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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Our departmentsEquality, diversity and inclusionSupportLGBTQ+ EqualityLGBTQ+ Inclusive Professional's Commitment

The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Professional's Commitment

The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Professional's Commitment is a way for members of staff to signal that they are supportive of LGBTQ+ people in their lives and the institution. It is an optional statement for staff to sign if they agree with and wish to publicly state commitment to the principles it contains.

If you are in the process of coming out in your department, or just want to know that there's a friendly face in your place of work and study, or in a team you need to contact or work with, you can use this list to see people who have publicly committed to listening and supporting LGBTQ+ people in these ways. 

You can read the list of signatories who have agreed to be publicly listed. 

You can read the full text of the commitment, find out more about the scheme below.

Staff are also welcome to sign up to the commitment.

The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Professional's Commitment Text

My goal is to be the kind of person that LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer and other) people can confide in and feel supported by, whether they are out or not. I cannot know everything, but I know how to signpost and where/when to ask for advice. Most importantly, I can listen, seek to empower LGBTQ+ people to speak for themselves, and advocate for greater inclusion where needed.
To this end I commit to: 
  1. I will accept LGBTQ+ people’s identities as they describe them, mirroring people’s own language to describe themselves where possible and respecting people’s right to confidentiality. 
  2. I will respect and affirm trans and nonbinary staff and students, including their pronouns, genders, and chosen names. If I make a mistake I will apologise, amend what was said and move on. 

  3. I will seek out LGBTQ+ people's contributions to my area of work, especially if they are under-represented within it. When referencing transgender and non-binary experts I will respect their genders, names, and pronouns.  

  4. I will educate myself about the barriers facing LGBTQ+ people and attempt to address any that arise in my area of work. I will prioritize learning about LGBTQ+ people from LGBTQ+ groups and individuals.  

  5. In a time when anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments are on the rise, I understand that it is necessary to educate myself about how anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments can be perpetuated through micro-aggressions, dogwhistles, and talking points. I will seek to be an active ally and defend LGBTQ+ people in situations where they are experiencing discrimination or isolation.  

  6. I am firmly against all forms of discrimination, including homophobia, transphobia, biphobia, acephobia, and intersexphobia. I recognize the intersectionality of LGBTQ+ rights with other liberation struggles including feminism, anti-racism, decolonising, and disability rights.

  7. I will make an effort to ensure my allyship is visible; for example, by sharing my pronouns.

 

Further Information

This is an optional statement for staff to sign, written by our LGBTQ+ Staff Networks (across both our Exeter and Cornwall campuses), in line with the actions and priorities of our Sexual Orientation Equality Group and approved by the University Wellbeing Inclusion and Culture Committee (WICC). 

The statement will be reviewed and signatories asked to sign up again if they wish to in 2027. 

Staff members who have signed will be emailed an image badge that they may wish to display in their email signature, on their ELE pages, staff pages, or elsewhere. There is an option to be added to the directory of signatories, as well as the option to add any comments on why you wanted to sign up to the commitment.

Signatories may also be added to a mailing list for information about additional training opportunities or resources in the area of LGBTQ+ equality. 

This is not the only way to be an “ally”, there is no obligation to sign,  and there are many other ways you can show support for LGBTQ+ people in the University, in line with the University’s Freedom of Speech Statement

If you are a staff member you are welcome to sign this statement using the sign up form 

If you have any further questions, please email EDI@Exeter.ac.uk