“Leave no one behind: equality, freedom and justice for all”: this is the motto adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 2024 to celebrate the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia and to contribute to the end of discrimination – by raising awareness and taking action for respect and equality for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and sexual characteristics.
As the UN acknowledges that “deeply-embedded homophobic and transphobic attitudes and social norms leave many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) people extremely vulnerable to discrimination”, NOVA is joining this important celebration to once more promote the values of equality, inclusion and the struggle against discrimination within its community.
“NOVA will not tolerate any situations of prejudice or exclusion, and has adopted concrete measures such as the Whistleblower Portal and the Code of Conduct for Preventing and Combating Harassment and Discrimination, which expressly reject discrimination based on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression”, says João Sàágua, Rector of NOVA University Lisbon.
To highlight this date, NOVA’s National School of Public Health (ENSP NOVA) is organising the round table “Health for All: a look at the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ in health services” moderated by Professor Gonçalo Figueiredo Augusto, on 17th May at 3pm in the Auditorium Coriolano Ferreira.
Also on 17th May, at 12:30 pm, Professor Paulo Côrte Real will lead the discussion focusing Audre Lorde`s “The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action” at the Teresa e Alexandre Soares dos Santos Library at NOVA School of Business and Economics (Nova SBE).
It’s worth mentioning that the defence of the rights of LGBTQIA+ people is already mobilising NOVA`s Student Clubs and Groups, such as NOVA Pride Association and Núcleo Pride.