Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
![Head shot of Andrew Feinberg](https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/support-us/andrew-feinberg.png)
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Student campaigners in the UK are reportedly calling for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans-only (LGBT) halls of residence to “avoid any risk of victimisation by straight flatmates.”
The claim has come to light following a report from The Sunday Times which says critics of the move have cautioned how, if successful, it “risks ghettoising gay people.”
Currently in Britain, Birmingham University is the only one to offer first-year undergraduates an “LGBT housing option” when applying for accommodation so they don’t have to share rooms with heterosexuals.
According to MailOnline, transgender student at the University of York, Ashley Reed, is submitting plans for separate LGBT accommodation, and wrote on Facebook: “[I feel] so persecuted at York, just because I’m trans and disabled.”
However, president of the York University Students’ Union (YUSU), Ben Leatham, told the Independent the student was “misrepresented” and was “running no such campaign” at the institution.
Although The Sunday Times reports the students’ union (SU) at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is campaigning for LGBT-only housing, a statement from union president, Josie Linsel, has refuted the claims.
She said: “An idea relating to housing for LGBT students was proposed by a student, but only generated 20 votes in favour - not enough to be debated or created as policy by students’ council.
“Therefore, the students’ union currently has no plans to campaign for LGBT-specific accommodation.”
Despite the decision, the SU emphasised how it - along with the university - is working to encourage “a supportive environment” for all students, regardless of sexual orientation, race, disability, gender, or nationality.
The campaigning comes amid reports the LGBT branch of the National Union of Students (NUS) is creating guidance on LGBT-only accommodation, using case studies from institutions in the US which have already implemented the move.
In March, the NUS LGBT+ Conference debated and passed a motion which believed LGBT+ students “may feel safer” in housing in which all or most of the inhabitants are LGBT+ as they are “able to live without the threat of discrimination and are able to be themselves.”
The motion resolved to support the establishment of student housing cooperatives and produce a toolkit for setting up LGBT+ housing cooperatives.
However, spokesperson for UK LGBT campaigner, Stonewall, said: “We’re working towards a world where everyone can be accepted without exception, wherever they live, work, shop, and pray. These initiatives may address the problems LGBT people face in the short-term.
“However, ensuring everyone is free to be themselves in whatever context is not just about creating specific safe-spaces. It’s about creating a culture that is inclusive and accepting.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments