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The law prevents discrimination on the grounds of a person's actual or perceived sexual orientation. It also protects against discrimination due to association with someone of a particular sexual orientation.

Civil Partnership is one of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 and the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act became law in 2013.

The University's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Framework and accompanying objectives shows how we intend to tackle homophobia, Biphobia & Erasure, and promote equality for those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, Asexual, etc.

We monitor sexual orientation and report annually on progress in our Diversity Annual Report.

The University is now a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

For information on our policy regarding transgender and non-binary individuals visit our section on Transgender and non-binary.

Support for Students 

Students can contact the Student Inclusion Team shoud

LGBT+ History Month

February is LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Plus) History Month, Keep your eye out on our LGBT+ Network this academic year as they run several LGBT+ events. E.g. – Asexual awareness week, Bisexual Awareness week, Transgender week of Remembrance, etc.

Stoke Pride takes place annually each summer in Hanley park, a five-minute walk from College Road Campus. Our LGBT+ Network arranges a meet up for those who wish to attend.

National Student Pride takes place each year at the beginning of March.

Our History of LGBT+ History Month

LGBT History Month takes place in February each year, and celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community. We take this time to reflect on both the positive steps taken, as well as using this as another opportunity to challenge intolerance and injustices suffered by the LGBT+ community Globally.

In February 2015 the LGBT+ Staff Network hosted an exhibition on LGBT history in the Science Centre. This received great support and reviews and the launch was attended by members of the Student LGBT+ Network.

In February 2014, award-winning comedian, respected journalist, broadcaster and writer Simon Fanshawe OBE delivered a thought-provoking, inspiring and highly entertaining talk on 10th February in the Film Theatre. Known as the 'Provocateur with a Purpose' - he drew on his experience as a champion of diversity and founder member of Stonewall to explain the power of difference, identity perspectives in super-diverse Britain and why Stonewall is getting it wrong. Simon began his broadcasting career by winning top comedy award, The Perrier, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. More recently, he was awarded the OBE in 2013 for services to higher education and received an honorary doctorate for services to equality and social justice. The event was attended by around 100 staff, students and members of the local community. The event also saw the launch of the LGBT Staff Network.

In February 2013 Rico Paris from Gender Advisory Bureau came to talk about gender reassignment and transgender, sharing his personal experiences. The evening was supported by members of the Students' Union LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans) Society. During 2013 we were a corporate sponsor of the Gender Advisory Bureau whose aim is to improve the accessibility of mainstream services for trans people through trans equality training.

2011 highlighted research by Dr Jamie Cleland and Professor Ellis Cashmore and asked "Gay footballers: welcome or unwanted?" The evening event held in the Ashley Building was hosted by Mike Wolfe, the first elected mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, and attended by students, staff and members of the local community.