Proposed: Shirley Ye
Seconded: Charlotte Galpin

NB Passed unanimously at quorate GMM on 09/05/25

The branch notes:

1. The UK Supreme Court (SC) decision of 16 April 2025 excludes trans women from the legal definition of woman for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010 and stipulates that transgender men can also be legally excluded from women’s ‘single sex’ spaces.
2. The SC decision appears to be in contradiction with the 2002 European Courts of Human Rights ruling which led to the Gender Recognition Act of 2004. The ECHR recognised gender identity as integral to personal identity under Article 8 (right to respect for private life) and has stressed the importance of legal gender recognition.
3. The 25 April interim EHRC guidance on the 16 April Supreme Court ruling has no statutory status and implementing it would put the University in breach of the Human Rights Act, Equality Act, Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, and Health and Safety law.
4. The University has a preventative duty to ensure prevention of sexual harassment, which comes under the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023. Employers now must take action to assess risks and put measures in place, and cannot wait until sexual harassment happens.
5. The University has a legal obligation to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all workers, and that access to welfare facilities is a fundamental right. 

The branch believes:

1. The Supreme Court ruling is a damaging attack on transgender, non-binary and intersex people’s rights, and will further fuel transphobia, discrimination and bullying across the UK.
2. That UCU’s trans-inclusive position should be reaffirmed, promoted and strengthened in the face of this concerted attack on trans rights.
3. All staff, including trans, non-binary, intersex, and gender-diverse people, have the right to make their own decisions—as they have always done—about the facilities which are safest and most appropriate for them to use.

The branch resolves:

1. To issue a short statement to members and via social media expressing concern regarding the ruling and reaffirming our commitment to defending trans rights and supporting transgender, non-binary, and intersex colleagues and students.
2. To call on the Vice Chancellor to reaffirm and clarify the inclusion of transgender, non-binary, intersex and gender-diverse staff and students in the University.
3. To direct UCU Congress delegates to support late motion(s) from LGBTQ+ Members Standing Committee.
4. To create a BUCU and Unison Equalities network and to organise a workplace rights meeting for transgender, non-binary, and intersex members and allies.
5. To share UCU/Unison guidance/model policy on advocating for trans rights and any details of upcoming UCU LGBTQ+ ally CPD events.
6. To make a donation of £250 to The Good Law Project (Link to the Campaign: https://goodlawproject.org/crowdfunder/supreme-court-human-rights-for-trans-people/).