The Network of Universities for Diversity receives the Special Mention in the Feathers and Whips awards

David Viera

This past November 18, the distinction of 'Special Mention' was awarded to the University Diversity Network by the FELGTB, a state NGO that brings together a common project of more than 57 LGTBIQ+ entities, being one of the national references of the movement. The RUD is an organization made up of more than thirty Spanish universities united to defend diversity and its inclusion in universities. The URJC plays the role of co-coordinator of the organization together with the University of Alicante.

These awards were created with the intention of rewarding and recognizing the effort and commitment of individuals, organizations and initiatives that stand out in defending the rights of LGTBIQ+ people and promoting the visibility of the group. These awards represent the second most prominent event for the LGTBIQ+ community, after Pride Day. The person in charge of collecting the award was Miguel Ángel López, head of the Diversity Unit of the URJC, a department that seeks to apply LGTBIQ+ principles and rights at the university.

“We wanted to highlight and thank the awarding of the award and the way of promoting everything that encompasses the field of diversity within the university environment,” declares Miguel Ángel López. In turn, the RUD expressed its concern about the LGTBIQ+ reform project proposed by the city council of the Community of Madrid and about the current conflict situation in the Gaza Strip.

“This recognition granted to the RUD is also a compliment to the work done to the URJC, highlighting its intersectional perspective on diversity,” says the coordinator, stating that the context of hate present in society is a compelling reason to continue working in promote diversity and seek the creation of a fair society for all.

In this context, the participation of the URJC in the Third Meeting of the Network of Universities for Diversity, held in Alicante and Elche, also stands out, where topics related to policies for attention to the university population of diverse origins or the promotion of sexual and gender diversity policies. In this sense, the work of the URJC in promoting awards for TFG, TFM and doctoral theses of this nature stands out.