Statement on Trans Inclusion from your ELA Officer
LGBTQ+ History Month is coming up in February and there will be lots of exciting events, including the LGBTQ+ History Month Ball, LGBTQ+ History Month Hama Beads and LGBTQ+ History Month Karaoke.
The campaigning focus of LGBTQ+ History Month this year is Trans Healthcare, so ahead of the activity taking place your Equality, Liberation and Access Officer, Saranya, has released a statement on trans inclusion and the work she's committed to in this area. Read the full statement below:
Trans and non-binary people in the UK are one of the most marginalised communities in our current political climate. A lack of access to healthcare, social and professional discrimination, and being placed at the centre of a vicious culture war have all become a normalised expectation for those who do not conform to the gender binary. The government’s approach to the Gender Recognition Act, recent blocking of the Scottish Gender Recognition Reform Bill and constant refusal to support measures to protect trans people has demonstrated a clear disregard for their safety, lives and wellbeing.
Now more than ever it is crucial that all of us in changemaking positions show full and active solidarity with the trans community, and as Equality Liberation and Access Officer at Bristol SU I want to reiterate my unwavering commitment to this. Bristol SU is a fully inclusive organisation for people of all gender identities and we aim to support the community by being an ally in the fight for gender liberation. We don’t want these to be empty words and plan to back them up with action.
As ELA Officer I will be leading on creating a gender justice vision for the SU to ensure we are always held to account and doing all we can to support the cause. We will involve trans students and representatives at every step. We will begin this process during LGBTQ History Month, the campaigning focus of which this year will be trans healthcare. Lack of gender affirming healthcare is arguably the most devastating barrier to trans people in the UK and trying to improve the situation for trans students at Bristol is one of my main priorities for the rest of my term. Trans students should have a fully liberated experience at university, and I hope to continue working towards this.
Saranya Thambirajah - Equality, Liberation and Access Officer
