Beyond the Gender Binary: An Intro to Trans Inclusion

Vic Valentine

vic@equality-network.org

Scottish Transgender Alliancewww.scottishtrans.org

Established in 2007 Funded by the Scottish Government Equality Unit Work to improve gender identity and gender

reassignment equality and human rights Provide training and policy guidance to employers and

service providers around Scotland Inform trans people about their rights, run conferences,

and hold skills development events to empower trans people

Part of the Equality Network: www.equality-network.org

Puzzle Exercise

Match the words to their definitions

Transsexual People

TransWomen

TransMen

Non-Binary People

Cross-Dressing People

The trans umbrella:

Transgender people/trans people

equivalent inclusive umbrella terms for anyone whose gender identity or gender expression does not fully correspond with the sex they were assigned at birth.

Transsexual people:People who identify clearly and consistently

with the “opposite” gender to the one assigned to them at birth

Slightly outdated term – best practice to use 'trans' or 'transgender'

OK to use if this is the language they are using

Often, but not always, take hormones and may undergo various surgeries

Non-Binary People:Do not identify solely as men or solely as

women. Instead their gender identity is between or beyond the man/woman binary or they have no gender.

Inclusive of other terms such as gender-fluid, genderqueer, non-gendered, agender.

Might use gender-neutral titles and pronouns

Might take hormones or have surgeries

Not the same thing as being intersex

Cross-dressing People:

People whose gender expression includes dressing in clothing which does not fully correspond with the sex they were assigned at birth

Still identify with gender assigned at birthEnables person to

feel more confident or comfortableexpress different aspects of personality experience different interpersonal dynamics

Gender Identity

Refers to how we see ourselves in regards to being a man or a woman or somewhere in between/beyond

Gender Expression: Refers to all of the external characteristics and

behaviours that are socially defined as either masculine or feminine, such as clothing, hairstyle, make-up, mannerisms, speech patterns and social interactions

Gender Reassignment

• Any part of a process of transitioning to live in a different gender (regardless of whether any hormonal or surgical changes take place)

Equality Act 2010

Gender reassignment protected characteristic defined as:

Proposing / undergoing / undergone

Any part of a process for reassigning sex

Changing physiological (biological functioning) or other attributes of sex (social functioning)

No longer requires any medical interventionsPlus perception and association so very wide

Equality Act 2010

• People who provide separate and single-sex services are only able to provide a service differently to a trans woman in a way which is less favourable in “exceptional circumstances”

• These circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis, so ‘blanket’ bans on trans women accessing services are not acceptable

• Single-sex services are able to make proportionate adaptions to how they provide a service to ensure they can meet the needs of trans people

Gender Recognition Act 2004o The legislation which allows a person to

change their legally recorded gender from male to female or vice versa, including on their birth certificate

• If a person has been granted a gender recognition certificate, they are provided with enhanced privacy rights

• Disclosing someone’s trans history, if you obtained this information in an official capacity, is illegal

• Service providers are not entitled to see or record details of a GRC

Transpose Video Booth

What to do if a student or member of staff comes out

• Don’t panic!

• Ask them what would work best• Do they want to tell their

classmates/colleagues themselves?• Would they rather a member of staff did

it?• Do they want to change their presentation

now, or wait until a break in the course?

Ways to be more trans inclusive: gender-segregated spaces

• Allow trans people to use the toilets they feel most comfortable using• Based on their gender identity

• Not requiring a trans person to be at a particular stage of their transition

• Consider having some gender neutral toilets• Makes people with non-binary identities feel

welcome and included

Ways to be more trans inclusive: names

Your Contact Details(you can apply using your preferred name if different from your legal name)

Initials or forename:

Surname:

Preferred pronoun:(i.e. he/she/they)

Ways to be more trans inclusive: names• Allow people to be recorded as their

preferred names whilst attending college

• People should be able to change their names with exam boards, SAAS, and UCAS• If you or they are unsure – contact us and we

can help!

Contact Info

Vic Valentine, STA Policy Officer

Office: 0131 467 6039

Email: vic@equality-network.org

www.equality-network.org

www.scottishtrans.org

@LGBTIScotland & @ScottishTrans on twitter