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Hey there, new and returning Scarfies! I welcome you to my patch of rainbows and equality! I’m here to give counsel on everything LGBTQ and feminism. Many of you will have just left home or moved in with a flat of strangers; or maybe you’re just starting the year afresh, rising like Madonna, reborn from the ashes of her previous incarnation. Life changes can be nerve-wracking, especially for those of us who aren’t traditional society’s ideal. I hope the advice here will help!

How do I come out to my hall/flat?
First of all, I want to put it out there that you have no obligation to do this. Your personal life is not public property. That being said, many of you will see the move to uni as a chance to be an uninhibited free spirit, and that’s awesome. There’s no script written for this occasion. You could sit your friends down for a deep and meaningful, drunkenly blurt it out, or just let people figure you out for themselves. You will always have support, even if one or two people aren’t cool with it. This is a big place, so there will be plenty of people who’ll think you’re just fab!

Is there a club or community where I can find people like me?
UniQ and Queer Support are organisations with their contact deets plastered all around campus. They’re absolutely fabulous and caring. Whichever colour flag you fly, don’t be afraid to check ’em out.
On the top floor of the Union Building, OUSA provides both a women’s room and a parents’ room. You can go these places for a safe, quiet space and to spend time with your children on campus.

What if people get violent toward me because of my sexuality or gender?
Any attack or prejudice you experience, physical or verbal, can be taken up with the Proctor or Campus Watch. Alternatively, you can talk to your RA or dean. The Uni wants its students to feel safe in their environment. Oh, and those blue lights you see around campus at night? Those are emergency phones. Use them in emergencies. Protip: don’t harass people. It takes less energy to not be an asshole, y’know?

One last tip: beware the fresher flu! Keep your vitamin levels up, as the inevitable outbreak of sniffles can be attributed to the hot and sweaty germfest that is a Monkey Bar makeout sesh. Rumours and Queer Support usually have condoms available; use them! And ladies: you can find guides online for turning a condom into a dental dam, too!