{"id":2062,"date":"2024-05-30T21:30:52","date_gmt":"2024-05-30T20:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/engagement-and-impact\/?p=2062"},"modified":"2025-03-28T14:49:58","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T14:49:58","slug":"innovative-tool-empowers-lgbtq-travellers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/engagement-and-impact\/innovative-tool-empowers-lgbtq-travellers\/","title":{"rendered":"Innovative tool empowers LGBTQ+ travellers"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A new online travel tool, developed by University of Reading law researchers, is helping organisations develop policies for LGBTQ+ international travel and empowering individuals to check their employer’s safeguards. Addressing a major policy gap and endorsed by advocacy and education organisations, the tool is being adopted by organisations across the UK.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/aD344LCcfFA” el_width=”80″][vc_column_text]Staff who engage in globalisation benefit from increased career progression, but LGBTQ+ individuals often face challenges to their welfare and safety due to varying legal and cultural landscapes when travelling. Only 17% of universities have policies expressly addressing LGBTQ+ welfare in international travel.<\/p>\n

The free \u201cLGBTQ+ International Travel for Work Policy Development Tool\u201d was created by Dr Frances Hamilton, and research assistant, Tahlia-Rose Virdee in the School of Law. It fills a crucial void in safeguarding by helping organisations develop policies addressing the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals crossing international borders. It also empowers individuals to check if their employer has relevant safeguards in place, providing tailored recommendations through blending original research, practical solutions and lived experience.<\/p>\n

The tool\u2019s impact has been swift and signals a transformative shift in LGBTQ+ inclusivity. Twenty-seven universities across the UK, including the University of Reading, are using the tool to evaluate their policies. Endorsement from Stonewall, Pride in STEM, Advance HE, the University and College Union, Department for Education, and invitations from the Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN), highlight the tool\u2019s significance.<\/p>\n

Further outreach work is ongoing with potential business partners and invitations to present have been received by the Universities Health and Safety Committee, Society for Research into Higher Education and global conferences. Further funding has been secured and will be used to evaluate use of the tool to date to inform improvements. A further 45 interviews with LGBTQ+ academics nationwide will provide a more robust account of challenges faced by LGBTQ+ persons when engaging in international travel, with intersectional factors addressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis work can help institutions to look at what they can, need, should do in relation to posting staff internationally and \/ or setting up international campuses. It can also help people get awareness of position for LGBT+ in different countries. There is very little work, if any, done in this area.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Seth Atkin, Universities and Colleges Union\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Judges\u2019 comment<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAn impressive project that represents a thoughtful and important intervention in response to a demonstrable need which has had immediate take up by UK universities and wider engagement beyond HE demonstrating the tool\u2019s significance.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Partners<\/strong><\/p>\n