Congratulations Jenna!

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

‘Mealtime Student of the Year 2023’ Winner

By doing this Repton Pride has attached a face to discussions on homophobia and transphobia: language that promotes hate doesn’t simply damage a group that you only hear about in the media; it also hurts a friend and a human being you may know. As a result of this speech, we have received a great amount of positive feedback from both students and staff, furthering our hope in a more positive future as our society learns and educates.

Repton Pride has continued to provide a safe space to LGBTQ+ students and allies to feel open and accepted. It has presented a community for people across all years to join together, where people can come out of their shell to bond and discuss issues they face in a secure environment. In particular, we as a society provide support systems especially for junior members who may struggle to relate to many others. In Pride they can receive help from senior members who understand exactly what they have experienced.

LGBTQ+ topics have increasingly gained prominence in society and the media, with Queer stories being recognised around the world, and this has been no different in Repton, where we have been able to discuss the impact of these global issues and to support and educate our own community.

While discussions of gender and sexuality have become much higherprofile and more open, it is undeniable that this has been a confusing year for the LGBTQ+ community. Even though Repton has been incredibly supportive of our Society, the world we live in is hugely complex in its attitudes. Within Pride we have debated topics such as the 2023 World Cup being hosted in Qatar and the attack on transgender youth across the US. While these situations are taking place outside the UK, they still have international importance and set the scene for our right to live and feel safe in the future. 73 countries criminalise homosexuality, while no fewer than 11 nations still hold the possibility of passing death sentences against LGBTQ+ people. This denies safety to every Queer individual across the School and across the world.

Early into the year, we sent (vaguely) anonymous messages of appreciation to those within the Society. Furthermore, a couple of us presented a figure in the LGBTQ+ community who has significance to us, with diverse individuals from famous poet and writer Robert Graves to singer and actress Lady Gaga. However, the most important thing at Pride are the 5-10 minutes at the end where each member can talk within the group about current events in their own lives, knowing that they will undoubtedly receive advice and support from all attendees.

The Repton that we now have has changed tremendously: it is a more tolerant environment and the School is a much safer place to openly be member of the LGBTQ+ Community, without judgement. When I arrived five years ago, there was no Pride Society, no LGBTQ+ history, and a great lack of security and freedom to be oneself. I am one of the last few at school who had to hide my identity away only to be revealed in the Library with other Queer people and yet still fearing being outed. However, through Pride we now have a voice and a forum for discussion that is enabling the School to become a more inclusive community. And we believe that’s good for everyone.

Jacques H (U6S)

Even if we, as students, do not have the opportunity yet to change the world we live in, we still have had the opportunity to make an impact on our fellow students. Together we put together a speech of combined voices that I presented in Chapel to introduce our Society and open people’s eyes to our experiences as Queer and Transgender people. Our main goal was to further our understanding of one another and especially to put a stop to the use of the words ‘gay’ and ‘faggot’ being used in a negative context.