Hi to you all! First post; fun times.

The University’s Housing and Accommodation Services have seen fit to propose piloting an ‘LGBT house’ scheme. Before anyone points out that I forgot the ‘Q’…I’m quoting them The aim of this scheme is to allow LGBTQ students to live with housemates of the same sexuality.

When I first heard about it I thought it was an interesting idea. It stands to reason that LGBTQ students would find the idea appealing; potentially it alleviates concerns of homophobia, biphobia or transphobia that a student may have when looking at University Accommodation. On that basis alone I think it’s a good idea as a supplementary option; and it’s certainly fesable now that the Guild’s new Student Housing Advice Centre is in full swing. I spoke with Ed Sparkes, Vice-President Housing and Community about this last week and we agreed on a lot of key issues.

Thinking about this in-depth…how are people ever going to learn to overcome biggotry if we segregate yet another minority like this? Our University is supposed to provide an atmosphere of equality and diversity. If we segregate people into groups like this then diversity is instantly compromised.

In my first year I lived on the lower-ground floor of Hampton Wing; an all-male floor. I was the only non-heterosexual resident (that I knew of) and when my flatmates were all aware that I was bisexual. Most of them had never had out LGBTQ friends, didn’t quite understand the concept of bisexuality and one or two were a bit funny about the whole idea. By the end of our first year we were all close friends and we still are. I lived with three of them through my second and third years until their degrees had finished. I like to think that living with them helped rid them of homophobia and biphobia, and me of any heterophobia. Arguably conducive to eliminating biggotry and encouraging diversity and equality among our students.

OK, I’ll admit I was lucky in who I ended up with. I’ve had friends who were beaten up by homophobic flatmates and had to be relocated. Had I ended up in a similar situation I’d happily take part in an LGBTQ housing scheme. That being said; would a group of gay men situated on the Vale be any safer if they were all put together in a known “gay flat”?

Lastly…the classic housemate woes. The last thing we want is students making the misguided assumption that, just because they have something as personal as sexuality in common with their housemates/flatmates, that they’ll automatically get along. I know people who picked their housemates exclusively from LGBTQ association members and still endured an unpleasant year. Sexuality is hardly a governing factor when it comes to getting along with those you share with.

Overall, I’ve picked out a few pros and a few conns. However with all of the conns in mind, I don’t see a problem with piloting this scheme purely as a supplementary option mainly for students who have encountered homophobic bullying in halls or student houses. Provided that we make the students well aware of the conns and don’t discourage the tried-and-true method of student housemate hunting, this scheme may have potential.

There’ll be more on this as it develops! Questions, suggestions, comments all welcome and wanted!