Frequently Asked Questions

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Two-Spirit, and Queer. The plus (+) symbol is added as a way to be inclusive of all the different identities and expressions under the queer umbrella, including but not limited to Intersex, Asexual, Aromantic and Pansexual.

Gender identity is how an individual refers to and expresses themselves as either male, female, transgender or any other gender category. Sexual orientation on the other hand refers to the gender(s) that someone is emotionally, physically, romantically and/or sexually attracted to.

The term ‘queer’ has been historically used in a derogatory manner to describe someone who was homosexual. However, the LGBTQ2+ community began to take back and adopt the word ‘queer’ as a symbol of pride and is commonly used because of its inclusiveness. 'Queer' can be used to refer to the spectrum of non-heterosexual and/or non-cisgender people and can be a shorthand for 'LGBTQ2+'. However, it is important to note that not all trans people see trans identities as being part of the term 'queer', and it is important to acknowledge the different histories of queer and trans communities.

Acknowledging pronouns is a small way to support individuals with diverse gender identities and expressions. It increases LGBTQ2+ allyship among the KPU community and helps create a culture of inclusivity.

One way to ask someone which pronouns they use is to introduce yourself with your own pronouns. This way, they can introduce themselves back to you with their preferred pronouns. You can also listen to how other people are referring to that person and what pronouns they are using. You can also just ask the person what pronouns they use.

If you make a mistake and use an incorrect pronoun, just apologize, learn the correct pronoun, and move on.

Students - Students who want to change/update their legal or preferred name can be directed to contact Student Enrolment Services at www.kpu.ca/ses

Staff - Employees who want to change/update their legal or preferred name can be directed to contact their HR Associate. For a list of names of HR Associates, please visit HR's Contact Us page.

Students - Students who want to change/update their gender marker/sex designation can be directed to contact Student Enrolment Services at www.kpu.ca/ses

Staff - Employees who want to change/update their gender marker/sex designation can be directed to contact our HR Information Systems (HRIS) team through their general inbox at hris@kpu.ca. For a list of names of individuals who make up the HRIS team, they can visit HR's Contact Us page.

Yes, there are a number of gender neutral and inclusive washrooms on our five KPU campuses. For more information: please visit: 

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If you are experiencing discrimination or any issue associated with diversity and inclusivity, there are policies in place to protect you (HR 15 Diversity and Inclusivity Policy).

If you are a student, the KPU Student Rights and Responsibilities Office is a great resource to navigate issues if you feel your rights are being violated. They promote a community of care and respect, and administer KPU's Policy (ST7) Student Conduct (Non-Academic) and Policy (SR14) Sexualized Violence and Misconduct available at www.kpu.ca/policies. They are knowledgable about the rights of students which includes the right to pursue an education in an environment that is safe, secure and conducive to learning. Students have the right to be free from harrassment, sexual harrassment or violence, bullying or discrimination, indignity, injury or violence. Contact them at srr@kpu.ca 

If you are an employee, KPU's HR21 Respectful Workplace policy, the BCGEU Collective Agreement, and KFA Collective Agreement all outline options available to employees with a bullying, harrassment or discrimination concern. If you are unsure where to begin, start by contacting your Human Resources Business Partner, your BCGEU representative (for support staff), or KFA representative (for faculty). Employees can also reach out in confidence to Homewood Health, their Employee and Family Assistance Program provider, at 1-800-663-1142 or at www.homewoodhealth.com

For more information about Pride at KPU, please email pride@kpu.ca and let us know that you are interested in getting involved.