Ella Hartshorn

Lesson’s from the United States: Supporting the LGBTQ+ community in times of increasing socio-political stress.

Working as a Specialist Clinical Psychologist (and previously as a Social Worker) has shown me the importance of delivering psychosocial support for marginalised communities that addresses and appreciates the context and nuances of their stressors. True allyship involves educating ourselves and questioning and unlearning our beliefs. As LGBTQ+ rights become increasingly threatened in the US and now in the UK, I propose to explore how organisations in the US support the LGBTQ+ community in difficult times, and what we can learn from this about supporting the LGBTQ+ community in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, with a particular focus on learning from the support offered to gender diverse individuals. This scholarship will actualise my passion for researching and fostering social change for those facing disproportionate socio-political stressors, and my personal desire to live an exciting, meaningful life.