A message following the Supreme Court ruling last week (16 April)
Last week the UK Supreme Court handed down a judgement which found that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act refer only to people born female, and exclude transgender women. Whilst transgender and non-binary people do remain legally protected under the Equality Act, we know that some members of our community are feeling uncertain in the wake of the ruling and are concerned about the practical impact on their daily lives.
We want to assure our community that The University of Manchester remains wholly and deeply committed to the values of equity, diversity and inclusion. We remain committed to providing a safe and supportive environment where every colleague, student and community member can flourish, thrive and fulfil their potential. The best universities are inclusive universities.
We will be working through the implications of the ruling, and closely monitoring the impact, in the coming weeks.
Since the ruling last week members of our community have been in touch with the Students Union to voice concerns and seek reassurance. The Students Union will be continuing to engage with you and listening to your concerns and questions.
In the meantime, please do look out for each other. Many will feel affected by the ruling for a range of different reasons. We also know this issue has generated considerable debate in our community. Disagreement is inevitable in a diverse society, but it must be expressed in ways that demonstrate our fundamental respect for each other. If you know someone is feeling anxious or concerned, please reach out to them, ask how they are feeling, ask how you can support them. A tiny gesture of care can make a huge difference.
If you are feeling impacted by the events mentioned here and need support we have a number of tools on offer that might be helpful:
Support services
- Counselling and Mental Health Support – Free and confidential wellbeing support from the University’s Counselling and Mental Health service.
- Support for LGBT+ students – Find tailored wellbeing advice and support, including peer groups, social events, and how to connect with our LGBT+ student community.
- SU How’s You – A student-led wellbeing project designed to make it easier to talk about how you’re feeling and connect with the right support, social events, and community – find out more.
- Trans and Non-Binary Student Services – A helpful guide developed by the Students’ Union to local and national services, including health, advocacy, and support groups: Trans Student Service Providers (PDF).
Staying safe and reporting incidents.
- SafeZone: Download our free SafeZone App, which allows you to quickly and discreetly call for help or share your location if you feel threatened or unsafe in and around The University or, other Manchester campuses.
- Report and Support: If you or someone you know has experienced or witnessed any form of hate or have a safeguarding concern, we would urge you to report this to the University’s Report and Support Team where trained advisors are ready to provide support. You can give your name or do this anonymously.
For trans students specifically, you can also call Mindline Trans+, which is a confidential, emotional and mental health support helpline for trans and non-binary people, or simply speak to a friend or colleague who you trust.
Humanity is one of our core values at The University of Manchester. Thank you for upholding this value and ensuring that our university remains a safe and supportive place for all of our staff and students.
Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor
Sarah Fox, Executive Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion