We, the undersigned students, staff, and alumni of the University of Edinburgh, stand firmly with trans members of our community and condemn all instances of transphobia taking place on our campuses.

We respect the rights of all trans people to self-determination and bodily autonomy, and we demand that the University protect the trans members of our community from disingenuous “debates” about these rights.

We are the majority at this University and in broader society. Despite this, the Senior Management Team has yet to explicitly support trans rights, or condemn the actions of a minority who are doing significant harm to the wellbeing of the trans community.

We believe the University is failing in its duty of care by refusing to take a clear stand and hold those who promote hatred and disinformation to account. 

We are calling on the Principal, Peter Mathieson, and the wider University of Edinburgh Senior Management Team to immediately:  

1. Release a statement expressing their unconditional support for trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming members of our community and their commitment to protecting them from any harm.
2. Launch an investigation into the conduct of University of Edinburgh students and staff who have actively created a hostile environment for trans members of our community, through deliberate misgendering and dead-naming, hate speech, defamation, and the spreading of disinformation about the trans experience.
3. Commit to reviewing the University’s Trans Equality Policy to ensure it meets the needs of trans students and staff, and includes non-binary and gender non-conforming identities.

The Students’ Association’s Trans and Non-Binary Campaign urges all students, staff, and alumni supporting trans people and trans rights to sign this petition and ensure that our voices are not only heard but embedded into official University policies.