Coming Out Spaces and Safe Spaces for different identities during the weekend.

Previous workshops that have been run during the weekend include:

Trans Healthcare in Ireland
The Anatomy of Male Arousal
Polyamory 101
How to Run an LGBT Society
The Intersection between Disability and Queer Identities
Drag Makeup 101
Bottoming 101
Introduction to Asexuality
Self Care for Activists
And many more!

You can check out the handbook for Pink Training 2019 here.

How Can I Attend Pink Training?

Delegates are chosen on a lottery-basis from members of DCU LGBTA each year. There are typically between 20-25 places per year for DCU Students.

How Much Does Pink Training Cost?

Pink Training is free for all delegates, including your accommodation for the weekend and lunches.

Trans Inclusion

DCUSU is committed to ensuring our trans, non-binary, and gender minority students are adequately supported across their studies and social life in DCU. Below are some of the projects we’ve been involved in to help secure this.

Student Gender Identity Policy

DCUSU alongside DCU LGBTA consulted on DCU’s Student Gender Identity and Expression Policy. This policy ensures support for students in their transition including name-changes on DCU documentation, including DCU Alumni.

Currently, the GI policy does not allow for non-binary students to change their gender to non-binary on DCU documentation. Our VP for Welfare & Equality is pursuing this amendment to the policy.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with sam@dcusu.ie

Pronoun Badges

DCUSU provides pronouns badges to students throughout the year at the SU Helpdesk. This is to encourage conversation around pronouns and to allow students to make their pronouns clear.

If you're interested in getting some of our LGBTQ+ identity, allyship, or pronoun badges, you can apply here.

Financial Support for Trans Students

DCUSU in collaboration with DCU LGBTA operate a T-Fund. This is a financial support fund specifically for questioning students and gender minority students. The fund covers costs related to social transition (e.g., makeup, binders, packers, clothes, etc.) with some provisions for legal transition (e.g., paying for gender recognition certificates), and emergency hormone payments. More details can be found here.

MSM Blood Ban

DCUSU supports the abolition of the MSM Blood Ban which bans men-who-have-sex-with-men from donating blood unless they remain abstinent for one year.