Bee Hughes, LJMU UCU and LGBT+ Members’ Standing Committee
On April 16th a group of women stood drinking champagne outside the UK’s Supreme Court in celebration of a ruling on the legal definition of ‘woman’. Many of us felt disappointed, upset and furious at such a callous display.
Many of us cannot fathom the lack of empathy that leads to rejoicing at celebrating removal of the right of trans women to be legally recognised as women and overturns generations of feminist activism that strove to stop women being defined by biology. The irony is clearly lost on some of these anti-trans campaigners.
At the time of writing, the full ramifications of the Supreme Court’s ruling are unclear. As days and weeks progress more government ministers and politicians are doubling down on their normalisation of transphobia.
In the immediate wake of the ruling, public bodies are scrambling to update guidance and policies in the light of the ruling solidifying existing guidance on ‘single-sex spaces’ – something which was already provided for under the Equality Act 2010. The ruling also removes protection from sex-based discrimination from trans and non-binary people, though they are still protected from discrimination under the category of gender reassignment.
What we do know is that this ruling will embolden those who hold anti-trans beliefs, or who wish to use transphobia to advance political agendas. Trans people are scared. Our rights, safety and dignity are under attack at the highest levels of society. The Labour government continues to restrict and degrade healthcare for trans people and target gender affirming care for trans young people.
Trans UCU members and their allies have fought to make our union and our workplaces safe and accepting places for gender non-conforming people to learn and work. We have championed our institutions to develop inclusive policies and practices, and held them to account when they have fallen short. We must continue to do so. UCU must be unequivocal in its condemnation of the ruling and subsequent change in policies by our universities or other institutions.
In the face of continued political hostility from Starmer’s Labour, Trump’s administration in the US and queerphobia globally, your trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming students and colleagues need you more than ever. We urge you to:
• Put out messages of support to your members reiterating UCU’s policies around self-identification and that trans rights are human rights.
• Join local and national protests for trans rights and bring along your branch banners.
• Get involved in campaigns and networks like Trade Unions for Trans Rights.
• Keep a close eye on any policy shifts at your workplace and challenge them wherever possible.
• Show you are trans inclusive at work – wear a progress pride lanyard, trans ally badge and add your pronouns to your email signature.
• Connect with trans-led organisations for information about trans people, e.g. Gendered Intelligence, Trans Actual, Mermaids (for supporting trans kids and teens).
• Support UCU’s strong inclusive policies by voting for trans inclusive motions and emergency motions at UCU Congress.
We know the current government is no friend to workers and those who support Palestine, or want action or climate change and so on – we have to just as we did the Tories – on the streets as well as at the ballot box.
The trans community and our allies were quick to mobilise and the weekend after the ruling up to 25,000 marched through London, 2000 in Edinburgh and hundreds gathered in many cities around the country. We must ensure that trade unions are visible and loud in their support of the trans community and we will continue to organise within UCU and with our
sibling trade unions to build solidarity and resistance.
The law is often understood as there to protect us, but many of those who have faced oppression and discrimination know that instead it serves the most powerful in society. Remember, we beat Section 28 and we will beat this. This ruling does not change who you are, and how we see you, yesterday, today or tomorrow. Trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary people are valid and deserve to be seen as they are.