As the Chairperson of the Trans Students’ Association, I will consolidate the work I’ve started as Trans Student’s Officer, making sure to continuously listen to and address the concerns of trans students.
Many issues faced by the trans student community have gone unnoticed or unaddressed, and it is important that work continues on ensuring the inclusion of trans students within the university.
More buildings across campus are in need of gender-neutral bathrooms, particularly academic buildings.
Additionally, many spaces within the university continue to use non-inclusive binary and sex-based language, and seldom provide the necessary accommodations for trans students - such as ways to specify pronouns or display names.
Even the University's official Trans Equality Policy frequently uses outdated terminology to describe trans people.
Many social platforms associated with Queen’s are still rife with individual transphobic sentiment and discrimination. This often remains unchallenged by supervisors, particularly in unofficial areas.
If I am elected, I will be campaigning for:
- Increased provision of gender-neutral bathrooms on campus, ensuring a smooth continuation of the work that has been put in this term.
- Increased efficacy of the Report and Support system, particularly with regards to instances of transphobia.
- A potential LGBTQIA+ safe space accommodation within Queens, in collaboration with the LGBT students’ association.
- Working alongside relevant parties to ensure period product distribution across campus is inclusive towards trans students.
- Increased LGBT support within the SU Sexual Health Clinic, particularly with regards to trans healthcare.
- Education opportunities for staff and students regarding trans-inclusive language and practices.
- Collaboration with local LGTBQIA+ organisations, such as the Belfast Trans Resource Centre, The Rainbow Project, and Cara friend.
- Anything and everything else that the Trans Students’ Association, and the trans student community at large, feels needs addressed.
Queens' history of blatant and harmful bigotry is far too recent to be comfortable - the time is long overdue that QUB begins to make a meaningful, genuine, and positive change in the experience of trans students, because they deserve better.
Thank you.