LGBT+ History Month 2026: Noel Hughes

To celebrate LGBT+ History Month, throughout February we are featuring Q&As with some key role models. Liverpool vet student Noel Hughes shares his experiences studying for his veterinary degree.

What inspired your path into the veterinary profession?
My passion started on my grandad’s farm, as before this I wanted to become a doctor. I carried out a pre-med course in London but found that I don’t really like human gore. So instead, I started to focus on animals. My grandad had a flock of 100 sheep, and I would help with their care and maintenance. Then lambing on my nan’s brother’s sheep farm really solidified my veterinary passion. This is where I learned that veterinary medicine felt like the right career for me.

What has been the most challenging part of my journey to becoming a vet?
There have been many challenges, with the main one being surviving and adapting to vet school. At Liverpool, the vet course is very demanding and stressful at times. I especially struggled in my first year as I had to change from living at home. Once I got to the second semester of first year, I was able to manage my social life and work-life balance, so it didn’t overwhelm me as much.
Another big challenge I faced was finding EMS placements. This required going on Facebook pages and messaging random farmers, calling up all the local dog kennels and livery yards, so they would take me. It was challenging because I didn’t see many of the tasks as being related to me becoming a vet.

What has been the best part of my journey to becoming a vet?
Making friends, I have met so many lovely people, and it’s nice that they share the same passion for veterinary as me. Liverpool Vet School is very social and friendly. The Liverpool university veterinary society host lots of socials throughout the year. This allowed me to mix with lots of people in my year and other years two. They also have sub-societies and I have been part of Luvsqueers since my first year (which is the University of Liverpool queer vet society). In my second year, I became the vice president, and in my third year, I moved up to become the president.

I have tried to promote positivity and inclusiveness in the society. I have written a sexual health guide for queer people, and there is also a queer directory of Liverpool. This has information on everything gay in the city. It has brought me a lot more confidence and has allowed other students to make more queer friends outside their friendship group and among different year groups. I feel like it’s the backbone for the queer community at Liverpool’s vet school

What advice would you offer to someone experiencing difficulties with their sexuality or gender identity?
My advice would be to embrace it; you only live once. But if you’re struggling, try to mix with some queer people, as they will be able to relate to your feelings and emotions. From my experience at Liverpool, this is a very inclusive vet school, and we are very LGBTQA+ friendly. Everyone whom I have met has been supportive and welcoming. I have often felt nervous about acting and being my true self around people, but you're not the only one experiencing that. Once you start to see other members of the veterinary profession living their best and true lives, it will help you become more confident in yourself.