Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Campus

‘University can be a safe area for LGBT’

Purple socks, scarves, ties, or complete purple outfits. TrueU, the LGBT network at TU Delft calls on the TU Delft community to wear something purple next Friday. Applied Sciences researcher and TrueU member, Stephen Eustace, explains why.

Stephen Eustace: "Here at the TU Delft I can be completely open about who I am."

Why is it important to TrueU to have a Wear it Purple Day?

“On the one hand, you might think it is unnecessary here at TU Delft to raise awareness about LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender). On the other hand, it remains important for all students in Delft to see that being different is accepted. At university we are all adults, of course, but for students from religious backgrounds especially it is important to know that university can be a safe area.”


Is that not widely known already?

“At TU Delft we have students from all kinds of cultures and religious backgrounds, from the Dutch Bible belt for instance. I know from personal experience from a relationship with an Eastern European that homosexuality is not spoken about there. It is taboo, everything is hidden.”


Where was that?

“My ex was from Bosnia. Going there was like putting one foot back in the closet again. You are invited there as the ‘best friend’. It makes things very, very awkward. I also have experience in Ukraine. Homosexuality is not illegal there, but is not widely accepted and is therefore underground. I can imagine that for students from similar cultures Wear it Purple Day makes LGBT visible and acceptable. Western Europe itself has come a long way as well. I am from Ireland and it was a very proud moment for me when the Marriage Equality Act was passed by popular vote in 2015.”


‘It would be a nice support if everybody would wear purple’


Could you tell me more about your background?

“I am an organic chemist and worked in industry for years. I have been working at TU Delft since April 2015. I look after the NMR facilities (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) in the Reactor Institute Delft and in the faculty building in TU Delft South. That does not strike you as a gay profession, does it?” [laughs]


A gay profession?

“There are these gay stereotypes: the hairdresser, the air steward. TrueU makes students see that we are not all hairdressers or air stewards. No, we are scientists, designers or supporting staff at a university. TrueU started last year. I think it is a nice idea to get together with other LGBT employees from university. We had a Coming Out Day a while ago. It was like a mini gay pride: to be proud, to show your face. Here at the TU Delft I can be completely open about who I am.”



What will you be wearing on Friday 8 December?

“I have not decided yet. I have two purple sweaters and a purple shirt I bought for Wear it Purple Day last year.”


What should others wear?

“That is up to them. It would be a nice support if everybody would wear purple. This shows in a subtle way that you support us. You can also support us in a less subtle way by coming to café Wijnhaven that evening between 6 and 9 PM to have a purple beer with us. What do they use to turn the beer purple? As a chemist I could examine it, but I don’t think I want to know!” [laughs]


Also read (in Dutch): ‘Homoseksualiteit zichtbaar maken aan de TU’

Editor in chief Saskia Bonger

Do you have a question or comment about this article?

s.m.bonger@tudelft.nl

Comments are closed.