The numerous funding opportunities provided by National Agencies and co
funded by the European Commission (e.g. ER+ Higher Education HEi), as well
as the recent report by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
(FRA, 2024), underline that LGBT+ people are increasingly exposed to bullying,
dropping out or discrimination on campus and in classrooms.
It is well established that various kinds of homophobia and transphobia, both
direct and indirect, that accompanies the experience of being a LGBT+ person,
as well as other kinds of discrimination hinder in various ways other minority
groups, are proven risk factors regarding equal and sustainable access to
education, healthcare and social welfare.
In the last 10 years, studies have highlighted several initiatives to develop
sustainable HEi, but a significant gap persists in terms of studies focusing on
LGBT+ individuals. There is a growing urgency to rethink the concept of HEi as
something attentive, sustainable, inclusive, rather than serving to silence
diversity, which is an all-too-common occurrence in some contexts.
The lack of specific training courses on LGBT+ themes, such as the lack of "Safe
Space" in HEi, contributes to increasing discrimination based on sexual identity
and, consequently, to the well-being of all people: LGBT+ rights are the rights of
everyone and the community.
Cembranel et al. (2023) remind us of the need to validate different identities and
give a voice to different singularities through an educational experience capable
to represent LGBT+ people, rethinking University programs and Doctorates,
addressing intersectional issues and providing good practices and
recommendations.
Creating sustainable international networks can lead to pathways and research
for inclusive and sustainable HEi. This will only be possible through further
research on Diversity and Inclusion, with support for researchers and
recognized and multidisciplinary support programs and Safe Spaces, while also
recognizing and actively moving towards eliminating existing obstacles.