Diversity Month 2013 kicks off at UCL

The theme of this year's Month is the UCL Grand Challenge of Intercultural Interaction, an institution-wide programme to examine the causes and features of social and cultural diversity. Highlights of Diversity Month 2013 include: 

• Call Me Kuchu (6 Feb, 6pm, Gustave Tuck Lecture Theatre, UCL): a powerful documentary charting the fate, including murder, of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) people in Uganda. The documentary highlights the threat of an impending new law which would make it a crime for parents and teachers not to report gay children and could even introduce the death penalty for certain offences. The film will be followed by a debate led by Harjeet Johal, Deputy Head of Kaleidoscope, a leading British charity campaigning for LGBT rights;
• When should LGBT people be offered Asylum in the UK? (15 Feb, 6.30pm, Cruciform Lecture Theatre 1, UCL): panellists including Erin Power, Executive Director, UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group and Paul Dillane, Amnesty International UK, will share their expert knowledge and different opinions on the issue;
• Is there any place for women in politics? (25 Feb, 1-2pm, Gustave Tuck Lecture Theatre, UCL) Dr Maki Kimura, UCL Teaching Fellow in Gender & Politics, will examine women's diverse relationship to politics and explore the ways in which we can build a fairer and more equal society;
• Women and religion: a woman's place is....' (26 Feb, 6-8pm, room 1.03, Malet Place Engineering Building, UCL): Come along, whatever your faith or none, to hear a panel of excellent speakers, all women leaders in faith communities, discuss what it means to be a woman in a position of leadership, with the joys and challenges that it brings. Panellists include: Dr Zaza Johnson Elsheikh, a Commercial, Workplace and Family Mediator, Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers, member of the Rabbinic team at West London Synagogue and The Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Speaker's Chaplain in the House of Commons, a Priest Vicar at Westminster Abbey and Chaplain to the Queen.

UCL's equality networks, as well as other departments, have all been involved in organising a variety of events. Sir Stephen Wall, Chair of UCL Council and UCL's LGBT equality champion said: "Don't wait to be asked where you were in the fight for the rights - and even lives - of LGBT men and women still suffering for who they are. Join us to hear eyewitness truth and learn how we can all help."

Media contact: Dominique Fourniol

Notes for Editors

Events are free and open to all. For further information and to register your attendance visit www.ucl.ac.uk/diversity-month

UCL is a proud member of the Stonewall Diversity Champions programme and has recently gained entry in the Top 100 employers for gay, lesbian and bisexual staff. UCL has also twice been awarded the Pink Paper's 'Best University in the Country' title.