Nominations: Nominations closed
Voting: Voting closed
Election
You will lead the Union’s Trans Network to build an engaging, dynamic and rewarding community of Trans students on campus and make sure that the Network caters to and represents all of its members. You will have the opportunity to create and run campaigns on issues affecting Trans students and work alongside existing campaigns and organisations at national level, and will have oversight on the social events and activities organised by the Network. You will work alongside the Equity & Inclusion Officer to represent these collective interests to UCL and beyond.
To vote for this position, you must self-define as a Trans student.
Category
Candidates
Organised events: I have led fundraisers, talent shows, art tours, after parties that I believe makes me well-fit to handle inclusion and fun in the organising process as well as experience with delegation.
Embrace leader: I lead my school's GSA club, leading educational campaigns, open talk sessions, fun events, and fundraisers for LGBTQ+ local charities, which gives me some experience in similar spaces.
Researched: I have read many papers contextualising trans spaces and how to include different identities and make queer spaces feel safe.
I hope that being a Trans officer allows me to amplify underrepresented voices and cater a myriad of events to help people in the Trans network find a community amongst each other. I also wish to provide support and information sessions to help people safely navigate the London and UCL obstacles and landscapes for Trans people. Furthermore, as a queer person, I would like to establish a good relationship with the LGBTQ+ officer to help organise events together. I would like to create a space where people feel comfortable talking openly, hanging out and meeting people.
Students should vote for me because I am willing to put in the work, hear people's ideas and incorporate feedback into future events. I am also willing to take initiative by continuing to research and consume media regarding different gender identities to be a better Trans officer and cater to different needs. As I have past organisational and inclusionary experience, I feel I will fit well with this role and will try to represent people the best way I can.
I have previous experience representing trans students in UCL, co-presenting the Trans Experiences in Accomodation Project (which can be seen online!), in which we highlighted distressing and/or discriminatory aspects of signing up for and living in UCL accommodation, as well as proposing solutions to help trans tenants feel safer and more accepted whilst living in Halls.
I am also very much aware of the current support services available in the UK for trans individuals, and those offered by UCL, and am intimately acquainted with the trans healthcare pathways in the UK.
If elected, I would like to increase awareness of several support options offered by UCL for trans students through both online and in-person signposting, as there is extremely little signposting for some methods of support (e.g. free mentoring via gendered intelligence).
Furthermore, alongside the wider UCLSU, I would continue to emphasise to UCL that any and all forms of trans hate are unacceptable, and should be dealt with accordingly. Trans students feeling safe at UCL is not a privilege, it is a basic right that ALL students should hold, whether cisgender or transgender.
I started my transition at age 16, and started HRT at age 18, whilst still studying for my A-levels. I am extremely aware of the privileged position I am in, transitioning so early. I fervently believe that trans healthcare should be a basic right, not a privilege. I hope to help trans students navigate UK healthcare options, should they wish it. However, I also believe that trans students who do not wish to medically transition should feel just as valid and accepted, not just within trans communities, but by the wider UCL community, as such students may experience increased discrimination.