Passed by: Senedd
Passed on: 30/10/2023
Policy lapses: 30/10/2026
Status: Completed
Officer Responsible: President
Summary
Should AberSU establish a Trans+ Volunteer Officer role as one of the Liberation Officers?
Details
Aberystwyth has been named the gay capital of Wales. In the 2021 census, Ceredigion had the highest proportion of people over 16 who identified as a different gender identity from the one assigned to them at birth (0.23%), which was the highest percentage for a local authority in Wales and the fifth-highest in the UK (Office for National Statistics). Trans+ liberation, though it is currently represented in the role of LGBTQ+ officer, often requires additional tactics and considerations beyond those adopted by a broader LGBTQ+ movement. For instance, trans+ students face difficulties in accessing healthcare, toilet facilities, and trans-inclusive health and safety information where individuals with LGBQ+ romantic and sexual identities do not have the same barriers. This is a pressing concern now because of the recent, popular backlash against trans rights. Establishing a Trans+ Volunteer Officer would establish an elected individual to continue work on trans+ liberation regardless of the identity and interests of the LGBTQ+ officer, maintaining motion within the union toward trans+ and wider LGBTQ+ liberation simultaneously. At the moment there are two, jointly elected LGBTQ+ Volunteer Officers. Since the Autumn Election has passed for the 2023-24 Volunteer Officer committee, if this idea passes, one of the incumbent LGBTQ+ Volunteer Officers would fill the Trans+ Volunteer Officer role for 2023-24, as the joint officers have already split responsibilities along these lines since their election for the 2022-23 academic year.
Submitted by: Dax Aziraphale FitzMedrud
Action List
| Action Taken |
Name and Role |
Date |
|
We have established a new Trans and GNC Officer and will hold the first of these elections in Spring 2024. Check out the new volunteer Officers page here.
|
Campaigns and Democracy Coordinator |
November 2023 |
| To recognise and celebrate our Trans and GNC community here at Aberystwyth, we also recognise national days. For example, we recognise Transgender day of Visibility and Transgender day of Remembrance. Check out our Trans and GNC Liberation Campaign page here. |
Campaigns and Democracy Coordinator |
May 2024 |
| We also have a Beyond the Binary campaign protected by policy. This campaign aims to provide free free gender affirming products to our students. Find out more here. |
Campaigns and Democracy Coordinator |
May 2024 |
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To find out more about this policy, get in touch: