June is here and it’s time to celebrate! We’ve been hearing about lots of fantastic Pride events and activities happening throughout the month in and around Edinburgh. Whether you’re into sports, community engagement, or cultural events, there’s something for everyone. Here’s what we know about so far – please let us know if we’ve missed anything you’d like us to share with the network!

Late May Events

Early June Events (Passed)

Upcoming June 2025 Events

Staff Pride Network Evening Social

📅 Friday, July 4th | ⏰ 5:30pm-10:00pm

📍 The Auld Hoose, 23-25 Saint Leonard’s Street, Edinburgh EH8 9QN

SPN’s flagship monthly evening social – a casual Friday wind-down for LGBT+ colleagues and allies. This free drop-in event welcomes all LGBT+ and ally staff and postgraduate students from the University of Edinburgh, Napier University, and Queen Margaret University. The relaxed atmosphere accommodates people of all ages, disabilities, and social comfort levels.

Who can attend: LGBT+ and ally staff and postgrad students
Cost: Free
Format: Drop-in, no registration required
New to SPN? Contact staffpridenetwork@ed.ac.uk to arrange meeting an SPN member beforehand

Registration: Eventbrite (Free)

Other Pride Events in the Region

For those interested in supporting Pride celebrations in nearby areas:

Related LGBTQ+ Events Beyond June

Other Opportunities We’ve Heard About

Know of Other Events?

Since the Universities mlist system isn’t the easiest to navigate it requires a page:

To access the list page for SPN members please click below but note the likely error and how to get around before clicking:

https://mlist.is.ed.ac.uk/lists/info/staffpridenetworkmembers

You will need to first log in via ease which should be straightforward the issue comes if you get this mysterious error shown above.

The error is that mlist site isn’t logged in as it needs you to click the University Login button on the top right. This should then finally let you through to the staffpridenetworkmembers list page and click the option to subscribe / unsubscribe and generally manage your preferences.

We are pleased to announce that pronoun badges are now available on both our Central and Holyrood campuses! This initiative aims to foster an inclusive environment, particularly supporting LGBTQ+ and trans* inclusivity within our community.

Where to Find the Badges:

• Central Campus:
  • Main Library (Ground Floor Helpdesk)
  • Centre for Research Collections (Sixth Floor)
• Holyrood Campus:
  • Campus Reception (Old Nursery Building)
• Argyle House:
  • Currently holding a box of pronoun badges which will circulate to different site libraries starting mid-July.

Badge Options:

• She/Her
• He/Him
• They/Them

Why Pronoun Badges?

Using pronoun badges is a simple yet impactful way to promote gender inclusivity. Whether through badges, email signatures, or casual conversations, stating your pronouns helps create a more respectful and understanding community. This practice is particularly significant for the inclusion of trans* individuals, who often face challenges around misgendering and lack of recognition.

Acknowledgements

A heartfelt thank you to Nel Coleman and Lena Wånggren for their efforts in organizing this initiative. Their commitment to fostering an inclusive environment is truly commendable.

Let’s embrace this opportunity to make our campuses more welcoming and inclusive for everyone.

Feel free to pick up your badge and wear it with pride!

Here we will try to list all the events happening for Pride in and around the University (please check back for updates):

May

1. Staff Pride Network BioQuarter Coffee & Cake Social
   • Date: 28th May 2024
   • Time: 12:30 BST
   • Details: Coffee and cake social event at BioQuarter organized by the Staff Pride Network.
   • Link: Staff Pride Network BioQuarter Coffee & Cake Social
2. Staff Pride Network Central Coffee & Cake
   • Date: 29th May 2024
   • Time: 13:00 BST
   • Details: Coffee and cake social event organized by the Staff Pride Network.
   • Link: Staff Pride Network Central Coffee & Cake

June

1. Poetry Workshop
   • Date: 5th June 2024
   • Time: 10am – 12pm BST
   • Location: IRR South Auditorium
   • Details: Open to all members of the UoE LGBT+ community, staff and students, from any College.
   • Link: LGBT+ Identity in the Workplace: A Poetry Workshop
2. Staff Pride Network Evening Social
   • Date: 7th June 2024
   • Time: 17:30 BST
   • Details: An evening social event organized by the Staff Pride Network.
   • Link: Staff Pride Network Evening Social
3. Little France Pride March and Information Fair
   1. Poster: Little France Pride
   2. Date: 14th June 2024
   3. Time: March at 14:00, Information Fair from 13:30 to 15:30
   4. Details:
      • Wellness Walk: Undertaken by the staff and students of Little France to celebrate the LGBTI+ community.
      • Information Fair: Held in the Chancellor’s Building.
      • Free Smoothie: Available for participants (limited availability).
      • Meeting Point: In front of Chancellor’s Building.
4. Staff Pride Network Holyrood Coffee & Cake
   • Date: 18th June 2024
   • Time: 13:00 – 14:00 BST
   • Details: Coffee and cake social event at Holyrood organized by the Staff Pride Network. This event will run every third Tuesday of the month.
   • Link: Staff Pride Network Holyrood Coffee & Cake
5. Staff Pride Network Kings Buildings Coffee & Cake
   • Date: 19th June 2024
   • Time: 13:00 BST
   • Details: Coffee and cake social event at Kings Buildings organized by the Staff Pride Network.
   • Link: Staff Pride Network Kings Buildings Coffee & Cake
6. Queer Ceilidh
   • Date: 20th June 2024
   • Details: An exciting event organized for Postgrad and PhD students to celebrate and engage with the LGBT+ community. Hosted by the Edinburgh University Students’ Association.
   • Link: The Queer Student Ceilidh
7. Edinburgh Pride March and Festival
   • Date: 22nd June 2024
   • Time: Meet from 11:00 AM
   • Meeting Point: Levels Cafe on Holyrood Road
   • Details: We’ll meet at Levels cafe on Holyrood Road from 11:00 AM, then walk down to Holyrood Parliament for midday. Wear your SPN t-shirts and join us in the march. We have a limited supply of free SPN t-shirts available on a first come basis at Levels from 11:00 AM. After the march, we will have a chillout space available in the Informatics Forum. Contact details for access will be sent out the day before if you don’t enter with us after the march.
   • Additional Info: For the complete route, visit the Edinburgh Pride Official Website.
8. Pride Service at BSTM Church
   • Date: 23rd June 2024
   • Time: 10:30 AM
   • Location: Broughton St Mary’s (BSTM) Parish Church and Comunity Hub
   • Details: A Pride Service celebrating and blessing all our wonderful diversity. The service includes a reading from Genesis, a prayer from Baltic Pride, and an inclusive form of the Lord’s Prayer.
   • Link: BSTM Church
9. BioQuarter Pride Month Showcase & Coffee & Cake Social
   • Date: 25th June 2024
   • Time: Seminar from 12:30 to 13:40 BST, followed by Coffee & Cake Social at 13:40 BST
   • Location: Usher Seminar One, The Usher Building, Edinburgh BioQuarter
   • Details: An afternoon of talks on LGBT+ history and sociology, followed by an informal social in the Usher 1898 Cafe.
   • Speakers:
     • Andrew Gardiner, Senior Lecturer, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
     • Chase Ledin, Lecturer, Usher Institute
     • Bethany Parsons, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, Corporate Services Group

     

   • Link: Staff Pride Network BioQuarter Coffee & Cake Social
10. Staff Pride Network Central Coffee & Cake
    • Date: 26th June 2024
    • Time: 13:00 BST
    • Details: Coffee and cake social event organized by the Staff Pride Network.
    • Link: Staff Pride Network Central Coffee & Cake
11. Staff Pride Network Trans and Non-Binary Meetup
    • Date: 27th June 2024
    • Time: 17:30 BST
    • Details: Meetup for trans and non-binary members organized by the Staff Pride Network.
    • Link: Staff Pride Network Trans and Non-Binary Meetup

July

• Staff Pride Network Evening Social
  • Date: 5th July 2024
  • Time: 17:30 BST
  • Details: An evening social event organized by the Staff Pride Network.
  • Link: Staff Pride Network Evening Social

Is there any other information or events you’d like to include? Please get in touch StaffPrideNetwork@ed.ac.uk

The Staff Pride Network Committee would like to first express our thanks to Robyn Woof for all her work in the role of trans & non-binary liberation officer, we have always valued her contributions to addressing transphobia on campus and in devising ways to better support our trans & non-binary staff and students. We respect her decision to resign as trans & non-binary liberation officer considering the ongoing institutional transphobia at the University of Edinburgh. Her resignation represents a significant loss to the University community and should serve as a reminder of the chilling effects of transphobia with respect to freedom of expression and participation. We wish her the best for her continuing studies and activism in Edinburgh and beyond. 

News article: THE STUDENT: Trans and Non-Binary Liberation Officer Robyn Woof resigns in protest of transphobia at university

Join us in celebrating LGBT+ History Month with a series of engaging events across the University of Edinburgh. This year, we’re focusing on the theme of Medicine and the contributions of the LGBT+ community to science, culture, and society. Here’s what’s happening:

SPN- history month calendar 2024   

Highlighted Event

LGBT+ History in Science and Microscopy Evening with SPN-LGBT+Bio [Register HERE]

• When: Wednesday, 21 February 2024, 6-7.30pm
• Where: Ashworth 80, Biology Teaching Laboratories, Ashworth Laboratories, Kings Buildings
• Details: A special celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month focusing on queer scientists’ contributions. Enjoy talks and hands-on experience with advanced microscopy technology. An evening of discovery and creativity awaits!

Academic and Community Events

Film Screening: “Framing Agnes” 

• When: Wednesday, 14 February, 4pm (Film starts at 4:15pm)
• Where: Screening Room, 50 George Square
• Details: An award-winning documentary exploring discussions between trans clients and Dr. Harold Garfinkel at UCLA in the 1950s and 1960s. Open to all staff and students. Please register in advance. BYO cinema snacks!
• Please register to attend

LGBTQ+ History Month Celebration by the Chaplaincy

• When: Saturday, 17 February 2024
• Details: An invitation to our LGBTQ+ History Month Celebration. More details can be found on the University’s Chaplaincy event page.

BioQuarter Pride Committee Seminar: Our History in Medicine

• When: Monday, 26 February, 3:30-5pm
• Where: Seminar room 1.04, Niche cafe, Institute for Regeneration & Repair, Edinburgh BioQuarter
• Details: Afternoon of flash talks, coffee, and cake celebrating our history in medicine. Open to research, teaching, clinical, and professional services staff.

Trans Inclusive Educational Spaces Register HERE

• When: Mon, 26 Feb 2024 16:00 – 17:30 GMT
• Where: The MacLaren Stuart Room, Old College, The University of Edinburgh
• Details: Educator Jo Brassington joins us to host this workshop that will explore steps that can be taken to making PPLS an LGBT+ inclusive space. (Note: open to all UoE).

HCA School LGBTQ+ History Month guest lecture Register HERE.

• When: Wednesday, 28 February 2024, 4-5.30pm
• Where: Lecture Theatre 1, Appleton Tower
• Details: Emeritus Professor of Cultural History and Sexuality Studies at the University of Manchester Laura Doan will give a lecture entitled, “Designs on Nature: Reinventing the Unnatural.” A reception will follow.

Recovering LGBTQ+ Student Voices at the University of Edinburgh: An Archival Project Register HERE

• When: 28 February 2024 17:30 – 19:30
• Where: Ground Floor Foyer, Chrystal MacMillan Building
• Details: Join us for a roundtable discussion that will launch an archival project by the LGBTQ+ Liberation Campaign and the Centre for Research Collections. The project will highlight LGBTQ+ student voices at the University of Edinburgh (1968-present). At the roundtable, students and archivists working on the project, as well as academic researchers will to reflect on the importance of archival work for the LGBTQ+ community and questions of silence in the archive and oral history. The roundtable itself will be preceded by a small reception hosted by GENDER.ED. All are welcome!

Staff Pride Network (SPN) Socials and Feel Good Walks

Join us for a series of enriching walks and social gatherings this February, organized by the Staff Pride Network in celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month. These events are designed to offer a welcoming space for mental, social, and physical wellbeing, through open dialogues and shared experiences.

Central Campus Walk

• Date: Thursday, 1 February
• Time: 11:15am to 11:45am
• Meeting Point: Old College Quad
• Details: A collaboration with Active Lives and the EUSA LGBTQ+ Campaign, aiming to build community and share space for meaningful engagement.

Evening Social at the Royal Dick Bar, Summerhall [Details HERE]

• When: Friday, 2 February, 5:30-10pm
• Details: Casual Friday evening social for LGBT+ colleagues, committee members, and allies. A great opportunity to unwind and meet new people.

Kings Buildings Walk

• When: Friday, 9 February, 12:30-1:30pm
• Meeting Point: Front of the Nucleus Building
• Coordinator: David Radford, SPN Social & Events Officer
• Details: In collaboration with the LGBTQ+ Campaign, this walk promotes an inclusive space for mental and social wellbeing, encouraging open and positive conversations.

Kings Buildings Coffee & Cake @ Nucleus Cafe [Details HERE]

• When: Wednesday, 21 February, 1-2pm
• Details: Drop in for coffee, cake, and conversation. Open to all LGBT+/ally staff and PhD students.

BioQuarter Coffee & Cake Social and Walk [Register HERE]

• When: Thursday, 22 February, 12:30pm to 1:30pm
• Where: Meet at the Niche Cafe, located within the BioQuarter
• Details: This month’s informal Coffee and Cake social event, hosted by the BioQuarter Pride Committee in collaboration with the Staff Pride Network, begins with delightful refreshments followed by a leisurely walk. The gathering aims to create a friendly and inclusive environment for all participants. We alternate locations between the Jex-Blake Cafe and the Niche Cafe, offering variety and accessibility.

Special Note: While registration is not essential, it helps in planning for the cake. If feeling apprehensive, participants are encouraged to reach out via email (BioQuarter.Pride@ed.ac.uk) for any assistance or to arrange a meet-up before the event. Look for the table with rainbow flags 🌈 to find the group.

Central Coffee & Cake @ Bayes Cafe [Details HERE]

• When: Wednesday, 28 February, 1-2pm
• Details: Join us for coffee, cake, and meet the SPN committee members. Open to all LGBT+/ally staff and PhD students.

Active Lives Walks: For those interested in additional walking opportunities, please visit the University of Edinburgh’s Sport and Exercise page on Feel Good Walks.

Special Events

STUC LGBT+ Workers Committee – Recognising LGBT+ Discrimination in the Workplace: Online Event

• When: Thursday, 15 February 2024, 18:00
• Details: Hosted by the Scottish TUC LGBT+ Workers Committee, this online event discusses forms of LGBT+ discrimination in the workplace. Register here.

EUSA-CRC-GENDER.ED LGBTQ+ History Month Reception and Roundtable REGISTER

• When: Wednesday, 28 February 2024, Reception 5.30-6.30pm, Roundtable 6.30-7.30pm
• Where: Lecture Theatre 1, Appleton Tower
• Details: The EUSA LGBTQ+ Liberation Campaign, the Centre for Research Collections and GENDER.ED are coming together to organise a reception and roundtable to launch an archival project on LGBTQ+ Student Voices at the University of Edinburgh.

IASH – Cutting Edges of the Decolonial: Thinking Anthropocentrism and Queerphobia from/in the Arab-majority World(s) REGISTER

• When: Thursday, 29 February 2024, 17:30-18:30
• Where: The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, 2 Hope Park Square, Edinburgh EH8 9NW
• Details: IASH in partnership with Alwaleed Centre, GENDER.ED and RACE.ED present a talk by Dr Ali Kassem – Department of Sociology and Anthropology, National University of Singapore.

University of Edinburgh Students’ Association Events

• Participation Art Event 1973: Provocation or Prophecy? on 13 February 17:30 Register here.
• LGBTQ+ Histories, Health and Wellbeing Discovery Sessions on the 14 and 28 February.

For more information on any of the above events, please visit the Staff Pride Network Events page and keep an eye on university communications for any additional events or updates.

In this post, Jonathan MacBride offers a review of creative events that he along with colleagues Jaime Prada and Katie Nicoll Baines organised during the LGBTQ+ History Month, these were supported by the Student-Staff Partnership fund. This post belongs to the Hot Topic series: Student Partnership Agreement 2023↗️.

The original article appeared here: https://www.teaching-matters-blog.ed.ac.uk/student-staff-partnership-fund-report/

Edinburgh University Students’ Association’s (EUSA) queer societies, including the LGBT+ Liberation Campaign, organised a variety of creative events in February for LGBTQ+ History Month. These were supported by The University of Edinburgh’s Staff Pride Network and attended by a wide range of students and staff, with funding from the Student-Staff Partnership Fund.

Photography Workshop (Fri 10 Feb): The Photography Workshop was led by Colin McGuire and Evie Siddal, who taught different techniques to capture intimate moments of queer joy while also discovering how to photograph queer bodies and give subjects the confidence to get the perfect shot! Themes included queer intimacy, gender dysphoria, body positivity, body neutrality, self-expression and sexuality.

Sculpture Workshop (Fri 17 Feb): This Sculpture Workshop was led by Ames Truscott, who guided different exercises to use one’s own queerness to create clay sculptures, learn about queer bodies and explore the creative process! Themes included gender dysphoria, body positivity, body neutrality, self-expression and sexuality.

Life Drawing Workshop (Fri 24 Feb): This Life Drawing Workshop was led by Ryn Wheatley and assisted by models Evie Siddal and August Dawn, who taught different techniques to draw queer bodies and explore one’s own creative process. Themes included queer intimacy, gender dysphoria, body positivity, body neutrality, self-expression and sexuality.

Celebrating Queer Joy Exhibition (Mon 27^th – Tues 28^th Feb): This exhibition was organised as part of the LGBTQ+ History Month programme by the LGBTQ+ Liberation Campaign and the Staff Pride Network. This collection showcased pieces from staff and students to amplify queer joy in all its forms. We reflected on matters such as friendship, family, intimacy and gender euphoria while also discovering queer local talent.

LGBT+ Liberation Officer Jaime Prada sourced workshop leaders, curated the exhibition, materials and found the venues. Staff Pride Network volunteers collaborated to source venues for the exhibition and found this particularly difficult for such a large scale event and limited suitable exhibition spaces.

Many people tried new methods including myself at the Sculpture Workshop. A snake and Stonehenge arch were two of my many uncomplicated creations, of which the arch stands proudly in my house. Its three bits of clay stuck together but I’m proud. There were incredibly detailed pieces created by those with much greater skills than I! The closing exhibition was inspirational and highlighted the diverse media used by LGBT+ creators, including glass, photography, digital art and clay compositions.

Jaime has moved on from the University but the legacy of this joint project and its funding live on in the pieces created by student and staff participants and their new-found skills. The experience led to Jaime and I collaborating on an LGBTQ+ youth art exhibition as part of Pride Edinburgh 2023, viewed by thousands of Pride-goers. The art exhibition for Pride Edinburgh 2024 will build on this success. The Staff Pride Network has increased experience in hosting a new type of event. Jaime now works as the EDI Manager at the British Museum.

JONATHAN MACBRIDE

Jonathan is passionate about the importance of EDI in every aspect of life. He is a squash competitor, qualified squash coach and referee. He has two decades of LGBTQ+ activism, Staff Pride Network Social & Events Officer and founding Co-Chair, World OutGames Squash Gold Medallist x 2. He is also the Pride Edinburgh Community Engagement Director, Edinburgh Curveballs Chair, Scottish Squash Diversity & Inclusion External Working Group member, husband to a husband. At The University of Edinburgh he serves as the Informatics Graduate School Administrative Assistant by supporting PGR students through their early research career.

The horrific events of October 2023 continue to unfold in scenes of catastrophic violence and loss of life
in Israel/Palestine. We recognise how the assault on and violation of Palestinian and Israeli life has
produced anguish, grief and fear amongst all affected communities, and acknowledge the historical and
ongoing causes. We are particularly alarmed by the current escalation of the state of Israel’s genocidal
campaign in Gaza, which has claimed over 10,569 lives of civilians as of 8 November 2023, including
4,324 children. About 2,350 others are reported missing in Gaza, including 1,300 children.

Rather than take a stand against the ongoing atrocities, the UK government is providing full political
support for it, which extends to eroding civil liberties and enabling repression within UK academia. This
includes the October 17 letter from Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan and Under Secretary
for Higher Education Robert Halfon to Vice-Chancellors that directly equates support for Palestinians
with support for Hamas, and Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle
Donelan’s intervention insisting that members of the EDI advisory panel of UKRI whose social media
posts were critical of the state of Israel be sacked. UKRI subsequently suspended the whole panel, which
had just been named at the end of October.

We–networks, groups, and members of staff at the University of Edinburgh–wish to collectively express
our deep concern over these interventions, and the climate of increasing intimidation and escalating
restrictions on free speech within British higher education institutions on the topic of Israel/Palestine.
We are witnessing a growing atmosphere of fear and suspicion, which includes conflating criticism of the
state of Israel’s human rights violations with automatic support for Hamas, and reducing the space to
discuss history and context in relation to Israel/Palestine, particularly the Palestinian condition.

It goes without saying that antisemitism and anti-Palestinian racism should not be tolerated on campus,
and we stand against all forms of racism and discrimination. We also recognize that it is the speech and
action in support of Palestinians and critical of the state of Israel that is overwhelmingly and
institutionally targeted and treated as a potential security threat.

In this context, we note that the University of Edinburgh Principal’s statement on Israel-Gaza on 13
October 2023 linked to a UUK statement that threatened ‘any student or staff member found to be
supporting Hamas’ with treatment of the ‘utmost seriousness.’ This is particularly concerning because of
the vague and punitive way in which ‘support for Hamas’ is intentionally conflated in the recent letter
written by the UK Home Secretary to Police Chief Constables in England and Wales, which seeks to
criminalize symbols such as the ‘Palestinian flag’ and principled statements such as ‘Palestine will be
free’. The letter also states that police may subjectively decide whether such slogans ‘glorify terrorism’ or
can be ‘construe[d] as incitement or harassment.’ These developments are extremely troubling for staff
and students who teach and research on topics related to Israel/Palestine, especially those who are at
risk of having their visas revoked.

These are not idle fears. Over the past month, academics and students throughout the UK who have
spoken out in solidarity with besieged Palestinians in Gaza and against war crimes have been subject to
threatening responses online, in the news media, and in some cases confronted with disciplinary or even
legal action. Here at the University of Edinburgh, students have described incidents of intimidation,
surveillance and attempts at criminalizing speech and action for Palestine, including the carrying of the
Palestinian flag. Staff members have reported fears about carrying out teaching or research on Palestine
given the climate of repression and intimidation, or being advised by their managers not to mention
what is happening in Israel/Palestine over university email. An article targeting various University staff
has already appeared, and we fear that such an article misrepresenting staff’s research, teaching and
speech could be used as a basis for targeting and monitoring individual members of staff.

Aggressive measures taken by the Government, vague and one-sided statements such as the UUK
statement that was immediately (and uncritically) shared by our Principal, and reports of surveillance of
and harassment at student protests are all dangerous elements restricting academic freedom and
intensifying anti-Palestinian racism on campus.

We believe that now, more than ever, education and debate is required in order to cultivate shared
understandings about Israel/Palestine and forestall further catastrophic loss of life.

We call on the Principal and Senior Leadership Team to:

1. Reassure all staff and students in an official statement that speech about Israel/Palestine, including
criticizing the state of Israel’s violations of human rights and supporting the Palestinian people’s right
to self-determination – be it through teaching, events, demonstrations or communications – will not
be surveilled or securitized. We also call on the University to commit to protecting staff and students
who might be targeted for such speech. In particular, we ask the Principal to endorse the call of
Amnesty International that: ‘the UK must scrap the Prevent strategy in order to comply with its
international human rights obligations’.

2. Reassure staff and students that the right to education and academic freedom will be protected.
This should include suspension of the controversial IHRA definition of antisemitism and reversion to
the 2010 Equality Act as the framework through which to fight antisemitism and all forms of racism
and discrimination. In 2020, our University adopted the definition without consultation with staff or
student groups who would be affected by its severe restrictions of academic freedom and freedom of
speech–as recently reported by the British Middle East Studies Association (BRISMES) and the
European Legal Support Centre (ELSC). If the University considers the 2010 Equality Act insufficient to
tackle antisemitism, it must resume a process of considering alternative definitions that enable action
against antisemitism without drawing false equivalences between critique of Israel’s racist state
policies and antisemitism.

3. Acknowledge the University’s connections to violence in Israel/Palestine. The University has a
unique historical involvement with the root causes of violence in Israel/Palestine, and continues to be
involved in violence through financial investments as well as research links with weapons companies.
Our University should acknowledge publicly that Chancellor Arthur James Balfour signed the 1917
Declaration on Palestine, a monumental imperial act denying the Palestinian people the right to
self-determination in their own homeland. The University should also review, publicly disclose, and
divest from all investments in companies that directly or indirectly profit from the illegal military
occupation and colonization of Palestine, as well as research or other links with weapons companies
that provide arms to the state of Israel, directly or indirectly.

4. Institutionally support and allocate resources to decolonial and anti-racist organizing happening
right now between Palestinian, Jewish and various communities on campus, particularly initiatives
that challenge the root causes of injustice in Israel/Palestine and their reverberations in the UK. Jewish
and Palestinian staff, students, and allies at UoE have already begun this collective work. This requires
holding space for the expression of compassion, sorrow and solidarity. We ask that the University
meet with members of affected communities to discuss how to institutionally support and protect
these important efforts.

Signatories:

Centre for Ethics and Critical Thought (CRITIQUE), University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh Centre for International and Global Law, University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh Race Equality Network (EREN) Committee, University of Edinburgh
Jewish Staff Association Organising Committee, University of Edinburgh
Politics and International Relations Political Theory Research Group, University of Edinburgh
RACE.ED Steering Committee, University of Edinburgh
Staff BAME Network, University of Edinburgh
Staff of the Alwaleed Centre for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World, University of Edinburgh
Staff Pride Network Committee, University of Edinburgh
The Centre for Security Research (CeSeR) Co-Directors, University of Edinburgh
The History Decolonisation Working Group Co-chairs, University of Edinburgh
UCU Edinburgh Branch Committee, University of Edinburgh
Womxn of Colour Collective, University of Edinburgh

Original statement

The Staff Pride Network is honored to have hosted an insightful event featuring TJ Billard, who provided an in-depth analysis of the role media plays in perpetuating harmful stereotypes and disinformation. TJ Billard is an Assistant Professor in the School of Communication at Northwestern University and Executive Director of the Center for Applied Transgender Studies in Chicago, USA.

The discussion kicked off with an exploration of how media outlets contribute to the spread of misinformation, especially concerning trans issues. The speaker then delved into the influence of capitalism on media narratives, highlighting how profit-driven motives can compromise the integrity of information disseminated to the public.

The talk also covered the legislative landscape affecting trans rights, both in the United States and globally. The speaker provided a comprehensive overview of state policies and their implications for the trans community, offering insights into the challenges faced in different cultural and social contexts.

One of the standout moments was the exploration of the Media System Dependency Theory, which shed light on how media shapes our perceptions and attitudes. The speaker also touched upon the importance of community and social networks in combating misinformation and fostering a more inclusive environment.

The event concluded with a lively Q&A session, where attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and engage in meaningful dialogue. The questions ranged from the role of media in shaping public opinion to the steps that can be taken to counteract the negative impact of misinformation.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in this event, making it a resounding success. We look forward to hosting more such events in the future to continue the important conversation around LGBTQ+ issues.