Why we, as academics, created a letter in support of LGBT+ rights

On 16 June, a letter from 34 academics to The Sunday Times argued that university policies to include trans and gender diverse people, in particular the Stonewall Diversity Champions programme, were in tension with “academic freedom of thought”. For us – as ordinary academics working in higher education – this felt like just the latest in a slew of media coverage on trans people which has ranged from the critical to the sensationalist. Setting out to write a response, we found that what we really wanted to do was something much greater: a manifesto, an affirmation of our LGBTQIA+ colleagues at all levels of higher education.

At the time of writing, our manifesto – our contribution to the debate – has attracted the signatures of more than 6,000 university staff from across the world. We have also received a vast number of personal responses expressing relief and gratitude that someone has taken a vocal stand in support of trans, gender-diverse and other queer students and colleagues, representing the views of what feels like the silent majority against the few critical voices in the media.

Amid these responses, too, have been many heartbreaking stories from trans and gender-diverse people: fear of what colleagues will think of them; an ever-present question of whether their identity (reflected through their pronouns and name) will be denied; fear for their physical safety. In short, fear for whether their dignity as individual human beings will be observed and respected.

The modern university, to its benefit, is more diverse than ever before. But a level playing field remains elusive. Stonewall’s 2018 report on queer students in British universities makes for sobering reading. Thirty six per cent of trans students interviewed have encountered verbal abuse from university staff; 60 per cent reported verbal abuse from fellow students, based on their gender identity; and a shocking 7 per cent had been physically attacked by a fellow student or member of staff.

The aforementioned media coverage is part of this dangerous context for trans people’s lives. One of the most egregious charges is the argument that inclusive policies conflict with academic freedom, in research and teaching. It cannot be emphasised enough: no one (least of all us) has suggested that there should not be free and open discussions about Stonewall policies and procedures. Quite the opposite, in fact; there is always work to be done, and no programme emerges immaculate and perfect for all perpetuity. Academic freedom – and the ability to think, debate and critique widely – is vital to both universities and to society. But academic freedom is not a licence to deny someone’s human dignity, just as free speech is not a defence for discrimination along racial or religious lines.

By not recognising trans people within our universities as being who they are, we deny them the dignity of their own identities. There are innumerable studies that show the ways in which trans and gender diverse people are vulnerable to marginalisation, which in turn translates to a heightened risk of self-harm and depression. There are also many peer-reviewed studies that show that recognition and acceptance of trans people, their gender identities, names, and pronouns, has a measurably positive impact upon their wellbeing. In short, identity denial robs trans people of a safe environment.

Trans, gender-diverse, and other queer people are not problems to be theorised and hypothesised. They are living, breathing human beings. And if we are to defend academic freedom, then it is their freedom – to live and work and research and teach and learn safely in our universities, without fear of being marginalised or denied – that must be respected, treasured, and protected.

Many thousands of university staff from around the world agree – from senior professors, lecturers and researchers to librarians, administrators and technicians. And, by signing this manifesto, they have committed to respect our LGBTQIA+ colleagues, their academic freedom, and their right to exist. Our letter shows an overwhelming strength of feeling supporting the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ colleagues and students. Let’s hope it will also prompt at least a few people to think harder about the way in which they are treated.

The full list of contributors to this article can be found below:

Dr Bodie A. Ashton, University of Passau​
Dr Caroline Dodds Pennock, University of Sheffield
Dr Andy Kesson, University of Roehampton​
Dr Matthew M. Mesley,  UWE Bristol
Dr Sara Barker, University of Leeds
Dr Amy Fuller, Nottingham Trent University
Dr Matt Lodder, University of Essex