Farida Iqbal
Most Australian universities have a queer space — a space that is safe from homophobia and is used to organise queer rights campaigns, socialise and obtain referrals to services. These are vital spaces, helping to ameliorate the effects of homophobia and isolation, which result in queer youth attempting suicide up to seven times more often than heterosexual youth.
Toowoomba University lacks a queer space, and students voiced their discontent about this at the Queer Collaborations conference held at the College of Fine Arts in Sydney on July 3-7.
Donna Markwell told Green Left Weekly, "We applied for a queer space directly through the uni and were told that there was simply no room. We've had lots of intimidation and marginalisation by student religious groups. They take down our [queer club] posters and refuse to acknowledge our presence.
"We don't have regular club meetings because we've got nowhere to go; it's very intrusive going into people's homes. And due to insurance requirements, we can't book classrooms at the times available for meetings.
"Everyone in the club would like to see a space on campus to go to. But in order for us to get a space, straight people need to show support for it."
Markwell explained that the queer club is also conducting an anti-homophobia campaign to "try to get positive visibility on campus" and strengthen support for a queer space. The queer departments at Griffith University and the University of Queensland, as well as the National Union of Students and Resistance, have all offered to support the Toowoomba queer space campaign.
From Green Left Weekly, July 19, 2006.
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