Information in this section is based on guidance from Stonewall Cymru, ECU, Youth Cymru Trans*Form, GLAAD, and from consultation with LGBTQ+ colleagues and students.
Allies can help change the conversation and the culture. Trans people can face discrimination on a daily basis. This may be unintentional (possibly due to a lack of awareness) but this, and barriers caused by existing cultural 'norms' about gender, can make daily experiences/interactions awkward, difficult and exhausting for trans people. Allies can speak out and promote trans equality when they are not feeling strong enough.
Every person can take small actions to help make the culture of USW more inclusive (e.g. use pronouns in email signatures, ensure documents use gender neutral language, educate ourselves more, etc.) These seemingly minor actions can have significant impact for individuals and collectively help to increase inclusion.
Research shows more than one third of trans university students (36 per cent) have experienced negative comments or conduct from staff in the last year and one in seven trans university students (14 per cent) have considered dropping out or have dropped out of higher education because of experiencing harassment or discrimination from students and staff in the last year. For further information, see Stonewall’s LGBT in Britian Trans Report.
Research by ECU also shows that gender identity is a factor in the choice of university for 23.7 per cent of trans students (2009) and that universities with an established reputation for being trans friendly may see higher numbers of trans staff and students.
A trans ally is any person who supports trans people and champions trans equality. You can be an ally, anyone can.
The Straight for Equality Project has produced a comprehensive guide to being a trans ally. They identify four main qualities of allies, explore the journey people travel in being an ally and addresses some concerns people may have about trans equality (e.g. making mistakes).
Based on research from students in colleges and universities across Scotland, these videos show what students have to say about being in university and the various aspects they deal with:
On personal safety:
On being misgendered:
On using toilets:
Trans students explain the basics about gender identity and ways to support others:
Further resources, videos and links to organisations and guidance is available on Trans Support and Resources.
If you would like to, you can also pledge to support trans people in Stonewall Cymru’s Come Out for Trans Equality campaign.