Research group's contribution praised by Stonewall in London Met's recent LGBTQ+ Inclusive Employer Silver Award 2024
Date: 2 September 2024
The Gender and Sexual Diversity Research Group (GDSRG) is an interdisciplinary and collaborative research hub within the Global Diversities and Inequalities Research Centre that applies an intersectional, holistic, and inclusive approach to researching and theorising gender and sexual diversity, identities, experiences, expression, and inequities. The GSDRG is led by Dr Sebastian Cordoba, Assoc Prof. Wendy Sloane, James Hunting, and Prof. Andrew Moran.
The GSDRG played a crucial role in London Metropolitan University's recent significant climb in Stonewall's Workplace Equality Index (WEI), reflecting both the group's activities and the broader aims of the university in advancing gender and sexual diversity research. Stonewall's WEI ranking is a benchmark for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion, and the university's improved standing aligns with the GSDRG's mission to foster a research environment that is both inclusive and intersectional.
Since its launch on 16 November 2023, the GSDRG has hosted various in-person and online events showcasing our members’ research on gender and sexuality. A few noteworthy events included Dr Piero Toto’s book launch, Assoc Prof. Wendy Sloane and Dr Sasha Raspopina’s ‘Putin's War on the LGBTQIA+ Community’, Dr Charlie Sarson’s book launch, and Dr Helton Levy’s book launch. The GSDRG are planning to host more events in the upcoming year.
These events demonstrate the group’s capacity to engage in knowledge transfer activities and to develop scholarly communities that raise London Met’s profile and reputation as an inclusive and welcoming place for LGBTQ+ staff, researchers and students. These events have also contributed to London Met’s research culture and commitment to decolonising and queering research, applying the tenets of the Education for Social Justice Framework.
Dr Sebastian Cordoba, member of the GSDRG steering committee, said: “The GSDRG is strongly linked to London Met's unique history and ambitious equity and social justice strategy. We provide a collaborative platform for staff researching LGBTQ+ issues across the university, reflecting the university's commitment to visibilising LGBTQ+ issues, research, and people using an intersectional lens. Stonewall highly praised this contribution, and we are delighted to contribute to this important mission.”
Photograph courtesy of Sebastian Cordoba.