The University of Portsmouth has scored 10 out of 10 for the second year running in Stonewall’s third edition of Gay By Degree, the only guide profiling the UK’s 150 universities to show how gay-friendly they are. The guide gives lesbian, gay and bisexual prospective students a single place to find out what each university offers to support them before they apply for places in 2013, so they can find a place to study where they will feel comfortable to be themselves.
Portsmouth amongst Stonewall’s most gay-friendly universities
Dave Small, the University’s Senior Equality Advisor said: “We are very proud of the support the University and Students’ Union offers all students. To be acknowledged once again by Stonewall as one of only six universities to meet all its criteria for demonstrating an inclusive teaching and learning environment for LGB Students is fantastic.
“We hope it gives confidence, not only to current LGB Students, but those making decisions about which University they want to go to, that if they come to Portsmouth they join a University with a strong LGB inclusive environment, which values diversity and difference.”
Stonewall , the national lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) campaigning charity, was founded in 1989 to create a professional lobbying group for the gay and lesbian. It has subsequently put the case for equality on the mainstream political agenda by winning support within all the main political parties and now has offices in England, Scotland and Wales.
Gay By Degree uses ten criteria to identify how well universities support gay people, including whether they have a policy to tackle homophobic bullying, whether there are societies and events for lesbian, gay and bisexual students, and whether they support gay staff effectively.
Stonewall Head of Education Wes Streeting said: “The University of Portsmouth joins six other UK universities who’ve scored top marks in Stonewall’s 2013 Gay By Degree guide for lesbian, gay and bisexual prospective students. It’s hugely important for gay school leavers to be able to look for universities where they can be themselves. By supporting their gay students and staff so effectively, Portsmouth help make sure all students really do have a great start to their adult lives.”
