Sexual Orientation
Imperial College strives to be a safe space for you to be yourself.
No matter of your gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation, you should always feel able to tell whoever you want without the fear of homophobia or any forms of discrimination. Outside College, most forms of homophobia are outlawed and the UK is generally an accepting place however, there will always be those who don't fully agree with the freedom we have in this country.
Staying safe
Be careful, London is a very accepting and forward thinking city, but there will always be those who aren't. Because of our diverse culture at Imperial & throughout the city, there's always the chance that people won't see eye to eye. Homophobic hate crime in Kensington & Chelsea has risen by over 60% in the past year (2009 - 2010) which means it's more important than ever that victims of hate crime report it, so that positive action can be taken against offenders.
The Law
In the UK, it is illegal to discriminate against a person based on their sexuality. This includes everything from provisions of services (i.e. refusing a double room in a hotel to a same sex couple) to all forms of homophobic hate crimes. Charities such as Stonewall have been campaigning for many years for equality and their website has plenty of information on equality law in the UK.
Support at Imperial for LGBT People
Whether you're having a problem with homophobia, want help coming out or just want to meet more like-minded people, there are plenty of ways to get support at Imperial. IQ is the Imperial College LGBT society and they run all sorts of social events throughout the year from a monthly book club to targeted recruitment events to help you find an LGBT friendly employer. IQ make an annual guide called Out & About (A freshers guide to Gay London) which contains loads of information about pubs, clubs and other support outside of college such as sexual health clinics and LGBT specific counselling and support groups.
Out and About 09-10 The College also offers a counselling service which is freely available to all students.