Homophobic posts create uni fear

Students at a University of Auckland residential facility feel their safety is threatened after a series of anonymous homophobic and transphobic posts online.

The posts have appeared in two places relating to Carlaw Park Student Village: a Facebook page titled “Carlaw Confessions 2021” and an online survey sent to residents regarding the formation of a Pride group at the hall, which is for undergraduate and postgraduate students who are not high-school leavers.

Posts on the now-deleted Facebook page called the gay community “perverted” and said nonbinary identifying persons were “just narcissistic people wanting to feel special by claiming they are [transgender] when they’re actually not”. There was one post written directly to “my transphobic brothers”, claiming the page administrator “is on our side”.

Lily Chen, who identifies as queer and lives in the hall of residence, said the posts made her feel “threatened”. She said since the page was deleted about a fortnight ago, similar comments had been made through a Carlaw-affiliated survey seeking responses to the formation of a Pride group. A university spokesperson confirmed that the group was supported by staff.

A transgender student said it was “worrying” people would take the time to write such posts. The student said complaints had been made but no action was taken beyond the “accommodation team”.

With new messages on a different platform, the student felt the university had “a responsibility to address” the situation. The student said it was a “potential safety issue” because the people “sending these messages can hide who they are but many members of the LGBTQ+ [community] cannot, nor should they have to”.

The survey is directly affiliated with Carlaw. It is understood the university is aware of those additional comments.

But the spokesperson said it was disappointing that Carlaw residents could be “espousing ideas that are harmful to others”.