Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The University will not tolerate discrimination because a person is lesbian, gay or bisexual. You don't necessarily have to be gay, lesbian, or bisexual to be discriminated against. However, you are more likely to be a target if your appearance, manners, conduct, dress, or beliefs are presumed to be lesbian, gay, or bisexual in nature.

Examples of discrimination based on sexual orientation include:

• denying raises, benefits, promotions, or performance evaluations on the basis of the person’s sexual orientation
• preventing any person from using University facilities or services because of that person's real or suspected sexual orientation
• denying a person access to any educational program based on a person’s sexual orientation
• harassing or retaliating against an employee for filing a complaint or helping another person file a complaint of discrimination based on sexual orientation
• engaging in or sanctioning continuing discriminatory conduct, unrelated to the academic discussion in a course or class, thus creating a hostile environment for individual students in that class.

How can you help combat discrimination based on sexual orientation?
It's important to understand that because of social and cultural biases, many people directly affected by discrimination based on sexual orientation have been reluctant to report discriminatory behavior directed at them. Moreover, they may have found little support and no easy access to any informal or formal means of redress in the past. And many have been afraid that complaining might lead to further discrimination such as ostracism, absence of promotions, or refusal to provide good letters of reference.