We are UCU, Unite and UNISON local branch lay officers and representatives who support union members at all levels and in all areas of the University of Southampton.

We unequivocally support the rights of trans, non-binary, intersex and gender-nonconforming people, and believe that the best way to protect everyone’s rights is to protect everyone’s rights: an injury to one is an injury to all. We support the right to self-identification, and we support full inclusion in the workplace. We reject the divisive notion that trans rights and women’s rights are in conflict – rather, as is increasingly clear from events in other countries, we rise or fall together. The Supreme Court Judgment in For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers (16 April 2025), concerning the definition of ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010, reaffirmed trans people’s rights to protection from discrimination and harassment, but also threatens the broader rights, dignity and inclusion of trans, non-binary, intersex and gender-nonconforming people. We are dismayed that the UK Government appears to be prepared to allow this erosion of rights, rather than to legislate to avoid it.

In 2015, ILGA-Europe (the European region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association) ranked the UK 1st in Europe for LGBTQ+ rights, with a score of 86.00%; in the most recent ranking, released 14 May 2025, the UK now stands at 22nd place, with a score of just 45.65%. This steep decline in LGBTQ+ rights in the UK should be a source of great national shame.

For many years, trade unions have been at the forefront of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in employment and wider society, and we will be advocating within our unions for this to continue and intensify. Further, we call on the senior leadership of the University of Southampton to continue to do as much as possible (within the law, including considering legal action and lobbying for changes to the law) to protect trans, non-binary, intersex and gender-nonconforming staff and students, to limit as far as possible any detrimental action taken to comply with guidance that emerges following the Supreme Court Judgment, to mitigate any negative impacts, and to consult fully with trade unions, the Southampton University Students’ Union, and LGBTQ+ staff and student groups before taking any action. Finally, there should be no changes to provisions or practices until the Equality Act 2010 Statutory Codes of Practice have been updated and approved by Parliament, and full consideration must be given to other key legislation, such as the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, the Gender Recognition Act 2004, and the Data Protection Act 2018.

If any union member requires support for these issues, or any other matter, please get in touch with your branch in the usual way.

University of Southampton UCU Branch Executive Committee
Unite Southampton University Branch Committee
UNISON Southampton District Branch, University of Southampton Executive Committee