We have some exciting news for you. Microsoft has recently introduced a new feature in Office 365, which allows users to set their 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 and… Continue Reading New Feature Alert: Set Your 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

By a trans member of staff at the University of Edinburgh who has chosen to remain anonymous   In December 2022 the University of Edinburgh cancelled a planned screening of “Adult Human Female”, a film that has received criticism for its one-sided and inflammatory depiction of trans people, after protests that the event would “contribute… Continue Reading Is screening “Adult Human Female” an opportunity for respectful debate and discussion?

University of Edinburgh Staff Pride Network Committee  This response also has the support of UCU Edinburgh branch and University of Edinburgh Unison branch.    Free speech, academic freedom, freedom of expression. These are all phrases applied tactically to justify questioning the validity or the rights of people with marginalised identities. Most will be familiar with… Continue Reading Screening Adult Human Female at the University of Edinburgh: A response

Today is International Asexuality Day. To our asexual members we wish you a Happy International Asexuality Day and to the rest of our members today is a day to learn, to share knowledge, and to be the best allies you can be to our asexual friends. Feel free to raise awareness with our asexual flag… Continue Reading International Asexuality Day 2023