UCU reaffirms commitment to trans rights

The motions come in the wake of the Supreme Court's gender ruling, the Cass Report, and Health Secretary Wes Streeting's decision to block trans youth's access to essential healthcare.

As a result of Congress' votes, UCU is now calling for employers to support the right to use gendered facilities which match gender identities (44) and will write to Wes Streeting condemning the findings and methods of the Cass Report (47).

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'Our Congress has once again committed our union to stand shoulder to shoulder with the trans community in the fight for equality.

'This year trans people have suffered a wave of attacks against them, but UCU remains steadfast as one of their most vocal allies. We refuse to allow trans people to be the collateral of a right-wing culture war and while they continue to experience violence at home, in the workplace and on the airwaves, we will stand by them.'

Notes

[1] Full text of motions that were carried: 

44 Composite: UCU's Commitment to Trans Rights Southern regional committee, Liverpool John Moores University, University of Liverpool, Royal College of Art 

Congress notes:

1. UCU's existing policy on trans and non-binary rights and solidarity including motions passed at Congress 2021- 2024.
2. Supreme Court ruling 16th April declares sex in the Equality Act 2010 refers to sex assigned at birth and undefined term 'biological'.
3. Bridget Phillipson stated 22nd April people must use single sex spaces according to sex assigned at birth.
4. No guidance given for intersex people. 
5. Supreme Court ruling allows for exclusion of transmasculine, nonbinary and intersex people from all single sex spaces.  
6. EHRC Guidance 24th April is incoherent, unimplementable and discriminatory. 
7. Oppression often comes in small steps and starts with blaming a minority for violence they receive 

Congress believes: 

a. The ruling contradicts current practices at most post-16 institutions, which allow all staff to use the gendered spaces appropriate to them. 
b. The ruling contradicts human rights and dignity of trans and other gender diverse staff and encourages discrimination, harassment, hate crimes. 
c. the category of 'Woman' is used by the Supreme Court to harass trans people 
d. UCU's trans-inclusive position should be reaffirmed, promoted and strengthened in the face of this concerted attack on trans people. 
e. to reduce the definition of women to pregnancy is reactionary and misogynist 

Congress resolves to: 

i. issue a statement to members and across social media accounts expressing concern at the Supreme Court ruling and reaffirming our steadfast commitment to defending trans people. 
ii. Call on employers to support the right to use gendered facilities which match gender identities. 
iii. Call on employers to develop and implement trans-inclusive policies as a matter of urgency
iv. Support and call on members to attend all local/national protests, rallies and activities for trans rights.
v. Support local, regional, and national groups who are mobilising against this ruling, as well as the rising persecution of trans people both nationally and internationally
vi. Urgently issue guidance to branches on supporting trans rights. 

45 The attacks against trans rights King's College London 

Conference notes: 

1. The Supreme Court's unprecedented attack on trans and non-binary (TNB) people's human rights threatens all human rights. 
2. The EHRC threatens, with unseemly haste, to produce policy guidelines exceeding the SC judgement. 

Conference believes: 

a. TNB's deserve to work and study with dignity, safety and without discrimination. 
b. The UCU must involve TNB staff and students in producing guidance to maintain campus, course and facilities accessibility to TNB staff/students. 

Conference resolves: 

i. To immediately form a joint working group of TNB staff/students inviting representation from organisations such as FGEN and NUS. 
ii. To task said group to produce a policy for universities on defending trans rights in light of the SC judgment. 
iii. To provide funding to said group for lawyers with appropriate specialisms. 
iv. To disseminate resulting policy to all universities, FE college management and SU's. 
v. To promote the policy widely to ensure its adoption. 

46 Support for those defending LGBT+ rights LGBT+ members standing committee 

Congress notes with concern: 

1. Populist right attacks on LGBT+ rights. 
2. the impact of the Trump administration's cuts to foreign aid, particularly the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which directly funds essential HIV treatment and prevention for millions globally.
3. attempts to create divisions between LGB and T(rans)Q(ueer)+ both in the UK and internationally 
4. attacks on people who have stood forward for LGBT+ rights including UCU members. 

Congress calls for the following in solidarity with LGBT+ people in the UK and internationally: 

a. Events focused on international efforts to advocate for LGBT+ rights including in areas of difficulty and where there are models of good practice  
b. Q to be added to LGBT+ in UCU practice so that it makes clear UCU commitment to the entire LGBTQ+ work 
c. CPD series for those leading LGBTQ+ advocacy and liberation with facility for an in-person element  

47 UCU is for They/Them, not Trump Southern regional committee 

Congress notes: 

1. Following its explicitly transphobic electoral campaign, the 2nd Trump presidency's concerted attacks upon trans people, including youth access to healthcare, participation in sports, applications for 'X' gender marker passports, military service and incarceration in appropriately gendered facilities 
2. The Trump presidency's attempts to suspend Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, including LGBT+ programmes 
3. The Starmer government's decision to ignore the damning critiques of the Cass Review, and in December 2024 to indefinitely ban the supply of puberty blockers for trans young people 

Congress believes solidarity with trans and non-binary staff and students is paramount and instructs the NEC:  

a. To support LGBT+ migrant members and their families, particularly US citizens, in navigating bureaucratic challenges Trump's policies might pose  
b. To write to Wes Streeting condemning the findings and methods of the Cass Report and advocating an approach to trans healthcare that affirms and values trans people  

47A.1 University of Brighton 

Add notes 4: The £585k fine imposed by OfS on Sussex University for its trans supportive policies. 
Add notes 5: The recent UK Supreme Court judgment that trans women are not women. 
Add resolves c: To advocate for the maintenance of strong policies against transphobia in universities and colleges.