Leeds University staff and students have asked that senior staff use gender pronouns during meetings.
They signed a letter insisting the university’s vice-chancellor Simone Buitendijk also includes her pronouns in email signatures to show solidarity with the transgender community.
LGBT staff and student groups accused the university of having ‘a deeply entrenched culture of transphobia’ in the letter sent in August — a month before Ms Buitendijk took up the job.
It asked her to ‘rapidly address, and effectively rectify, the current discriminatory condition’.
Students and staff at Leeds University (pictured below) demanded that senior staff use gender pronouns in meetings.
And it accused the university of being ‘a hostile environment for trans staff and students’, according to The Times, a claim the university denies.
The letter accused the university of storing transgender people’s ‘dead names’ — their pre-transition names — in computer systems.
They called for a culture that encourages pronoun sharing, such as in seminars and meetings.
The university stated that it strongly denied the claim that it created a “hostile atmosphere” for transgender students or staff, but acknowledged that we need to do more and work with our community to address concerns.
They signed a petition insisting Simone Buitendijk be made vice-chancellor of the university and include her pronouns within email signatures in solidarity with the transgender community
“We have a clear commitment to ensuring equality and diversity for all.
‘The use of pronouns — in emails or in meetings — is a personal choice. We don’t have policies, but we can provide support and resources that will help you make the right choice.
After being accused of transphobia, a philosophy professor had to quit her job.
Professor Kathleen Stock, 48 (an expert in gender and sexual orientation), quit her job at University of Sussex this week following a campaign of bullying and harassment that called her a transphobe.
Professor Kathleen Stock, 48 (an expert in gender and sexual orientation), resigned this week after she was labelled a transphobe by a bullying and harassment’ campaign.
Professor Stock received death threats as a result of her ‘transphobia’ — an accusation she denies
Professor Stock received death threats as a result of her ‘transphobia’ — an accusation she denies.
The philosophy professor was at the centre of a blazing row — and a student-led protest — at the university after saying she believes gender identity does not outweigh biological sex ‘when it comes to law and policy’.
She also stated that people can’t change their biological sex, which provoked anger from protesters.
Professor Stock resigned on Thursday after stating that it had been a difficult few years and that she hopes other universities can learn from her experience.