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LGBTIQ+

Universität Basel, Diversity & Inclusion, LGBTIQ+
Universität Basel, Diversity & Inclusion, LGBTIQ+

For the appreciation and support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, inter and other queer persons (LGBTIQ+) as well as to protect this Community against discrimination the University of Basel promotes the visibility and recognition of gender and sexual diversity.

We are committed to designing strategies and structures that disclose, eliminate and prevent discrimination. At the University of Basel, all individuals, regardless of their backgrounds of experience and life situations, should find a place where they can learn, teach and work without discrimination.

We perceive the diversity of university members as a great potential for innovation and therefore do not tolerate any discrimination in the context of gender identity and sexual orientation. 


 

Mailing List LGBTIQ+

The LGBTIQ+ mailing list provides the latest news on LGBTIQ+ matters at the university, as well as opportunities to network and share information with one another. Join our mailing list!
 

News

21

MAY

2026

12.15 p.m. – 1.45 p.m.

LGBTIQ+ on Campus – from Awareness to Allyship

How inclusive are Swiss universities for LGBTIQ+ students and staff? What experiences do queer members of the university community have in their daily academic and professional lives?

The speakers will present data and findings from recent studies and surveys, provide basic knowledge on gender and sexual diversity, and invite students, faculty, and staff from the University of Basel to learn more about the importance of awareness, allyship, and support services.

The talk will be given in German spoken language.

Speakers: Dorian Mittner and Lea Graf (both from Bern University of Applied Sciences, BFH)

Dorian Mittner, studies in psychology, has conducted research examining the interplay between work and personal life, health, and well-being. Dorian’s expertise lies in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion, LGBTIQ+ issues, digital communication, and organizational development. Dorian aims to bridge the gaps between research and practice in order to make the workplace of tomorrow more inclusive.

Lea Graf, studies in business economics, social economics, and social work, is working on inclusive social systems, LGBTIAQ+ diversity and inclusion, as well as on promoting inclusion in organizational settings, education, and healthcare. Lea furthermore volunteers for geplaper.ch.

Place: Kollegienhaus (exact location will be emailed on the day before the event) | Registration follows

Currently for Pride Month:

Visit our digital exhibition: Queere Personen in Wissenschaft und Forschung

You can also experience the exhibition in full screen here:

Digital Exhibition: Queere Personen in Wissenschaft und Forschung

Sexual Orientation

Sexual orientation is independent of gender indentity and describes which gender someone is sexually attracted to.


Some people are attracted to other genders (heterosexual), others to their own (gay), and for some, multiple genders are attractive (bisexual). This has always been the case - at all times and in all cultures: sexuality is diverse.

Gender Diversity

The topic of gender is multidimensional and it is important to differentiate certain levels.

Physical sex includes external and internal sex organs, gonads, hormones, chromosomes and other secondary sex characteristics. In most cases, sex is assigned at birth based on the primary sex organs, which then becomes a person's official sex (assigned sex).

Gender identity (gender) is a person's sense (inner knowing) of themselves as male or female (or in between):

  • trans

    The term trans refers to people whose gender identity does not match, or does not fully match, the gender they were assigned at birth. This includes people who do not want to or are unable to come out or do not seek to transition. The terms transgender or trans identity are also used; the term 'transsexuality' is outdated and is often perceived as discriminatory because it is linked to the pathologization of trans people.

    A trans woman was classified as a boy at birth, a trans man as a girl; however, these classifications do not correspond to the inner knowledge of these persons.

    Trans people deal with their gender identity very differently. Regardless of how clearly they appear as male or female in their outward appearance, how "masculine" or "feminine" they behave, or whether they have sought medical intervention: Trans people are all those who do not clearly identify with the gender identity assigned to them at birth.

    The names and pronouns preferred by trans people should be respected and used by all, even in their absence.

      • Die Universität Basel unterstützt das Projekt trans welcome.
        Die Universität Basel unterstützt das Projekt trans welcome. link.zoom

    The term trans refers to people whose gender identity does not match, or does not fully match, the gender they were assigned at birth. This includes people who do not want to or are unable to come out or do not seek to transition. The terms transgender or trans identity are also used; the term 'transsexuality' is outdated and is often perceived as discriminatory because it is linked to the pathologization of trans people.

    A trans woman was classified as a boy at birth, a trans man as a girl; however, these classifications do not correspond to the inner knowledge of these persons.

    Trans people deal with their gender identity very differently. Regardless of how clearly they appear as male or female in their outward appearance, how "masculine" or "feminine" they behave, or whether they have sought medical intervention: Trans people are all those who do not clearly identify with the gender identity assigned to them at birth.

    The names and pronouns preferred by trans people should be respected and used by all, even in their absence.

    Links & Downloads

  • intersex

    The term intersex gathers under itself people with intersex physicalities. Intersex persons are born with physical sex characteristics that are female and male at the same time, not quite female or male, or neither female nor male. Congenital variations in sex characteristics may be differentially expressed, at the level of internal and/or external genitalia. In many cases, the chromosomes and hormonal structure then do not conform to social and medical expectations. Intersexuality can show up at birth, but also at puberty or later in life.

    The term intersex gathers under itself people with intersex physicalities. Intersex persons are born with physical sex characteristics that are female and male at the same time, not quite female or male, or neither female nor male. Congenital variations in sex characteristics may be differentially expressed, at the level of internal and/or external genitalia. In many cases, the chromosomes and hormonal structure then do not conform to social and medical expectations. Intersexuality can show up at birth, but also at puberty or later in life.

    Links & Downloads

  • Non binär

    Non-binary people feel neither male nor female. Their gender identity can have masculine or feminine parts, can lie somewhere in between, or locates itself outside of these categories. The term genderqueer is also used synonymously. In some countries (e.g. Germany and Austria), there is a third gender option at the level of official gender in addition to the categories of man and woman in the civil status register.

    Non-binary people feel neither male nor female. Their gender identity can have masculine or feminine parts, can lie somewhere in between, or locates itself outside of these categories. The term genderqueer is also used synonymously. In some countries (e.g. Germany and Austria), there is a third gender option at the level of official gender in addition to the categories of man and woman in the civil status register.

    more about non-binary:

  • Cis

    The term cis people, names all those whose gender identity corresponds to the sex they were assigned at birth. Cis people also have a gender identity and use pronouns, but often these aspects are not addressed because they conform to societal expectations.

    The term cis people, names all those whose gender identity corresponds to the sex they were assigned at birth. Cis people also have a gender identity and use pronouns, but often these aspects are not addressed because they conform to societal expectations.

LGBTIQ+ at the University of Basel

Links & Downloads

Further information

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