Hello SPN Members, This June, we have a fantastic line-up of events to celebrate Pride Month. From discussions and seminars to performances and marches, there’s something for everyone. Here are the details: Queer Neurodivergence and Synesthesia: Podcast Discussion with Maike Engage in an enlightening discussion with Maike, a queer neurodivergent psychologist and synesthesia artist. Topics… Continue Reading Celebrating Pride: Exciting June Events

In another exciting collaboration, our Social and Events Officer Jonathan MacBride and Neil Rankin, the Sports Coordinator (Volunteering & Participation), have put together a comprehensive survey to encourage greater participation in sport and active health within the Staff Pride Network. The survey is now open and will be accepting responses until the end of May.… Continue Reading Join the SPN/Sports Union Sport & Physical Activity Survey and Facility Tour

Another exciting event is coming up very soon – on Friday, 2nd June. Children’s Services, in collaboration with the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity and other support organisations, are working towards achieving the LGBT Charter Status. In celebration of Pride Month, and in conjunction with the LGBT+ Staff Network and the team at RIE, they are… Continue Reading Little France Pride March

We have some exciting news for you. Microsoft has recently introduced a new feature in Office 365, which allows users to set their preferred pronouns in their contact card. This new addition is a great way to promote inclusivity and respect for gender identities in our digital workspace, especially considering the diverse mix of staff… Continue Reading New Feature Alert: Set Your Preferred Pronouns in Office 365 Contact Card

Rev Dr Urzula Glienecke (she/her)  (written 12th April 2023)    Just yesterday somewhere in the depths of the social media I saw a conversation between a mother and her trans son. It went something like this:    – Happy belated Trans Visibility Day!  – Yeah mom, it was last week  – 👀  – Mom, that’s not how… Continue Reading I See You: A Reflection on Trans Visibility Day

TLDR: We co-organised a protest with Cabaret Against The Hate Speech to take place when the screening of Adult Human Female was due to place. Our protest demonstrated support for trans rights at the University of Edinburgh in a peaceful and non-confrontational manner. We published a blog detailing all the reasons the film is anti-trans… Continue Reading Statement from Staff Pride Network regarding the protest against planned screening of Adult Human Female 

-anonymous queer, cisgender woman   The co-option of feminism as mechanism for attacking trans rights makes me sick. I do not recognise the questioning of gender identity as a valid form of academic praxis that is without harm. I don’t want to operate in an academia that condones academic methods that are rooted in colonialism… Continue Reading How about we stop attacking trans people and address the REAL inequalities in the system?

Academics have recently received an email from the Provost with regards to the setting up of a new Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression Working Group. Our colleague, Lauren Hall-Lew, sent the letter below in response to the announcement. It is an excellent, and necessary, response – and reflects what, we think, should be the… Continue Reading Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression Working Group

-anonymous bisexual cisgender woman   You may think from the discourse that there are at least 2.5 billion trans people, but the fact is in absolute terms there are far more women who look like me accessing women’s spaces than there are trans people who exist in total. The consequence of setting up gate-keeping around… Continue Reading Gate-keeping women’s spaces doesn’t protect women.

The University of Edinburgh has always been committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. Back in 2018, a special photo shoot led by Gina Gwenffrewi was organised to create a collection of images representing the LGBTQ+ community within our university, including trans and non-binary individuals. These images deserve greater publicity and can be viewed at the… Continue Reading Celebrating Diversity: Showcasing the LGBTQ+ Photo Bank at the University of Edinburgh