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  • -1 score
    9 voters

    The University should reconsider support for countries that criminalise LGBT

    Submitted 3 years ago by Anonymous
    Expired
    • Equality
    2comments
    There are 71 countries in the world that still criminalise LGBT in some shape or form. Where the university has financial and educational links with such countries, care should be taken to ensure that such links are not contributing towards the persecution of LGBT people. The university should also limit taking students from countries that still have the death penalty for LGBT people. Sadly, by supporting such countries, we are sending out the wrong message about our own values.
Thomas Bartlett
4:56pm on 20 Oct 21 I can see where you're coming from with this, but fighting prejudice with prejudice isn't productive for anyone. I personally don't agree with some UK government policies - would it be fair if I were unable to attend a university in another country because of one of them, despite having opposing personal views? Using Afghanistan as a recent example; would it be fair to limit taking students who have recently fled there in search of a better life away from Taliban rule? There's a much wider spectrum than just, 'supports' or, 'does not support', a single policy. It was illegal in Switzerland until less than a month ago, but the population overwhelmingly voted yes. Some countries are just slower. I totally disagree that it sends out the wrong message. I think the opposite is true in that we are leading by example. Just because an authoritarian government (as is the case in most countries on the list) upholds a law it doesn't mean the population agree. An education embargo isn't the answer and personally, I'd be outraged if we banned students based on their country of birth.
Joseph Webster
12:32pm on 27 Jan 22 Just to raise, that remember that some students will use Universities as a way to move abroad and away from these countries so they can be who they want to be. Remember this can be a form of escape for those who are LGBT+ (alongside other minorities) to leave their home country.