Staff and students may be aware of a homophobic attack in Southampton on Saturday, on two actors who were due to perform in Nuffield Southampton Theatres (NST) production of ROTTERDAM. The performance, which was set to take place at our NST venue on Highfield Campus, was cancelled following the incident.
Professor Mark Spearing, President and Vice-Chancellor (Interim) says:
“I am shocked and saddened by this truly appalling and reprehensible incident. Our University does not and will not tolerate violence and discrimination against the LGBT+ community. We all have a role to play in making our University a place where LGBT+ staff, students and visitors feel welcome and safe.”
Hampshire Police are calling for witnesses so if you saw anything to do with the incident, please report it here.
As a member of our University community, there is always support available to you. You can find a list of relevant links below:
- The Security Team
- The LGBT+ Pulse Staff Network
- SUSU LGBT+ Society
- Hampshire Constabulary LAGLOs (Lesbian and Gay Liason Officers)
As a collective, our Staff Network Chairs Andrew Landells and Sam Berry (Pulse LGBT+), Gwen Gordon (Shine BAME Staff Network), Lisa Hanley (Parents’ and Carers Staff Network), and Dr Dawn-Marie Walker (WiSET+) said:
“We are shocked and deeply saddened by the news of the homophobic attack on the Rotterdam play actors over the weekend. This criminal behaviour has no place in modern-day society and highlights the necessity for events like pride where the whole community stands together to support LGBT+ rights. To combat these intolerant views, we must all work together by challenging homophobic comments and reporting hate crimes and incidents we encounter to the police.”
