As February and LGBT+ History Month draw to a close, Maria Jula, co-chair of our Q+ Network, reflects on her experience of why finding a community where you truly belong matters so much. It continues our exploration of inclusion, connection, and shared identity.

I didn’t come out in a moment of confidence.
I came out in fear.

When I was a student at the University of Westminster, I was still navigating who I was — not just academically, but personally. I had moved to the UK from Romania, a country where being LGBTQ+ is still heavily stigmatised and where same-sex relationships are not recognised in law. I also came from a religious background, which added another layer of internal conflict and anxiety.

For some time, I kept that part of myself hidden.

The moment that changed everything

I still remember the day I decided to come out to my personal tutor. I was terrified. He had become a kind of father figure to me; I had no family in the UK, and I was deeply afraid that telling him the truth might change how he saw me.

Instead, he responded with kindness I will never forget.

He told me there was nothing wrong with me. That I was not broken. That I didn’t need to be fixed. It might sound simple, but that moment changed my life. Being met with acceptance at such a vulnerable time gave me something I had never truly had before: confidence in who I was.

The following year, in 2015, I marched in my first Pride parade with HER, the social app for lesbians. It was the first time I felt visible rather than hidden, celebrated rather than tolerated. And in many ways, that confidence started at Westminster.

From student to colleague – and still feeling safe

Fast forward to 2026. I’ve now worked at the University of Westminster for over four years, and one thing has remained consistent: Westminster has always felt like a place where I can bring my full self.

I’ve had the privilege of marching with Westminster in the London Pride Parade for the University’s first and second appearances. Seeing colleagues stand together in support, visibly and proudly, was emotional in a way that’s hard to describe unless you’ve spent years feeling like you had to shrink yourself in some parts of your life.

Westminster didn’t just feel inclusive to me as a student — it continues to feel inclusive as a workplace. And sadly, that’s not something I can say about every environment I’ve worked in.

Why this matters so much to me

That sense of belonging is exactly why I became Co-Chair of the Q+ Network three years ago. It’s why I care deeply about initiatives like the LGBTQ+ Empowerment Programme. And it’s why I continue to push for visibility, inclusion, and support.

Because I know how much it matters.

Especially for those who, like me, come from countries where their identity isn’t even recognised by law. Where safety is uncertain. Where families might not understand. Where silence can feel like survival.

When I became a British citizen six years ago, I cried. Not just because of the passport — but because I knew that, here, I would legally be able to marry someone of the same sex. That I could build a family. That my identity was recognised rather than erased.

That freedom is something I never take for granted.

Belonging isn’t just a feeling — it’s an action

Belonging is created through everyday actions:

• A tutor who responds with kindness instead of judgement
• A workplace that visibly supports Pride
• A colleague who uses the right language
• A network that creates space for community
• Leaders who show that inclusion is more than just policy

I want everyone at Westminster — students and staff alike — to feel as welcomed and as safe as I did when I first came out here. I want people to be celebrated for who they are, not just tolerated. I want no one to feel they have to leave parts of themselves at the door.

A small call to action

If you’re reading this and wondering what you can do:

• Be curious, not cautious, when someone shares who they are
• Support LGBTQ+ initiatives when they appear
• Show up to events, even if you’re not part of the community
• Join the LGBTQ+ Society if you’re a Westminster student
• Join the Q+ Network if you’re a colleague and help build a more inclusive workplace
• And most importantly, listen with empathy

Because you never know when your response might become someone else’s turning point. #WeareWestminster

Stay connected —follow us on social media to keep up with events, initiatives, resources, and stories that celebrate inclusion and belonging across our community. #Belonging
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