This week marks Transgender Awareness Week, culminating in Transgender Day of Remembrance on Sunday 20 November, which memorialises those who have been killed as a result of transphobic violence.
With the atrocious attacks on the LGBT+ community at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in June 2016, it is ever-more important to remember those who have lost their lives or who face persecution and discrimination as a result of their gender identity or expression, or their sexual orientation.
On Wednesday 16 November we also celebrate the International Day for Tolerance, which recognises the Declarations of Principles on Tolerance adopted by the United Nations in 1995 to ensure that member states appreciate and protect the diversity of the global community.
What is ‘transgender’?
Transgender (or Trans*) is an umbrella term used to include all gender-variant people. It can mean someone feels like the opposite gender to which they were born, or that they classify themselves as non-binary, neither male nor female, or even a mix of the two.
How does Kent support transgender people?
The LGBT+ Staff Network is proud to work with and support members of Kent’s diverse and inclusive community, and to foster cultural and policy change to advocate for LGBT+ people and their supporters.
The University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) team work with Kent Union and other external agencies, and with colleagues and students across the University, to ensure that all staff, students and visitors are treated with dignity and respect. The team have created an e-module on Trans Awareness, are conducting a review on potential sites for gender-neutral toilets, and are working with Stonewall to provide resources and guidelines for being or supporting a trans* person in the workplace.
There is a free, confidential peer-support group run in partnership with TG Pals for all trans*, intersex and non-binary gender people at the University of Kent. The group is run by non-binary people for non-binary people. Further details, including meeting dates are here: www.kent.ac.uk/studentservices/equality.
Upcoming activities
Wednesday 16 November 18.00-19.00, Jennison Lecture Theatre, Canterbury Campus:
Dr Mark McBride-Wright talk – ‘Engineering a Winning Workforce by Creating an Inclusive Engineering Industry’.
Sunday 20 November 18.00, St. Peter’s Methodist Church, St. Peter’s Street, Canterbury:
A short multi-faith and secular event of remembrance for those who have died as a result of transphobia, hatred and violence. This is a public event and all are welcome. Please feel free to bring along and read your own short remembrance, be it a prayer, quote, poem or statement. The vigil will be followed by refreshments.
Monday 21 November 19.00, Keynes Seminar Room 12, Canterbury Campus:
Open talk, presentation and Q&A session with Kent Union’s Trans* Officer, Zeke Graubart.
Find out more
Details of resources and support available related to Transgender people or awareness can be found here: www.kent.ac.uk/hr-equalityanddiversity/protected-characteristics/transgender.
Students can also find out more information on the Student Services webpages: www.kent.ac.uk/studentservices/equality.
About the LGBT+ Staff Network
The Network is open to all members of staff regardless of grade, function, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. We support HR in their work to make Kent an inclusive and safe environment to work in and we work closely with the Kent Union student LGBT+ Society to ensure that LGBT+ issues are represented and promoted. Our next meeting is on Thursday 12 January 2017, 12.00-14.00 (venue tbc).