Cambridge college bans LGBT flags in student halls
Jesus College denies stifling free expression as it threatens eviction for those flying Pride banners
Students have been flying the flags from their windows at Jesus College
Credit: SWNS
A Cambridge University college has threatened students with eviction if they do not remove LGBT flags and political posters from their windows.
Jesus College emailed students earlier this week asking them to remove all posters, flags or banners displayed inside or outside college accommodation. This includes rainbow Pride flags left hanging outside college properties in the wake of LGBT+ History Month in March.
Jesus College in Cambridge University (/Heritage Images/Getty)
A Cambridge university college has threatened its students with eviction if they refuse to remove flags, including LGBT+ Pride flags, from their windows.
Jesus College ordered students to take down all flags left hanging in or outside college properties after LGBT+ History Month in March.
The warning also applies to other decorations, including Labour and “climate justice” posters, but “LGBTQ+ flags and banners” were specifically singled out. Students are ordinarily prohibited from flying any flags for “safety and maintenance reasons”, but this rule was waived for March. However, the abruptness was described as leaving a “sour taste” in the mouths of queer students.
One of Cambridge University s most prestigious colleges has upset LGBTQ+ students and Labour and climate justice campaigners after they were threatened with eviction for displaying political posters and rainbow Pride flags.
Several undergraduates at Jesus College received an email this week asking them to remove all posters, flags or banners displayed inside or outside the college accommodation by the end of today.
This includes rainbow Pride flags left hanging outside college properties in the wake of LGBT+ History Month in March, and small, A4-sized political posters promoting the Labour party stuck in the corners of windows.
And the email, sent by Jesus College, has threatened students that their accommodation licence agreement may be terminated if they do not remove the flags and posters.
Several students at Jesus College received an email yesterday (20/04) asking them to remove “any poster, flag or banner [displayed] internally or externally” from their College property. This includes posters relating to any political parties, Pride flags, and divestment posters from Jesus College Climate Justice Campaign (JCCJC).
According to the email, if students do not remove the posters, flags or banners, they could face eviction.
The email read: “As you are aware it is a breach of the terms of your Licence agreement to display any poster, flag or banner internally or externally from the Property.
“The College will take further action if you fail to put right the breach, which could ultimately result in the Licence agreement being terminated in line with Clause 6.1.”