Posted 6 hours ago
Wed 29 Oct, 2025 09:10 AM
Starting your studies at LSE can be difficult for everyone: a new environment, a new city, and so many new people to meet. It can feel even trickier as an LGBTQ+ person. Before moving London, I wondered if I was going to be able to find my people, if the environment was going to be accepting… If you’re asking yourself these same questions, here are three of my tips to feel included and involved as an LGBTQ student at LSE (and in London)!
🫂 Tip 1: don’t stress!
If you’re wondering if LSE and London are open, accepting environments, don’t even worry. London and LSE are full of history, and of course, this include LGBTQ+ history - there’s plenty to discover, and plenty of people to meet.
The diversity of this School is its greatest strength, and with so many different people around you, there is no way to feel like you don’t belong! I personally never felt unsafe or not accepted on campus, by students and staff alike.
For example, I found that using a different name that the one on my record was very easy at LSE - no one questioned it, and it was super easy to change it on places like Moodle.
In any case, every staff member wants you to have the best possible time at LSE, so if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to talk to them, be it your professors or your departmental advisor.
🏳️🌈 There’s no doubt you’ll be able to be your truest self on this campus!
🫂 Tip 2: meet people!
It might seem redundant, but putting yourself out there really is the best way to meet your people.
The LGBTQ+ society is the best way to meet other LGBTQ+ people and make connections. Throughout the year, they organise tons of events: from your classic pub socials and night outs to sober get-togethers, there’s something for everyone. Sometimes, it really does feel easier to make friends with people who you already have this big thing in common with - that was certainly my experience.
It is so reassuring to be surrounded by people you know will be accepting, and the LGBTQ+ society is the best way to meet these people. They even host networking events, so you can meet businesses that care about the inclusion of LGBTQ/ people.
You can follow the LGBTQ+ society on Instagram. As a bonus, at only £4.50 for the year, they have one of the cheapest society memberships across the entire SU!
If you want to organise your own night-outs, London has plenty of LGBTQ+ bars and nightclubs where you can party the night away with your people. If you need advice on a few great addresses, you can check out this article:
🫂 Tip 3: get involved in your community!
If you want to get involved into LGBTQ+ life on campus, both the LGBTQ+ society and the Students’ Union itself regularly organise campaigns to promote better inclusivity and acceptance on campus and beyond. Getting involved this way might seem scary, especially if you just arrived in London. But if you need a safe space on campus to have these conversations, you can be sure to find it there.
In my experience, working towards more acceptance can be so rewarding. And, as a bonus, it could help make LSE a great environment for LGBTQ+ students in the long term!
The SU has an LGBTQ+ officer, whose job it is to work towards institutional changes. Over the years, they have set up plenty of initiatives to help LGBTQ+ people feel welcomed at LSE.
If you want to get involved, you can follow the LGBTQ+ officer’s Instagram, where they will keep people informed of their campaigns throughout the year and of all the ways you can participate.
And if you want to learn more about LGBTQ+ advocacy at LSE, you can read this article:
