LUU should work with LUU LGBT+ society to make the University safer for trans students
LUU should work with LUU LGBT+ society to make the University safer for trans students
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Passed: March 2022 (14th)
What do you want? / Why do you want it?
Since March 2021, when the university tried to implement changes to their trans equality policy against the explicit wishes of trans staff and students, trans students have felt increasingly unsafe at the University – we are calling on LUU to offer their utmost support to trans students at Leeds and LUU LGBT+ Society to ensure their safety in the University.
Trans students do not feel safe or welcomed here – some students’ deadnames have been leaked due to issues with IT systems which the University has admitted are unfit for purpose. This has outed them as trans to groups of strangers on their courses, violating their dignity and privacy, and putting them at risk of transphobic harassment and abuse. When instances of transphobic hate speech have occurred at the University, the University has excused this hate speech as ‘academic debate’ – hate speech is never appropriate and to see the university tolerating it as ‘free expression’ has made many of our members feel unsafe and unheard.
Every day we speak with members who have been maliciously misgendered, asked inappropriate questions in seminars, made to feel excluded in their halls of residence, and had their very existence ‘debated’ about. This has led our trans members to feel immense distress and exhaustion, and many wish they never came to the University of Leeds.
The society has been trying to work with leadership in the University for a year to improve the conditions for trans students and nothing has materially or adequately got better for trans students; some trans students are still being deadnamed and we still hear many accounts of bullying and harassment. Even in these meetings with senior leadership, we have felt ignored and gaslit, and no longer have confidence that the University wish to work with us on our terms to make things better.
We want LUU to work across their organisation, bringing in voices from the Executive, digital and communications and student leaders to put both internal and public pressure on the University to make University safe for trans students. We want LUU to amplify the voices and experiences of trans students as much as possible; we would like to see counselling and structured wellbeing services offered to any trans students who need it, and we would like to see LUU prioritise amplifying trans student voices.
Expires: March 2025 (14th)
Submitted By: Christos Minas, O/B LGBT+ Soc
Officer: Equality and Liberation
Area of Work: Liberation
Updates
October 24-Amara campaigning for more money for the Gender Expression Fund, and has met the University IDAM Manager. Amendment proposed to the Trans Inclusion Internal Policy mentions some of the IDAM work alongside LGBT+ Society.
June 24-IDAM Manager met with Haryati. According to Manager, "in the last 12 months we have had 457 student name change requests, of which 100 were recorded it as being sensitive ID changes. This does not necessarily mean that they were sensitive following discussion, but is a good indicative figure." Evidence has found that the process has been simplified for requesting name changes. As an aside, the Gender Expression Fund has had great take up in terms of applications, with LUU supporting those experience gender euphoria or dysphoria to funding for non-medical procedures and support.
August 2023: P&CC Officer and Haryati met with IDAM Analyst. IDAM Manager and Haryati agreed that work needs to take place to improve the system by which students can feel safe about disclosing personal information, wait times, and the privacy of said information. Positive step forward, P&CC to check in later in year.
04/04/23: There has been progress on this, but as it's manual is still pretty slow. Ahmad the IT worker assigned to this is still recieiving some people coming to him. It's mostly Microsoft at the moment.
05/12/22: Fix the Cistem Campaign Statement Update released by exec. University working to release IDAM system in the Second Semester.
05/07/2022: Trans Rights Working Group has been established, comprising of LUU staff, experts by lived experience, and members of the Student Executive. The working group will continue to ensure that LUU is an inclusive environment and a proactive ally to our trans community. This page will host updates from the working group and highlight the concrete steps LUU is taking.
Page updated
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