A multilingual dictionary featuring over 130 LGBTQIA+ terms to promote inclusion in European universities. The glossary, stemming from the Erasmus+ PrEcIOUS project, is available online for free and represents a fundamental tool for combating “invisible” discrimination in higher education institutions.
The Precious – Promoting pluralistic education in European universities to combat invisible discrimination related to LGBTQIA+ project addresses an alarming phenomenon that recent European research has revealed: according to the European Commission, 40% of LGBTQIA+ people have experienced discrimination during their lifetime, with 24% specifically in university settings. Even more concerning is the spread of invisible homophobia: 80% of teenagers don’t consider insulting or ridiculing others on social media to be serious, whilst 82% believe the consequences for victims aren’t severe.
The University of Siena (coordinator), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Jagiellonian University of Kraków, University of Klaipėda, and OpenCom Italia have collaborated on this initiative. The objective is ambitious: to create a European network of “non-discriminatory” universities that go beyond simply having a diverse student body to promote a truly inclusive culture.
At the heart of the project’s results stands a multilingual glossary (see link at the end of the article) that brings together over 130 fundamental terms for understanding LGBTQIA+ issues. The resource encompasses a wide range of concepts, including sexual orientation, gender identity, forms of discrimination, and human rights. Structured alphabetically, it includes essential definitions such as “Ally/LGBTQIA+ Allyship”, “Gender fluid”, “Intersectionality”, “Microaggressions”, through to more specific terms like “Neopronouns” and “SOGIESC” (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics).
What makes the PrEcIOUS project unique is its focus on “invisible” discrimination – that subtle form of prejudice which often goes unnoticed but can have devastating effects on LGBTQIA+ students’ wellbeing. The glossary represents the first step of a broader journey that includes a transversal skills framework for non-discriminatory citizens, an implicit test to measure prejudices with green, amber, and red levels, a digital platform for training, and practical guidelines for universities.
As the project coordinators emphasise, this is no longer about simply having “a diversified student body”, but about moving beyond the concept of “special inclusion” to embrace “plurality”. The glossary, available in English, Italian, Greek, Polish, and Lithuanian, provides the common linguistic foundation for this cultural transformation. Each entry is designed for use in educational, administrative, and research contexts, promoting cultural diversity, interculturality, and respect for every form of identity.
The ultimate goal involves university rectors signing a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a “European pluralistic community among non-discriminatory and sustainable universities.” The PrEcIOUSglossary is not merely a consultation tool. Still, a manifesto for fairer and more inclusive European higher education, where diversity becomes wealth and plurality becomes a resource for the entire academic community.
To consult the complete glossary: https://preciousproject.eu/glossary-2/