In recent years, Stirling University has made a great effort to develop an open and inclusive queer community. However, this hasn’t always been the case.
Maggie Bain, a non-binary and queer actor who graduated from Stirling University 20 years ago, shares their experience of coming to terms with their identity as a student.
Maggie returned to Stirling for the first time in 20 years to perform on Macrobert’s stage in Dracula: Mina’sReckoning in September of last year.
“Everything felt familiar, yet different, and I was intrigued to see how much the university has changed,” they said.
They spent some of their downtime walking around the campus, reminiscing on their time there.
“I walked around the loch a lot at the time, feeling very alone and quite frightened because I was gay and I didn’t identify as a woman. I’m non-binary. That language didn’t exist and there wasn’t a lot of encouragement or support, so I just wondered: what was wrong with me?”
Maggie Bain
“It’s actually only quite recently in my life that I’ve been able to come out, and it’s quite incredible to be back here 20 years later, looking back and joining the dots between the start of the journey and where I am now,” they said.
Maggie’s acting career also began at Stirling University as a part of the drama society, and performing began an integral part of their journey.
“I don’t know if I could have come out at all if it hadn’t been for my craft”.
However, it was a difficult road. “Knowing I was gay and knowing I wanted to be an actor but also knowing I wouldn’t get to do both, I felt like if I could play the role I really wanted to inhabit in my real life maybe that would be enough.”
“That of course is not enough. You have to be you as much as you can but that was a very difficult choice and I was really proud of myself and the journey that allowed me to get to the point where I can live openly and be out, which definitely didn’t feel possible 20 years ago.”
Maggie Bain
They believe that none of this would’ve been possible if it hadn’t been for their experiences at university and the launch of their acting career.
“When I look back where I was at 19 and 20, when I was here, coming out would have made my life very hard.
“I’ve done a lot of learning in the past 20 years and I am looking forward to come back and being able to stand in a place where I hadn’t been able to be myself. As myself.”
In 2023, Stirling University and the wider community have made great strides in celebrating queerness through events such as the university’s pride week, as well as the first-ever Forth Valley Pride, which will take place later this year.
These events are monumental for the queer community in Stirling and work towards making Stirling a more welcoming and inclusive place for everyone.
Featured Image Credit: Liverpool Everyman
