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

The third thematic discussion event that focuses on raising awareness about LGBTI+ related issues on campus was held on the 8th 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 Labeling on Campus” focused on the experiences of LGBTI+s on labeling 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 event moderators emphasized that labeling and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression are unacceptable neither on campus nor elsewhere.