Let's Get Real

What is homophobia? What is Transphobia? The noisy neighbours – let’s talk about PrideOver the course of 20 minutes we talk to the amazingly talented Cherry Valentine. Cherry Valentine sashayed her way into the public eye as one of the drag queens on Ru Pauls Drag race UK and hasn’t looked back since. Born and bred in Darlington, George is from a gypsy background and was brought up in the traveller community where he started doing drag as a child.Cherry discusses growing up within the traveller community and struggling to fit in and some of the barriers she has had to overcome, this episode looks at homophobia, transphobia and PRIDE. This is an insightful discussion from Cherry and our hosts who ask the questions which matter to you.

Questioning my sexuality? Trying to understand the other persons point of view? The 7 stages of denial and accepting my sexuality Over the course of 20 minutes we talk to Amal Fashanu who is the daughter of ex professional footballer John Fashanu and the late Justin Fashanu. Amal has built a successful career for herself in her name and is a Fashion designer, TV presenter, model, musician and charity campaigner. Britain’s Gay Footballers followed Amal exploring why her Uncle Justin Fashanu committed suicide after becoming Britain’s first (and only) footballer to come out. This episodes discusses the issues of struggling with your own sexuality and the mental health impact this can cause, Amal also talks about growing up, her relationship with her uncle and how his suicide has impacted on her.

Defining transgender vs trans sexual, The long journey to acceptance from the LGBTQIA community and the heterosexual community, Accepting me for me and not for who I used to be. Over the course of 20 minutes we talk to our SECOND celebrity guest speaker. Elliott Mason-Wright who first caught the publics attention on Stacey Dooleys ‘The Nice To Five’ for BBC, before going on to film a spin off series for BBC Bitesize and a documentary for BBC London. Elliott is no stranger to supporting what we do at West Suffolk College and has done a number of talks to our students in the past. This episode of Let's get real focuses discussing being trans and trying to fit in. We talk candidly and explore a range of topics relating to being trans, fitting in and gaining acceptance for who you are now as opposed to who you used to be.

The different types of pronouns, Who uses what pronoun and why? What is the big deal with them anyway?Over the course of 25 minutes we chat to Annabelle Knight on Let's Get Real. Annabelle Knight is a sex, relationship, dating and body language expert, bestselling author and celebrity relationship coach. On this episode we discuss what pronouns are and why we are using them more in the workplace and as a whole in society. Annabelle shares some great insight into the use of pronouns as well as discusses what her pronouns are and why she has chosen to identify in that way. So...join us as we GET REAL with our first celebrity guest speaker.

How can we be more inclusive and support employers and employees from the LGBTQIA+ community?Over the course of 35 minutes we talk to Phanuel Mutumburi who represent ISCRE as a director and is a Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Champion as well as Joe Fletcher who is a HR Director at Atalian Servest. Our host asks our guests how things have changed over the five to ten years and what organisations need to do to be more inclusive for members of the LGBTQIA+ community as well as well as others such as ethnic minorities. We explore how their own organisations are leading the way in equality, diversity and inclusion with some excellent ideas which could be implemented within other organisations.