To mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, the University of Liège is highlighting four research projects related to LGBTQIA+ issues and reaffirming its commitment to combating all forms of discrimination and violence based on gender or sexual orientation.
To support this commitment, the University is raising the LGBTQIA+ flag on its various campuses. This initiative holds significant symbolic value and is linked to concrete actions throughout the year. The , which focuses on combating harassment and promoting respect for diversity , is indeed a strong commitment by the ULiège administration.
Stop Harassment!
Trusted advisors and psychologists are available to listen, in complete confidentiality, to reports or calls for help in cases of harassment, violence, or disrespect.
Furthermore, procedures ranging from mediation to disciplinary action are in place to put an end to inappropriate behavior. Such behavior can be reported via the following addresses: harcelement.personnel@uliege.be / harcelement.etudiant@uliege.be.
To mark this awareness day, ULiège is also highlighting four research projects dedicated to LGBTQIA+ themes: voice, housing, health, and queer museology. Four scientific perspectives to better understand lived realities and advance knowledge.
Research conducted at ULiège, within the RUCHE research unit, and more specifically within the voice therapy unit, focuses on understanding and supporting the voice in its biological, social, and identity-related dimensions. For over 15 years, special attention has been given to LGBTQIA+ issues through the development of trans-affirmative voice care.
The voice plays a key role in gender recognition. After chest surgery, it is the second most common concern expressed by many trans people. Immediately noticeable in social interactions, it can be a source of well-being or, conversely, of suffering when it does not align with one’s identity. In some cases, this issue becomes a priority in care.
The research by Antoine Henrotin and Dominique Morsomme (*) aims to better understand how the voice is perceived and how it can be adjusted in a respectful and personalized manner. The goal is not to “normalize” voices, but to allow everyone to develop a voice that aligns with their goals and life experiences.
They are developing innovative approaches, notably “ ” via virtual reality and real-time voice biofeedback , enabling training in situations close to real life. These tools foster confidence and the integration of vocal skills into daily life. Methodologically, they also prioritize community-based research, co-constructing knowledge with those directly affected, as evidenced by the UniCité project.
This work is part of a broader reflection on gender norms and inclusive practices. It helps improve access to care, train professionals, and raise awareness of the realities experienced by LGBTQIA+ people, through collaborations with, notably, Ghent University.
This commitment extends to cultural and societal initiatives. The interdisciplinary group Parole & Écriture, co-founded with writer Geneviève Damas, emerged from the intersection of clinical practice and literary creation, with the aim of breaking down isolation and rebuilding connections. It brings together cis, trans, and gender-diverse individuals in a space for sharing and expression.
An artist from Liège donated a bust- ing a trans woman——to the Parole & Écriture group. Following this donation, the group made a collective decision to entrust it to ULiège’s outdoor contemporary art collection, in order to promote its visibility in the public space and place it in a setting conducive to its exhibition. Unveiled in May 2025 on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, this gesture is part of an effort to recognize and combat the violence still experienced by transgender people.
* Logopécare: Philosophical-ethical contribution to gender-affirming vocal care
Dominique Morsomme is a speech-language pathologist, vocologist, and full professor at the University of Liège, specializing in the voice. She directs the Voice Unit (ULV) as well as the RUCHE research unit (Research Unit for a Life-Course Perspective on Health and Education). Her work focuses on the assessment and care of the voice, particularly in transgender contexts.
Antoine Henrotin is a FRESH-FNRS doctoral student affiliated with ULiège since February 2026. His dissertation explores trans-affirmative voice care through the lens of medical humanities, gender studies, and participatory science. More specifically, it aims to better understand and operationalize therapeutic objectives. His advisors are Dominique Morsomme (voice speech therapy, RUCHE) and Florence Caeymaex (ethics and medical humanities, Traverse).
As part of his doctoral thesis at ULiège, Maxence Ouafik sought to improve our understanding of the health of men belonging to a sexual minority. To do so, he analyzed the factors influencing their health and how these factors interact with one another.
The value of this research lies in re-situating the health of men belonging to a sexual minority within the social context that gives rise to medical problems. The objective was alsoto elucidate the mechanisms through which the various identified factors (loneliness, self-esteem, depression, suicidal ideation and thoughts, low social support, and sexual risk-taking) reinforce one another.
Maxence Ouafik drew on the concept of “syndemic,” derived from medical anthropology, which aims to understand how social factors produce health problems and how these problems reinforce one another in marginalized populations.
The originality of this study, beyond its theoretical framework, lay in its focus on the health of trans and cis men who have relationships with other men. Maxence Ouafik was thus able to assess the similarities and differences between a mixed group in terms of gender identity (cis versus trans) united by a shared minority sexuality.
This study highlighted the following findings:
It is important to note that, even though prevalence rates are high, the population cannot be considered inherently at risk, nor can it be assumed that the risk is distributed uniformly across the entire study population.
In terms of practical application, this study suggests that self-esteem is an important therapeutic avenue in psychotherapy, which must be combined with improvements in the current healthcare system—which remains largely inadequate—as well as peer support practices in mental health (a recovery pathway based on mutual support among people who have experienced similar situations and/or who are still part of a stigmatized or minority group).
Despite having one of the most progressive legal frameworks in Europe, LGBTQIA+ people continue to face forms of vulnerability that are often invisible. Research conducted at the University of Liège on access to housing and healthcare highlights this paradox.
Under the supervision of Prof. Geoffrey Grandjean, Loïc Perrin and Juliette Renard conducted an exploratory study across Wallonia, based on more than 60 hours of interviews with field professionals and affected individuals. The goal: to document realities that have yet to be thoroughly studied in Belgium, particularly the specific challenges faced by sexual and gender minorities in these two areas essential to human dignity.
Their research reveals, in particular, the existence of an “invisible homelessness,” such as couch surfing ( living temporarily with family members or friends), which particularly affects LGBTQIA+ youth following family breakdowns. This phenomenon is exacerbated by the lack of specialized shelters. In fact, there are only two shelters dedicated to these minorities, in Liège and Charleroi.
Their work also reveals, despite current legislation, the persistence of discrimination by landlords renting out properties.
In the health sector, their research highlights two issues: LGBTQIA+ individuals are in poorer overall health, and their care is often inadequate. The reason: healthcare systems are still largely designed according to cisgender and heterosexual norms.
For example, a person who undergoes administrative transition before medical transition will no longer be eligible for reimbursement for certain medical services.
Beyond this observation, this research thoroughly examines the gap between formal rights and lived realities. The legal framework is evolving, but this does not mean that discrimination is disappearing.
This research also helps shed light on mechanisms of precariousness that remain largely invisible and offers concrete recommendations, such as rent control, closer coordination between night shelters and LGBTQIA+ organizations, and improved training for healthcare professionals.
Juliette Renard holds a Ph.D. in political and social sciences. She now works as an administrative assistant in the research department of the Faculty of Law, Political Science, and Criminology.
Loïc Perrin is a doctoral candidate in political and social sciences, funded by the FNRS. He researches cultural policies in Belgium and the multifaceted connections between art, territory, and urbanity.
Geoffrey Grandjean is a professor at the Faculty of Law, Political Science, and Criminology at the University of Liège. He is also a research associate at the Sciences Po Paris Law School. His research and teaching focus on Belgian and European political history and political institutions.
Emerging in the 2010s, queer museology examines the connections between museums and queer and LGBTQIA+ themes, identities, and political practices. This discipline draws on the intersections between the critical queer perspective and contemporary museum issues. Western museums are increasingly questioning their relationships with audiences, particularly those from marginalized communities. These inquiries have led to the integration of events addressing queer and LGBTQIA+ themes into museum activities.
As part of his thesis **, Noah Meunier analyzed the various ways in which Belgian museums address queer and LGBTQIA+ themes. Conducted across 26 museums and cultural institutions, his analysis demonstrates that it is possible to address LGBTQIA+ and queer issues within every aspect of museum operations: education, curation, exhibition and event programming, as well as institutional policy (internal operations, hiring practices, ethical guidelines, etc.).
This thesis also emphasizes that the sustainability of efforts within these institutions is necessary to bring about genuine structural change and avoid a “passing fad.” At a time when LGBTQIA+ rights and the place of culture in society are sometimes called into question, it is essential to continue to bring to life, particularly in museums, the richness and diversity of our societies.
After defending his thesis, Noah Meunier continued his education with a specialized master’s degree in Gender Studies at UCLouvain, which allowed him to study the“impacts of museum support operators on inclusive practices in the Belgian museum landscape ”through an internship with the Brussels Museums Federation.
His research on queer and gender issues in art and museums is currently being conducted as part of the research project“A History of Queer Contemporary Art in Belgium,” led by theISELP since 2024. He is also seeking funding for a doctoral project on the reception of the concept of intersectionality within European museums.
ULiège was present at Pride on 31 August: a colourful parade to reaffirm the institution's commitment to LGBTQIA+ rights.
Balancing studies, career, and parenting is a major challenge for many families. Recognizing this issue, ULiège has established a partnership with and the nonprofit organization Seconde Peau , which will enable the opening of a new daycare center.
As part of Pride Month, the ULiège Gender and Equality Council invited staff members to attend the presentation of the new edition of the "Guide for the Inclusion of Transgender People in Higher Education".
