MORE than three-quarters of LGBT+ staff have considered leaving higher education in the face of “widespread discrimination,” according to a report published yesterday.

Released by the University and College Union (UCU), the study suggests that 30 per cent have experienced homophobic language and that 29 per cent believe promotion criteria negatively impacts LGBT+ workers. 

Titled Challenging LGBT+ Exclusion in UK Higher Education, it presents findings from a pilot survey carried out by the union with the Sussex, Kent, Essex and Glasgow Caledonian universities.

Its authors analysed responses from 122 LGBT+ staff at six universities across England, Scotland and Wales.

A key finding was that 47 per cent had experienced mental health issues, and that 41 per cent had experienced burnout.

Every black respondent reported either personal discriminatory experiences or having witnessed derogatory language towards others.

Of those identifying as women, non-binary or other, 26 per cent, 25 per cent and 33 per cent respectively had witnessed derogatory language towards other staff.

Initial recommendations include clear messaging from institutions that staff should not be subject to homophobic or transphobic treatment, and the developing of campaigns for mental health, centring the experiences of black LGBT+, trans and non-binary people.

Further recommendations will be made in January after further research and consultation with LGBT+ staff, the union said.

Jenny Sherrard, the UCU’s head of equality and policy, said: “These findings should make sober reading for university management.

“UCU is determined to end homophobia, biphobia and transphobia within academia, but there is clearly a lot of work to do before universities become inclusive spaces for LGBT+ staff.

“Key to any progress will be recognising that meaningful LGBT+ inclusion is bound up with wider struggles linked to job insecurity, health and wellbeing and decolonisation.”

The Department for Education was invited to comment.