Members of the Edinburgh University community have launched a petition that calls on the institution to better protect their trans and non-binary members.
So far the call, which was started by Edinburgh University Liberation Campaigns, has amassed just over 500 signatures.
It states that students, staff and alumni “demand that the university protect the trans members of our community from disingenuous ‘debates’ about trans rights.”
Those behind the movement are unhappy with the university hosting “debates” on gender and not offering adequate protection.
It calls on senior management to “explicitly support trans rights, or condemn the actions of a minority who are doing significant harm to the wellbeing of the trans community.”
They say that they feel that the educational organisation is “failing in their duty of care” towards the university’s trans community.
The Liberation Campaigns issued three demands as part of the petition, calling on the principal, Peter Mathieson, and the wider senior management team, to:
- Release a statement expressing their unconditional support for trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming members of our community and their commitment to protecting them from any harm.
- Launch an investigation into the conduct of University of Edinburgh students and staff who have actively created a hostile environment for trans members of our community, through deliberate misgendering and dead-naming, hate speech, defamation, and the spreading of disinformation about the trans experience.
- Commit to reviewing the University’s Trans Equality Policy to ensure it meets the needs of trans students and staff, and includes non-binary and gender non-conforming identities.
On the petition, and the claim that the university is not doing enough to protect the trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming members, Jaime Prada, the trans and non-binary officer for the students association, said: “There is no such thing as a “debate” about gender; there are trans people, and then there are those opposed to our fundamental rights.
“Our experiences of queerness are profoundly personal, and claiming that our lives, our identities, our feelings, are simply hypotheticals to be discussed and disagreed with is inaccurate and harmful.
“Trans people have always been here, and we will always be here. Our culture is an inherent part of this city and this country.
“We are now reclaiming our rightful place in the public sphere, being empowered to share our stories and allowing others to live their truths.
“This is only possible because we are out here, using our positions of leadership and responsibility within the University, to not only take a firm stance against transphobia, but to create a culture where people feel safe to embrace and celebrate their identities.
“This is what positive, progressive change looks like; and while those who are resistant to it may resort to publishing inaccurate information or hosting poorly-attended events, they do not outnumber the support we receive from those who respect and celebrate the most marginalised members of our community.”
Alyx, who recently left Edinburgh University, said that they were disturbed by an event that was planned to take place while they studied at the organisation.
They said: "It has been my experience that certain events hosted on campus directly contributed to a climate of fear and hostility for trans and non-binary people at the University of Edinburgh.
“These events have hosted overtly transphobic speakers. For example, there have been keynote speakers at events, that have compared trans people to terrorists, routinely calling trans women "men in dresses", and campaigned to ban transgender women's access to rape crisis centres and other front line services.
“Following these events the campus has been covered in transphobic material, such as posters and stickers.
“I firmly believe everyone is entitled to their views, however in my opinion, they have harmed transgender and non-binary staff and students, like myself, by directly contributing to an atmosphere of hostility towards transgender and non-binary people on campus.
“It is extremely unsettling and upsetting to see people with deeply transphobic views use their position within the university to try and push back the rights of transgender and non-binary people in Scotland.
“As a closeted non-binary person, this climate of fear and hostility was massively detrimental to my mental health, and ultimately led to me feeling unsafe with coming out at the university.
“This had a profoundly negative impact on my studies.”
A spokesperson for Edinburgh University responded to the petition and defended the institution's record on equal rights.
They said: “We are committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment for our whole community, where there is no place for any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
“The university is in the process of setting up an LGBTQ+ subcommittee of the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which will enhance our work to promote LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion.
“We also remain steadfast in our commitment to freedom of expression and academic freedom within the bounds of the law, and our own Dignity and Respect Policy. Given the size of our community, it is inevitable that the ideas of different members will conflict. We encourage respectful debate and discussion whenever there are differences of view or opinion.
“The university’s Compliance Group considers any request for an event that might breach our legislative duties or our Dignity and Respect Policy. All considerations are informed by our deep commitment to the importance of freedom of expression.”
You can view the petition here.
