UCU academics oppose Glasgow Uni trans rights consultation

The Herald Scotland

15-06-2025

The review of the institution's gender policies is being carried out in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman in late April.
In the wake of the judicial decision, which ruled that the term 'woman' derives its legal definition from biological sex, not gender identity; transgender women have been banned from a range of female-only toilets and sports teams, including at the Scottish Parliament.
The UCU is a prominent supporter of trans rights. (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA)The email, sent last Thursday, reads: 'Communication with our membership is already evidencing that this consultation is causing distress and fear for trans, nonbinary and other gender diverse staff and students, by exposing them to scrutiny and debate about their rights, and requiring them to feel obliged to respond in defence of those rights – rights that the University is already on record as stating it supports as 'an inclusive community'.
'We recommend that UCU members do not respond to this consultation until we can issue further guidance. We are also preparing to ask UofG EDU to cancel this consultation and to discuss with us better ways of supporting staff and students around the Supreme Court decision.
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The communique goes on to state that the UCU 'unequivocally' promotes the rights of trans and nonbinary staff and students, adding: 'We believe that this type of consultation on the rights of marginalised groups increases their marginalisation, severely impacts their wellbeing and safety, and does not provide a sound basis for determining policy or practice.
'Human rights are not up for debate. It also increases the atmosphere of fear and uncertainty that has already been engendered by the Supreme Court ruling.'
For Women Scotland took the Scottish Government to court in April. (Image: PA) A spokesperson for campaign group For Women Scotland has hit out at the union, telling The Herald: 'UCU appears to inhabit an alternate reality where universities can pick and choose which laws they obey. It benefits none of their members if the union or the university stick their fingers in their ears like a petulant toddler. It also reflects poorly on their capacity to understand pretty basic concepts.
'This is not a consultation on rights, it is about the application of the law. Women who understand the reality of sex-based violence and discrimination and work at the university also have human rights, and it may astonish the UCU to learn that they also have a responsibility to represent those members as well as the select elite they prefer to pander to.'
Meanwhile, Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at human rights charity Sex Matters, said the 'era of no debate' was over.
She told The Herald: 'Gender ideologues' attempts to thought-police and silence gender-critical academics in recent years have been shameful. It's hard to understand how this can continue even after the Supreme Court judgment.
'This letter raises an obvious question: what is UCU Glasgow afraid of? Could it be that it cannot counter gender-critical arguments on their merits, and must resort to shunning and ostracism instead?'
Protestors blocked a screening of Adult Human Female in Edinburgh in the spring of 2023. (Image: Levi Pay) The academic union is no stranger to facing criticism over its position on trans rights.
Two university lecturers behind the gender-critical film Adult Human Female recently sued the UCU over claims they had been discriminated against because of their views.
Dr Deirdre O'Neill of Hertfordshire University, and Michael Wayne of Brunel University, told the Employment Tribunal that the union's public opposition to the film amounted to unlawful discrimination.
Members of the UCU Edinburgh branch objected to the film being shown on campus in 2022 and 2023 over 'misinformation' relating to trans and nonbinary people.
However, in a ruling handed down this week, a judge dismissed the claim, ruling that the pair had not been treated detrimentally under the Equality Act 2010.
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Mary Senior, Scotland official UCU, said: "This is a sensible and common sense decision, and we thank Judge Laidler and the tribunal for their careful deliberations.
'It cannot be right that a trade union is not able to protest peacefully within the law and to employers when material is presented on campus which it believes attacks the human rights of others.'
Asked for comment on the UCU declining to participate in the consultation, a University of Glasgow spokesperson refused to be drawn.
Instead, they repeated a statement previously issued to The Herald, noting: 'The University is committed to being an inclusive community and ensuring that everyone on our campuses is treated with care and respect. We are actively considering the Supreme Court ruling and are consulting with colleagues and students.'
UCU Glasgow has been contacted for comment.