Bee Hughes (Liverpool John Moores University) LGBT+

Bee Hughes (Liverpool John Moores University) 

Election address 

I'm a Senior Lecturer in media and cultural studies at LJMU. I work daily with the importance and politics of representation - and how these can be used as tools of oppression. I specialise in gender and queer studies, and take this through my teaching, research, and extra-curricular activities, e.g.  

through a paid internship for queer students to develop a sense of community within our School. I help organise and steward Liverpool Trans Pride and other city-wide events.  

I'm standing for election as your representative for LGBT+ members in HE because I'm passionate about fighting for liberation for all.  

That means supporting our trans and gender non-conforming siblings, fighting for the climate and ending austerity, for freedom from racism, and to fight to end genocide and war. UCU must oppose all forms of oppression and discrimination. We need to defend bodily autonomy and reproductive rights. As a queer trans/non-binary person I understand the difficulties and joys that come with being LGBT+.  

As a white person with a relatively well-paid and secure job, I have a responsibility to fight for those who face multiple and different forms of oppression - often with added layers of precarity in their lives from employment to housing and visa status. I will always approach my work through an intersectional lens - nobody is liberated until we all are.  

UCU need to defend education and conditions of the education workforce. All UCU members need secure employment, manageable workloads and better pay levels, and secure pensions in retirement.  

Branch:  

• organiser (2019-20)  

• chair (2020-24),  

• co-lead negotiator (2020 -)  

• secretary (2024 -)  

• caseworker (2022-)  

• consulting on new trans and non-binary policy to support and protect our staff and students, winning development of Organisational Stress Risk Assessment, getting employer to divest from Barclays.  

Region:  

• Delegate to NW Regional Committee  

• member of the Regional Executive & LGBT+ Officer.  

UK-wide:  

• LGBT+ HE Rep to NEC (2021-23)  
• LGBT+ members' committee (2021-present) serving as Chair and Vice Chair.  
• Chair of LGBT+ Members Conferences and LGBT+ Research Conference.  

• Conduct of Members Committee (2024-)  

• Appeals Panel (2023-2024)  

• Contributed to delivery of UCU CPD including LGBT+ Language in Use  

• Chair / speaker at multiple member and public facing webinars.  

• TUC LGBT+ conference delegate and delegation lead.  

I'm a member of UCU Left and I'm committed to opening spaces for discussion and debate, and ensuring our union structures enact the decisions our members make. We can't make decisions on policy and strategy in silos. We need to meet as branches, regions, sectors, and across these structures to develop solidarity and collective work.  

Please vote for me so I can bring my experience and commitment to the role and work with you to support LGBT+ members across UCU.