Written by: Part-Time Trans and Non-Binary Officer Jonah Zalick and Beau W from the LGBT+ Society
Your Transgender & Non-Binary Officer LGBT+ Society
Transgender and non-binary students are in great need of spaces to call their own – spaces free of harassment, invasive questioning, and deliberate misgendering.
Our plan is to create a casual student support group with regular meetings where the community can come together. The opportunity for trans people to connect with their own community can allow mutual growth and support, and permit open conversations that might be difficult to have in front of cisgender peers.
People questioning their gender will also have an opportunity to chat with experienced trans people who may be able to offer advice and support in navigating their identity. Besides support and solidarity, we also hope for the group to be a place where people can form friendships.
“As the Part-Time Trans and Non-Binary Officer, I've noticed that trans and non-binary individuals have been marginalised at the university in several ways that have caused them to feel unseen and uncared for. While the university is making efforts to change what problems are being brought to attention, students still need a place to feel secure and cared for in an environment that has made them feel the opposite.
You might have noticed the university raising awareness of Trans Day of Remembrance in November. While Trans Day of Remembrance is about remembering the lives that have been lost in our community, Trans Day of Visibility is about celebration and spreading awareness of trans people and their contributions to society! It is also about bringing attention to the discrimination that trans and non-binary people face.
That’s why we thought it was significant to promote our community group on Trans Day of Visibility! We recognise that bringing the group to attention on this day can enable students to feel more empowered to seek out more resources regardless of identity.”
- Jonah Zalick, Part-Time Trans and Non-Binary Officer
The group’s first priority will be the wellbeing and comfort of its members. We will do our utmost to provide a space where trans students will feel comfortable to speak about their experiences and the issues that are important to them.
In a society that can feel unwelcoming to trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming people, we hope to offer an environment where people are free to be their true selves. We will also advocate on behalf of members, and offer to bring any concerns forward to the University to improve the way trans and non-binary students are treated on campus.
Though our first meetings will be digital, in the future we hope to bring our conversations to cafés and parks and anywhere our members would like to go. Alongside our meetings, we will also host a private Discord server where members will be free to use their true names, profile pictures they are comfortable with and list their pronouns.
While our group is targeted at supporting trans people and those questioning their gender or gender expression, any ally to the community is welcome to come along – whether it is to support an attending trans friend or to ask questions about how to better support the trans community. See below if you are interested in learning more about our group and wish to receive updates regarding our first meeting.
Please send your email into this Google Sign-up Form to register your interest and receive an invite at a later date!
Google Sign-up Form
If you have any questions, feel free to email us at transnetwork.plymouth@gmail.com.
Find out more out your Student RepsClick here