LGBTQ+ discrimination is when someone is treated unfairly, excluded, harassed or victimised because of their sexual orientation or gender reassignment.
Under the Equality Act 2010, sexual orientation and gender reassignment are protected characteristics. Everyone has the right to study and work in an environment where they are treated with dignity and respect.
LGBTQ+ discrimination can take many forms and may be carried out by students, staff or visitors. It may occur in person, online or through social media and can be a one-off incident or a pattern of behaviour over time.
Examples may include:
- Homophobic, biphobic or transphobic comments, jokes or behaviour.
- Making offensive remarks about a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Deliberately excluding someone because of their sexual orientation or gender reassignment.
- Sharing discriminatory, hostile or offensive content online.
- Threatening, intimidating or verbally abusing someone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Repeatedly engaging in unwanted conduct that creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.
- Treating someone less favourably because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans.
Some forms of LGBTQ+ discrimination and harassment may be considered a Hate Crime. A hate incident or crime is any act of violence or hostility against a person or property that is motivated by hostility or prejudice towards a protected characteristic.
If you want to talk to someone, please contact an advisor. Alternatively, you can make an anonymous disclosure which will allow us to identify concerns and trends across the University.