Being queer at York

Being able to be my authentic self at work has made a huge difference to my mental health and wellbeing. As a gay man, I have spent a lot of my life hiding big parts of myself from colleagues. I have worked at York for three years now and find my team and the University generally to be a very inclusive, friendly and welcoming place for everyone. It’s certainly a workplace I see myself staying in for a long time, and part of that is down to its inclusivity.

As a queer woman at work who has a dress style that reflects this (which others often refer to as ‘whacky’) it might be easy for me to feel like an outsider. At York, I don’t feel like an outsider - quite the opposite: I feel accepted for being me. Colleagues will ask me what colour I’m going to have my hair next; I think rainbow hair is in order for Pride Month!

I spent the first few weeks in my job wondering how to tell people that I am bisexual. One day, I mentioned it casually over lunch and no one batted an eyelid. I feel very grateful to work somewhere with people who are so accepting of me.

When I first came to study at York, I felt like I was still trying to put on this show of masculinity that I had been doing the entire time in my home town. As I met people I slowly realised that I could be who I wanted to be, and my friends would support me. I changed how I dressed, what activities I did and started doing things my way. I still identify as a man, but there are times I like to be more masculine and others when I like to be more feminine.

When I came for my interview to work at the University, I pondered whether to take off my nail polish. I decided that I wouldn’t want to work here if I couldn’t be me. As soon as I received compliments on my nails, I knew that the team would accept people for whoever they are and want to be, and I’m proud to be a member of the University.