During my time at the Iris Prize Festival, I was lucky enough to be able to see a few of the competition winners, which includes ÔÇÿBest British ShortÔÇÖ, and ÔÇÿBest International ShortÔÇÖ, to name a few.┬á Lily Set against the backdrop of IrelandÔÇÖs gloomy skies, and steeped in the uncertainty of teenage life, ÔÇÿLilyÔÇÖ is a brief, devastating look at the internal struggle, and, often, … Continue reading IRIS PRIZE SHORT FILM REVIEW: Lily
The LGBTQ+ narrative in cinema is one that comes with a rather complicated history. From ÔÇÿBrokeback MountainÔÇÖ right up to this yearÔÇÖs most lauded romance, ÔÇÿCall Me by Your NameÔÇÖ, LGBTQ+ stories in film have repeatedly been dominated by drama, tragedy and, more often than one would like, death. How refreshing it is, then, as a huge fan of queer narratives, to come across Christopher … Continue reading IRIS PRIZE REVIEW: Prom King, 2010
Ever since the Autumn of 2016, and under the administration of Donald Trump, countless groups of people have been vilified, scrutinised, and scapegoated by the very government that is supposed to represent them. From the announcement of TrumpÔÇÖs decision to campaign to become the president of the United States onwards, much conversation in America has revolved around the rights of minorities, and much of it … Continue reading IRIS PRIZE REVIEW: Signature Move
Do we need Pride? Is it a Party or a Protest? February is a busy month for most students. Exams are over, and lectures take over our lives once again. Anticipation for the Six Nations soars, ValentineÔÇÖs plans are made, and as Student Unions and businesses celebrate LGBT+ History Month, Pride flags are flown all around the country. I often hear people asking why the … Continue reading Do We Need Pride? LGBT+
WeÔÇÖve watched as celebrities have taken the plunge, willingly or not, and have come out to millions of people. Ellen Page, Raven Symone, Caitlyn Jenner, Sam Smith; there is no ‘one-story-fits-all’. Some face criticism, some receive love, respect and admiration, while for others it simply isnÔÇÖt that big a deal. This month, Quench asked students to tell their stories. Elliott, Biology, First Year One of … Continue reading Your Stories: LGBT+
Andy Love on gay dating in the 21st century “Hey, how are you doing?” “I’m good, how are you?” “I’m good. What are you up to?” “Chilling. What are you up to?” “Bored…” This might seem like a regular start up conversation for people with dating/hook up apps. But are they good, are they bad, where do we stand? Do you remember a time when … Continue reading Grinding You Down
QuenchÔÇÖs Film and TV editor Charlie Andrews gives us a brief insight into LGBT+ issues in the comic world. Back in the beginning of April, GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) held their 25th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, which sets out to honour a host of various films, albums, books, comics and other media from 2013 for their ÔÇ£fair, accurate and inclusive representations of … Continue reading Some people are superheroes. Get over it!
A brief analysis at the rules and regulations of the life saving process of giving blood. Currently UK guidelines prohibit the donation of blood from men who have sex with men within a 12 month period, regardless of whether condoms are used or not, or whether two men are in a monogamous relationship. The argument provided by the Give Blood website elucidates the fact that … Continue reading Well I would give blood, if I could
An anonymous trans* student talks about his experiences with allies. Transitioning to male within an all-female environment made the last few years of school very hard. More so, when I was encountered by people who could not understand me and felt it was their place to try and stop me. Heeding advice from LGBT+ people I began to get very defensive, and hid away from … Continue reading The Story of Our Allies
QuenchÔÇÖs LGBT+ editor Emrhys Pickup discusses Facebook’s recent addition of over 50 gender identities and a new pronoun option to user’s basic info. Facebook requires five things from you when you sign up – your name, email address, a password, your birthday and your gender; with gender being presented to you as a tick box option between male and female. Most non-binary trans* folk do … Continue reading 50 shades of gender
There is a tendency among activists and allies of the mainstream gay rights movement to treat marriage equality as the be-all and end-all of LGBT+ liberation. This is despite the fact that there are neighbourhoods across the UK where same gender couples risk violent assault if they dare to hold hands; some trans* people are still dependent on ignorant or unpleasant doctors for lifesaving medical … Continue reading Some Are More Equal Than Others
Liam Havard shares his thoughts on the negative connotation of the word ÔÇÿgayÔÇÖ and the increasing popularity of the ÔÇÿgay best friendÔÇÖ Although prejudice against the LGBT+ community is dissolving, homophobia still exists today – even in the subtlest of forms. ┬áThere are several factors out there today that do this, such as how the word “gay” now has negative connotations associated with it and … Continue reading Always gay, never a person
Quench are going to be looking at some of the life-changing progress that has been made in the different areas of LGBT+ throughout history. From the new same-sex marriage bill to influential role models – we celebrate just how much has been done for the cause Lesbian & Gay Written by: Alexandra Howells Progress in Section: 2013 turned out to be a pretty exciting year … Continue reading LGBT+ Progress
Features editor Andy Love provides a quick guide to the Quench LGBT+ section and the wider Cardiff LGBT+ community, including the society, spots in town, and events. Hello, everybody! Welcome to the first LGBT+ page of the year! We would like to take this opportunity to clarify what to expect from both this section and Cardiff University as your chosen place of study in regards … Continue reading Getting to Know your Community
With the advent of social media, everybody can simultaneously produce and consume media. Lubna Anani looks at how this has helped trans* people represent themselves and reach out to each other through YouTube Teenagers struggling with their sexual orientation often find solace watching shows like The L Word and Queer as Folk which, while flawed artistically, present a range of different storylines dealing with real … Continue reading Speaking Trans*
Sophie Lodge reviews Stephen Fry’s documentary on the status of LGBT+ people around the world, while also reflecting on their lives here in the UK Stephen Fry has always been a prominent speaker in the LGBT+ community; but this year, he explored more than just British homosexuality by creating a two part documentary on the persecution of the gay community around the world, speaking to … Continue reading Stephen Fry: Out There
Jack Oakley talks about the trans* character in Waterloo Road and where the BBC went horribly wrong with it I am going to admit to one of my guilty pleasures, and please try not to judge! I watch Waterloo Road. This school-based drama has been on the BBC since 2006, has won numerous awards and enjoys a viewership of approximately 5 million. Over the years, … Continue reading Waterloo Road
This TV series has made headlines with the number of boundaries it has pushed in the TV world. QuenchÔÇÖs LGBT+ Editor Suryatapa Mukherjee discusses how it represents LGBT+ people I watched the entire first season of Orange is the New Black in a couple of days. And I have to say, IÔÇÖm impressed. It does a very good job of representing women, women of colour, … Continue reading In The Media: Orange Is The New Black
An anonymous student shares his feelings of being trans* through this heartfelt poem So when will I be old enough? For tomorrow, if by the end of my life I am lucky I will have lived a quarter of it And I only have 3 left to live Isn’t life already full of regrets and sadness Or do you think this will be another But … Continue reading So when?
Members of the Cardiff university trans* community have come to commemorate TDoR, or Trans*gender Day of Remembrance. Here are a collection of anonymous pieces, written with the aim of fostering understanding of the event and the community at large. TDoR is an opportune moment for Trans* people to share their experiences and let you know exactly how the community would like to be treated. Obviously … Continue reading A Learning Experience
