Sexual Orientation
“An inherent or immutable, enduring emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to other people”
Human Rights Campaign
Examples of sexual orientations include:
- Lesbian
- Gay
- Bisexual
- Heterosexual/ Straight
- Queer
- Asexual
Please see the LGBTQ+ Glossary.
The University is committed to enabling its LGBTQ+ Community to work together and thrive through building on the findings of the Being LGBTQ+ in Cambridge review in order to develop an LGBTQ+ Framework of actions for greater inclusion; support for the LGBTQ+ Network and London and Cambridge Pride, as well as events around LGBTQ+ History Month and Pride Month.
It also upholds its legal obligations to protect staff who are attracted or perceived to be attracted towards those of the same sex, the opposite sex or either sex from discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Protections for trans and non-binary people are provided by the law under the category of gender reassignment.
Homophobic, Biphobic and Transphobic (HBT) Bullying & Harassment
Homophobic, Biphobic and Transphobic (HBT) bullying and harassment is behaviour motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person's actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, or their association with others with these identities.
It can take many forms including:
- Unwanted physical contact.
- Threatened or actual physical abuse or attack.
- Verbal abuse such as suggestive remarks, jokes or name calling.
- Display or distribution of offensive material or graffiti.
- Non-verbal abuse such as mimicry, offensive gestures or body language.
- Attacks coinciding with a social or political meeting such as Pride.
- Repeated misgendering and deadnaming (in the case of Trans and Non-Binary people).
Such behaviour can seriously interfere with a person's personal health, safety and work performance, creating a threatening environment and may be considered a hate incident or hate crime. The University takes any such allegations seriously. If you believe or someone you know has been a victim of a hate crime you may want to:
- Report to the police
- Use the university’s reporting mechanism
- Discuss with Dignity at Work contacts or your Line Manager
- Contact the LGBTQ+ Network
- Seek independent legal advice
As an employer or colleague of someone who may have been the victim of a hate crime it is important that you discuss with them about how they wish to proceed.
Further resources can be found here.
Support
For Students and Staff
Anonymous reporting for students and staff | Student Complaints
For Staff
- LGBTQ+ Network
- LGBTQ+@CL network | Department of Computer Science and Technology
- Staff Counselling Centre |
- Dignity at Work Contacts | Human Resources
- HR policies, HR Business Partners
- Members of the LGBTQ+ Network are available to act as mentors for any member of staff who would be interested in this.
For Students