Sue Sanders
Encyclopedia
Sue Sanders is, as an "out
and proud" lesbian
, a British
LGBT
rights activist who has specialized in challenging oppression in the public and voluntary sectors for over thirty years.
After studying at the New College of Speech and Drama in London
(now part of Middlesex University
) where she received a teaching diploma, Sanders studied counseling on alcohol related problems as well as gestalt therapy
and contribution training. She also holds qualifications on dealing with stress
and trauma
.
Since 1967, she has been a teacher, tutor and a lecturer on women's studies
, drama and homophobia
in schools, universities and other organisations, both in London and in Sydney
, Australia
.
Since 1984, Sanders has worked as a management consultant and trainer for the public and voluntary sector. She is a member of the LGBT Advisory Group to the Metropolitan Police
(since 1999), was an independent adviser to the London Criminal Justice Board, and is a member of the Hate Crime Independent Advisory Group for the Ministry of Justice, she was member of the National Union of Teachers
LGBT working party (since 1999), a member of the Southwark anti Homophobic Forum (which she joined in 1997) and was a consultant to the Crown Prosecution Services, helping them produce national policy on prosecuting homophobic crime effectively.
In 1996, she co-founded Chrysalis with Paul Patrick
, a consultancy which delivers training around equal opportunity
issues – particularly anti-heterosexism
.
In 2000, she became the co-chair of Schools Out, a group working for the equality of LGBT people in the education system, which she co-founded in 1984. In 2004, she instituted the first ever LGBT History Month in the UK which, with the help of the Schools Out committee members, was launched in December 2004 at Tate Modern
and occurred in February 2005.
Sanders has directed many plays in London's fringe theatres and has been involved in the production of radio programmes for ABC
in Sydney.
She is the author of poetry and short stories as well as many articles and brochures on feminist issues, education and homophobia. She regularly appears on TV and radio programmes dealing with equality and LGBT issues and is a keynote speaker and workshop leader in many conferences dealing with diversity
, homophobia and LGBT issues.
's Silver Cup Award from the International Lesbian and Gay Cultural Network for outstanding achievements in documenting and disseminating information about LGBT History.
In July 2009 she was awarded the first Derek Oyston Award in recognition of her lifetime’s campaigning for LGBT rights at the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) and the 40th anniversary of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality
(CHE).
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
and proud" lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
rights activist who has specialized in challenging oppression in the public and voluntary sectors for over thirty years.
After studying at the New College of Speech and Drama in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(now part of Middlesex University
Middlesex University
Middlesex University is a university in north London, England. It is located in the historic county boundaries of Middlesex from which it takes its name. It is one of the post-1992 universities and is a member of Million+ working group...
) where she received a teaching diploma, Sanders studied counseling on alcohol related problems as well as gestalt therapy
Gestalt therapy
Gestalt therapy is an existential/experiential form of psychotherapy that emphasizes personal responsibility, and that focuses upon the individual's experience in the present moment, the therapist-client relationship, the environmental and social contexts of a person's life, and the self-regulating...
and contribution training. She also holds qualifications on dealing with stress
Stress (medicine)
Stress is a term in psychology and biology, borrowed from physics and engineering and first used in the biological context in the 1930s, which has in more recent decades become commonly used in popular parlance...
and trauma
Psychological trauma
Psychological trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a traumatic event...
.
Since 1967, she has been a teacher, tutor and a lecturer on women's studies
Women's studies
Women's studies, also known as feminist studies, is an interdisciplinary academic field which explores politics, society and history from an intersectional, multicultural women's perspective...
, drama and homophobia
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
in schools, universities and other organisations, both in London and in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Since 1984, Sanders has worked as a management consultant and trainer for the public and voluntary sector. She is a member of the LGBT Advisory Group to the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
(since 1999), was an independent adviser to the London Criminal Justice Board, and is a member of the Hate Crime Independent Advisory Group for the Ministry of Justice, she was member of the National Union of Teachers
National Union of Teachers
The National Union of Teachers is a trade union for school teachers in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It is a member of the Trades Union Congress...
LGBT working party (since 1999), a member of the Southwark anti Homophobic Forum (which she joined in 1997) and was a consultant to the Crown Prosecution Services, helping them produce national policy on prosecuting homophobic crime effectively.
In 1996, she co-founded Chrysalis with Paul Patrick
Paul Patrick
Paul Patrick was an English teacher and leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights activist...
, a consultancy which delivers training around equal opportunity
Equal opportunity
Equal opportunity, or equality of opportunity, is a controversial political concept; and an important informal decision-making standard without a precise definition involving fair choices within the public sphere...
issues – particularly anti-heterosexism
Heterosexism
Heterosexism is a system of attitudes, bias, and discrimination in favor of opposite-sex sexuality and relationships. It can include the presumption that everyone is heterosexual or that opposite-sex attractions and relationships are the only norm and therefore superior...
.
In 2000, she became the co-chair of Schools Out, a group working for the equality of LGBT people in the education system, which she co-founded in 1984. In 2004, she instituted the first ever LGBT History Month in the UK which, with the help of the Schools Out committee members, was launched in December 2004 at Tate Modern
Tate Modern
Tate Modern is a modern art gallery located in London, England. It is Britain's national gallery of international modern art and forms part of the Tate group . It is the most-visited modern art gallery in the world, with around 4.7 million visitors per year...
and occurred in February 2005.
Sanders has directed many plays in London's fringe theatres and has been involved in the production of radio programmes for ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
in Sydney.
She is the author of poetry and short stories as well as many articles and brochures on feminist issues, education and homophobia. She regularly appears on TV and radio programmes dealing with equality and LGBT issues and is a keynote speaker and workshop leader in many conferences dealing with diversity
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
, homophobia and LGBT issues.
Awards
In 2007, Sanders received the ClioClio
thumb|Clio—detail from [[The Art of Painting|The Allegory of Painting]] by [[Johannes Vermeer]]In Greek mythology, Clio or Kleio, is the muse of history. Like all the muses, she is a daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne...
's Silver Cup Award from the International Lesbian and Gay Cultural Network for outstanding achievements in documenting and disseminating information about LGBT History.
In July 2009 she was awarded the first Derek Oyston Award in recognition of her lifetime’s campaigning for LGBT rights at the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) and the 40th anniversary of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality
Campaign for Homosexual Equality
The Campaign for Homosexual Equality is one of the oldest gay rights organisations in the United Kingdom. It is a membership organisation which aims to promote legal and social equality for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals in England and Wales...
(CHE).
External links
- Lesbian Activist Invited to Downing Street, UK Gay News - 14 July 2005
- Geeling murder shows 'school homophobia', Pinknews, 17 October 2006
- Sue Sanders speaking at the launch of LGBT History Month 2007 - 20 November 2006, TUC headquarters in London.
- Schools activist: bullying recommendations not good enough, Pinknews - 27 March 2007
- Half an Hour with Sue Sanders - podcast interview
- Gordon Brown hosts first LGBT reception, PinkNews - 6 March 2009