Queer Cyprus Association held Thematic Discussion Event on “LGBTI+ Awareness and Labelling on Campus”.

(Nicosia, 10/11/22) The third thematic discussion event that focuses on raising awareness about LGBTI+ related issues on campus, which is named as “LGBTI+ Awareness and Labelling on Campus”, was held on the 8^th of November 2022 in northern part of Cyprus at the METU Culture and Congress Center in collaboration with northern part of Cyprus METU Psychology Society within the scope of the Rainbow Project which is funded by the European Union under the Cypriot Civil Society in Action VII Grant Scheme and implemented by the Queer Cyprus Association.

The thematic discussion event “LGBTI+ Awareness and Labelling on Campus” focused on the experiences of LGBTI+s on labelling and discrimination at campus based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. After a brief meet-and-greet, the event continued with the moderation and facilitation of human rights activist İbrahim Ray and METU Psychology Society member Halil Altındiş. Participants exchanged ideas about the basic concepts of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression and sex characteristic diversity. Afterwards, participants shared about what the labels are based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

Thematic discussion continued with the experience sharing about how labels were experienced on campus and what kind of discrimination the participants observed around them.  In addition, a discussion was carried out on the process of reporting such negative experiences and availability of protective mechanisms on campus. The importance of including content that includes sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in the curricula of the departments of university students was underlined. In addition, it was discussed that discrimination such as labelling can have very negative consequences for LGBTI+ students and allies at universities.

The event moderators emphasized that labelling and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression are unacceptable neither on campus nor elsewhere. In addition, it was underlined that people with such negative experiences can reach Queer Cyprus Association for psychological, legal and social welfare service via the Solidarity Line from 0542 858 58 47 or via e-mail queercyprus@gmail.com.