Xiaohongshu
Many students have reached out to me over the past week about the recent speaker event hosted by the Libertarian Society. I know that for many in our community, specifically our trans community, there have been strong feelings about the event. I’ve received lots of emails and messages from concerned students, and I know many made their voices heard through a peaceful protest outside the venue on Tuesday night.
As Equity and Inclusion Officer, I aim to create a students’ union that everyone can feel part of, that everyone is safe in, and where those from marginalised communities feel able to express themselves.
I know many will feel very let down that the event took place at all. I want to reaffirm that we (me personally, and the students’ union officially) have a long-held commitment to supporting and furthering the rights of trans students at UCL. The policies elected student leaders have passed (e.g. lobbying for Pronoun integration into UCL systems) help set that tone, but we have also established and run a Gender Expression Fund, have a Trans Officer role, support a Trans student network, develop trans inclusionary initiatives in our sports programmes, and stand behind our public statements defending and promoting Trans rights, most recently expressing our solidarity with trans and non-binary students in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling on the Equality Act. It is our firm belief that trans students have a right to exist without discrimination or harassment and that any expressions of protected beliefs must not extend to unlawful discrimination or harassment of the trans community.
That might not feel anywhere near enough to reassure you when other parts of the student community are expressing views that trans students and allies would consider objectionable, seemingly without consequence. But we remain fully committed to upholding and advancing the inclusion of all members of our community, including trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming students.
The Union scrutinises all guest speaker applications made by our student groups. We have a team that does this to ensure impartiality, and it’s something Sabbatical Officers are not involved with. This scrutiny is done to ensure the appropriate measures are put in place to both protect our community from potential harm, and to ensure we’re able to consistently facilitate freedom of speech within the law for our members and invited speakers. Depending on the potential risk raised by the proposed event, we will develop a Risk Assessment, work with UCL to develop a security plan, add additional controls to the event e.g. to be open only to society members, ensure the external speaker agrees to a set of behavioural standards, and at times seek external counsel to review our proposed approach. The Union didn’t decide to invite the speaker, but we will always seek to apply the principles of our framework and legal duties fairly and objectively across all decisions about student events and activities.
How these events run all come back to UCL’s Code of Practice for Freedom of Speech, which has the following really crucial line:
“Freedom of speech and academic freedom [also] have to be set in the context of UCL’s values, and the values of a civilised, liberal, pluralist, democratic and inclusive society. UCL expects visiting speakers and those taking part in events to respect those values, to be sensitive to the diversity of its community, and to show respect to all sections of that community. These precepts apply in particular with regards to the time, place and manner in which views are expressed and events take place.”
Where an external speaker event fails to meet these requirements, we will investigate and act. Any complaints related to the event on 3 March will be investigated through our complaints procedure.
I’m not trying to change minds or justify what happened here, and I’m truly devastated that trans students and allies have said they’ll find it hard to trust the Union in the future.
We have and will continue to support students who feel impacted by the event. There are many routes you can use if you feel that you have been subjected to harassment or discrimination of any kind in relation to this event, and we encourage you to report any incidents so they can be dealt with promptly.
Take care
Eda
Equity and Inclusion Officer, 2023 - 25
Support resources:
We understand that during times of uncertainty, knowing where to find support, when you need it, is essential. We want to remind students that there are services available for anyone who needs them:
- UCL’s Student Support and Wellbeing Services team works in partnership with independent advice and counselling services to provide additional support which students can access at any time, including immediate help via telephone on the 24/7 Student Support Line.
- Staff can also access immediate support via phone (0808 196 5808), online or WhatsApp via our Employee Assistance.
- Any bullying and harassment of members of our community is taken extremely seriously and we would urge staff and students to report any and all incidents through Report+Support so they can be properly investigated and appropriate action taken.
- Switchboard is a national LGBTQIA+ helpline that offers service by phone, email or chat function.
- Mermaids is national charity in the UK. It supports transgender children and young people, and the important people in their lives. Access support both through telephone and online chat.
- Student Minds provides guidance on navigating life and University as a trans student.
- Galop, UK charity that works with and for LGBTQ+ victims and survivors of interpersonal abuse and violence.
- Mind OUT is a UK charity that provides counselling services for LGBTQ+ people across the country.