LGBTQIA+ Case Studies

UPF’s Equality Plan (2018-2022) states that:

Society…imposes certain normative canons on gender identity and expression, as well as on sexuality itself, that generate specific forms of discrimination and violence towards LGBTI people. Thus, in addition to fighting gender inequality and gender-based violence, universities must fight any expression of LGBTI-phobia in order to enforce the principles of non-discrimination and respect and ensure that they are a place where everyone can live and pursue their development freely.

The incorporation of LGBTI+ perspectives in all the university’s policies works in tandem with the incorporation of gender perspectives (see also the case-studies on Gender Equality). These policies are implemented practically through awareness-raising training events and other central initiatives, run by the UPF Equality Unit and the vice-rector for Social Commitment and Sustainability:

• The university works with various public services, including the police and specialised associations, to respond to inquiries and complaints about gender-based violence and LGBTI+ phobia affecting any member of the university community. The Equality Unit’s website provides links to various support services, as well as informative resources on issues such as homophobia in sport and LGBTI+ perspectives in teaching.
• In 2017, new measures were implemented to enable any member of the UPF community to change their name and other personal or contact details on the university’s systems. This process was implemented to guarantee the rights of transgender, transsexual, and intersex persons to be identified, at university, in accordance with their gender identity.
• The Inclusive Spaces initiative ensures the presence of non-gender-defined toilets in each of UPF’s three campuses, as well as providing spaces for baby caring and breastfeeding, and toilets adapted to the use of the menstrual cup.
• The #AmbPerspectiva Network is a group of teaching and research staff who support other teachers in the incorporation of gender mainstreaming in teaching.

Besides these central initiatives, students can also take the LGBTI+ Studies course, led by Dr. Arnau Roig-Mora. This course introduces students to gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer studies, covering the history and development of this field since its creation. The course surveys the historical journey of these non-hegemonic identities from their criminalization and pathologisation to the current struggle for equal rights. LGBTI+ studies are contextualized within the legal and historical evolutions of these sexualities and identities, necessarily linking the academic side with activism.

In addition, the different positions of LGBTI+ studies are brought into dialogue with cultural production (cinema, literature, poetry, theatre, etc.), with the aim of reflecting on the implications of different groups’ visibility, on the different representations of dissident sexualities and identities in the public sphere, on the supposed ‘immobility’ of biological sex, and on the meaning and use of different gender expressions. In short, the course will critically discuss the importance of (re)thinking our sexuality in a political and non-monolithic way.

The course is aimed primarily at students, but is open to the entire university community interested in LGBTI+ studies.

The Queering University project was launched in 2020/21, and is overseen by Sam Parr, Chair of the Queer & Trans Pedagogies Learning Circle within the Warwick International Higher Education Academy.

This project supports staff and students at Warwick to develop, implement, share and sustain queer pedagogies and perspectives. It encourages teaching & learning and pastoral practices that are inclusive of trans and LGBTQUIA+ people, and improves understanding in the classroom and wider university settings.

The project hopes to embed and centre queer perspectives in the university’s activities, with the goal of understanding and improving the student experience and dismantling barriers that hinder community, belonging, attainment, continuation, completion, and academic progression.

The Queering University project is continually evolving through dialogue with the university community. A collective vision of success for the programme has been formulated, which lists 17 key objectives. This vision is now being implemented in the second phase of the programme, which will seek to:

• Explore LGBTQUIA+ student & staff experiences.
• Expand the existing guidance, resources and support.
• Facilitate culture change more broadly at Warwick, for instance through initiatives such as the Pronouns Pledge.

• A Trans Community Support Group, which meets regularly in person and online (via Discord).
• A network of staff in academic and professional services departments who can act as points of contact with the programme, supporting other members of the community within and beyond their department.
• An anonymous question-answering service for any community member with questions about LGBTQUIA+ inclusive and queer practice.