Solidarity with Our Transgender Community
We know that the Supreme Court ruling and associated guidance felt especially upsetting or invalidating for our trans and non-binary students. Every student deserves to feel respected, included, and safe regardless of gender identity. We also understand the wider ripple effect that the Equalities & Human Rights Commission (EHRC) guidelines have caused in affecting transgender students’ and staff with lived experiences. The increased prevalence of transphobic discourse and harmful rhetoric can contribute to transgender students feeling unsafe in their daily lives. We are working as a Union to not only support students directly at university but in the wider community in Nottingham.
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling we released support for our transgender students on our social channels and at the Union Meeting on 29th April we addressed the EHRC interim guidance which is very problematic, and lacks any compassion or humanity.
Since the ruling we have been speaking with students and staff across NTSU. We have engaged with the University, stakeholders in the city, and external organisations including the National Union of Students (NUS) to carefully consider how to respond. We also helped the University update support resources for transgender students.
We attended the NUS Transgender Day of Action and have collaborated with the Nottingham Pastel Project campaign to engage in their ‘Right to exist in peace in our venues’. We have reached out to partners including our University Police Officers and Nottinghamshire Police who have confirmed that the safety of the transgender community continues to be a priority.
We want all students and staff to continue to feel welcome, safe, and included. At present all of our policies remain in place and we continue to be an inclusive and welcoming space for all our students and staff.
The EHRC consultation is due to open soon, and we encourage our members to respond to the consultation if they feel able. We also plan to respond as an organisation based on the views of our members.
We will take time to review the updated guidance when it is published later in the summer and work with the University to review implications for our members.
In the meantime we will continue to support and respond to students, continue to listen to student experience, and continue to understand the lived experience to know how to better support our community.
Remember, if you’re feeling overwhelmed and need support please know you’re not alone and do reach out. NTSU is a space for every student and staff member, regardless of gender identity.
https://www.ntu.ac.uk/studenthub/health-and-mental-wellbeing/how-to-access-wellbeing-support
https://www.pastel-project.co.uk
📱 0800 0119 100
💬 switchboard.lgbt
📧 hello@switchboard.lgbt
