Queens needs to treat its trans students better
If I am re-elected as Trans' Student Officer, I will continue working to address the concerns of the trans student body.
Queen's has made little effort to address the issues faced by trans people within their community.
Most buildings within campus have no gender-neutral toilets, and the few that do are isolated from most students.
Additionally, many spaces within the university continue to use uninclusive binary and sex-based language, and seldom provide the necessary accommodations for trans students - such as ways to specify pronouns or display names.
Even the University's official Trans Equality Policy frequently uses outdated terminology to describe trans people.
Many social platforms associated with Queen’s are still rife with individual transphobic sentiment and discrimination. This often remains unchallenged by supervisors, particularly in unofficial areas.
All of these issues and more coalesce to form a student environment that radiates apathy towards trans students and their problems; plastered over with superficial veneer of inclusivity to maintain the University's image - one which rings hollow to many, if not all trans students.
If I am re-elected, I will be campaigning for:
-More gender-neutral bathrooms on campus - at least one in every major building. I have spent my first term working towards and predict that I could reach my goal during the second term.
-Draw attention to transphobia of any kind expressed by staff or students, and demand a zero-tolerance policy going forward.
-Education opportunities for staff and students regarding trans-inclusive language and practices.
-Events to raise awareness of trans people and their issues, and to encourage students to confront and stand against transphobia within their own circles.
-Collaboration with local LGTBQIA+ organisations, such as the Belfast Trans Resource Centre, The Rainbow Project, and Cara friend.
-Anything and everything else that the trans student community feels needs addressed.
Queens' history of blatant and harmful bigotry is far too recent to be comfortable - the time is long overdue that QUB begins to make a meaningful, genuine and positive change in the experience of trans students, because they deserve better.
Thank you.