Homophobic Abuse at University Had Long Lasting Effects

by John
(Peterborough, England)

I am writing to the blog to relate a serious incident of bullying that I experienced while a student at University. I was subjected to repeated sexual harassment and unpleasantness from staff members of the American Studies and English departments. The main ring leader was a respected female member of staff. Despite having occurred some years ago 1992-1993 I am still suffering trauma and upset through this unresolved matter, and have never received any apology regarding their conduct.

The tutors' attacks took the form of belittling sexual remarks, and fostered such a degree of hostility that it had a detrimental effect on study. The staff members named sought to turn any comments made during tutorial lessons into an opportunity to make disparaging and unpleasant comments about my sexuality. The ringleader worked back to back with other female tutors, and provoked a campaign of homophobic remarks.

Beginning in one tutorial lesson (Feb 1992), her confidante referred to me as a "nonce" in front of a whole classroom of students. When I attempted to stick up for myself, the bullying increased.

A male colleague of the ringleader used the word "homosexual" in answer to a simple query I made in one of his lessons about sexuality, in a hostile manner. I feel that the pejorative sense of the word was used.

During my final autumn term of 1992 I had taken part in the Fresher's mart and had been a member of the University Gay and Lesbian society. This had included personal safety alarms for women. Our aim was to foster an enlightened attitude towards gay people. Unfortunately, the efforts to help students dealing with gay feelings were then effectively destroyed by the actions of the members of staff.
The main tutor's initial comments about me included that I "lacked confidence" and that I "mumbled" when I talk. During the same autumn term of 1992 to 1993 she attended a tutorial with part of her breasts exposed to students. She arranged for me to do a presentation for her Specialist subject, supplying key books, and handed me a tape with song titles where she had scribbled the words "John are you getting married?" at the bottom of the list.


On giving the oral presentation she twisted a comment I made into a joke about small male private parts, with the aim of making me look silly in front of a whole classroom of students.

When, two weeks later, I apologised due to an absence caused by having to attend a family funeral, she remarked if it was an "important uncle" who had died.
On entering her house where she had invited students for food, she waited until everybody had sat down and proceeded to launch into a series of nasty verbal attacks, designed to humiliate me in front of other students.

On talking about a famous star, Michael Jackson, whom I had specifically mentioned in a previous tutorial, she remarked:
"Man that can't make it with a woman."
She then made further comments about male to male sexual activities:
"Men masturbating men." "AIDS"

I feel that these were extremely unpleasant comments, and I had done nothing to deserve this hostility. During exactly this same period I had been a student on the psychoanalytic theory and film and feminism course hosted by another respected female lecturer. We had been led to believe that there would be intelligent discussion about such matters, but these were then effectively eradicated by the main tutor's confidante. On discussing the subject of gay people, the lecturer retorted with a one word comment, "Cruising" with reference to a film, which has very unpleasant connotations.

By the beginning of the following year 1993, the main tutor in question had elicited the help of another male colleague who called me a "wimp" in front of a whole classroom of students. She later ran in front of me, and smiled wordlessly as she headed into the ladies toilet.

I feel that the lecturers were playing 'psychological rape games', and indulging in immature behaviour. As a gay student at University I had to deal with unpleasant bullying from members of the student population, but never imagined that respected members of staff could also be responsible for such abusive and damaging behaviour. Their actions make it impossible for a student, dealing with either physical or psychological bullying, to feel safe in lodging a complaint.