Tuesday 30-03-2021 - 14:28

Susan Docherty at Stonewall 50 
WorldPride NYC 2019

Hi everyone

Hope you are all enjoying the lighter nights now the clocks have changed.

Today’s blog is to inform you about the Trans Day of Visibility and Trans Rights in the UK.

Did you know Trans Day of Visibility in the UK is 31^st March?

The aim of this global event is to raise awareness of transgender rights and to celebrate the resilience and success of transgender and gender non-conforming people as this is essential now more than ever.

2020 was the deadliest year on record for the trans community although you would only hear very little on this this from the media.

River Gowans our LGBT+ Liberation Officer has written a blog discussing important issues for Trans people and how you can become a better ally.

Read Rivers blog below and thank you for your support.

Susan Docherty

Student President (she/her)

 

River Gowans (he/they)
LGBT+ Liberation Officer

Definitions:

Trans: a person whose gender identity does not align with their assigned sex at birth

Non-binary: a person whose gender identity does not fit into the societal binary of male or female.

Gender identity clinic: a medical service for support and medical transition for trans people

Trans Day of Visibility is celebrated each year on March 31^st. It was founded in 2009 by activist Rachel Crandall, who realised there was no day to celebrate the achievements and contributions of trans people. This day adds onto Trans Day of Remembrance on November 20^th, which mourns the loss of trans people to transphobic violence and hate crimes. Although we take this day to celebrate the achievements of trans people, we must also acknowledge that even in the UK, there is a long way to go for trans rights.

 

Support for Trans People in GCU

The Student Wellbeing Service offers an incredible amount of support to trans students with the Trans Student Support Policy. You can draw up a confidential plan with them about transitioning, including support with name and gender changes, studying plans when it comes to medical procedures such as surgery, and informing staff about your name change, so that you don’t need to do it all yourself.

It is important to note that it is a criminal offence to disclose that someone is trans without their explicit permission. A written form of permission is available from the Student Wellbeing Service. This applies to everyone including lecturers. Any complaints can be made to this link: http://www.gcu.ac.uk/gaq/appealscomplaintsandstudentdiscipline/complaints/

More information is available from the Wellbeing Service, and the whole Trans Student Support Policy can be found here: https://www.gcu.ac.uk/media/gcalwebv2/student/wellbeing/Trans%20Student%20Policy%20FINAL%20APPROVAL%20FOR%20WEB.pdf

In February, our Student President, Susan Docherty, secured gender neutral bathroom signs for toilets throughout campus. Gender neutral bathrooms are so important for everyone, benefitting trans and gender non-conforming students by giving a safe option for using the toilet. According to GALOP’s transphobic hate crime report 2020, 4 in 5 trans people have experienced a hate crime based on their gender identity. It also makes it easier for parents with young children to accompany them to the toilet, and for people with accessibility requirements to .

 

Trans Rights in the UK

Under the Equality Act 2010, people cannot be discriminated against based on gender identity, sexuality, race, or any other protected characteristic. Unfortunately, it is not always that simple when it comes to our rights.

Since the implementation of the Gender Recognition Act (2004), it is possible, but not easy, for trans people to acquire a gender recognition certificate (GRC). This £140 document requires extensive evidence of living in the ‘acquired gender’ for at least 24 months, with the intention of living in that gender for the rest of their lives. I don’t have a GRC yet, and without it, if I were to get married right now, I would still be put down as the wife. Some examples of documents needed include a birth certificate with the name change, utility bills, and formal diagnosis of gender dysphoria which brings me to my next point.

NHS gender identity clinics have the longest NHS waiting lists, with some people waiting in excess of 60 months for a first appointment. When I joined the waiting list in May 2019 for the gender identity clinic at Sandyford, they were taking in patients who were referred in November 2017. Now, in March 2021, they are taking in patients referred in April 2018. There are also months of waiting in between appointments. The other option for trans people wishing to medically transition is to go private. I was fortunate enough to be able to afford to go private for hormone treatment, but this is not the case for everyone, and the prices keep going up.

Even more recently was the case of Bell vs Tavistock (2020), in which the High Court decided that trans youth could not properly consent to taking puberty blockers. Puberty blockers are not hormones as such, instead they repress puberty until the teenager is old enough to take hormone replacement therapy, or if they decide against it later on, their body will go through puberty as per usual. Only last week was the outcome of this revised so that a “loving parent/guardian” can consent on the child’s behalf. This is a step forward, however considering the large proportion of children whose parents are not supportive of their transition, it creates more hoops to jump through.

 

How to be a better ally to trans people, from a trans person

1. Always use the correct pronouns

An important part of using the correct pronouns is that it is shows respect for that person. If you’re not sure what pronouns someone uses, ask them! If you can’t ask, you can use gender neutral pronouns (i.e. they/them), however using they/them pronouns for someone who does not use them is still misgendering.

 

2. Never ask what a trans person’s deadname is

A person’s deadname is dead for a reason. You more than likely do not need to know it, and it will usually make the person uncomfortable. In the same context, if you do know someone’s deadname, do not use it.

 

3. Don’t use backhanded compliments

An example of this would be “you look good for a trans person.” It is not a compliment, and if anything, it indicates that you do not actually see them as their gender.

 

4. Listen to trans people

Sometimes, under the impression of allyship and activism, trans voices can be drowned out by cisgender people. It’s important that if you are cisgender, speak up for trans rights, but always make sure that trans voices are heard the loudest. This goes for any minority.