The Quest for Inclusion and the Pitfalls of Invisible Homophobia: A Case Study on European Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

The PrEcIOUS project – Promoting pluralistic education in European universities to combat invisible discrimination related to LGBTQ+, funded under the Erasmus+ program, stems from the assumption that Higher Education (HE) can fully achieve its goals only if the academic community is diverse and plural, a place where each member feels not only safe but also seen and valued as a person. Within such a context, both respect of fundamental human rights and active participation need to be promoted, empowering students to become active citizens sharing EU fundamental values. At the same time, HE institutions must strive to create educational paths capable of supporting such competencies. This is particularly urgent considering discrimination grounds such as gender, gender identity and sexual orientation are still very much a part of everyday life for many individuals. To do so, PrEcIOUS has developed a Learning Outcomes Framework based on different levels of competencies as well as a related Training Package for the acquisition of said transversal skills. This paper will analyse the challenges faced in fostering inclusive education paths challenging invisible homophobia and gender-based discrimination within HE institutions.