UK Supreme Court Equality Act ruling and our commitment to inclusion
You may have seen the news regarding the UK High Court ruling on the definition of "woman" under equality legislation. We want to affirm our unwavering commitment to supporting people of all genders.
For some of our community this will be a worrying and uncertain time. We are a trans inclusive university and we unequivocally support our transgender colleagues and students. Importantly, the judgment reiterates protections for trans people under the protected characteristic of gender reassignment. Trans staff and students, whether or not you have a Gender Recognition Certificate, remain protected from discrimination. That does not change.
At this stage, it is still unclear how the ruling will affect day-to-day practices across organisations. We will work with other universities and our membership organisations to understand the implications of the ruling. We are also awaiting further statutory guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), expected this summer, which will support public institutions in interpreting and applying the ruling.
We believe that everyone deserves to work and study in a space that is safe, respectful, and free from discrimination, bullying, or harassment. If you experience or witness anything concerning, Report + Support is available for anyone wishing to raise an issue or access support. We all have a personal responsibility to treat each other with respect and dignity; there is more that connects us than divides us.
Our Staff Network, Pride, offers support and allyship. Staff can also explore the Health, Safety and Wellbeing section of the People Hub, which includes resources to support your mental health and overall wellbeing. This includes the Employee Assistance Programme - a free and confidential 24-hour service available to all BU staff. In addition, the LGBT Foundation has a range of useful resources which includes a support line.
There is also a range of health and wellbeing support available for our students. These include our Student Wellbeing service and the University Retreat, which is open Monday to Saturday, 2pm to 9pm. The Student Assistance Programme provides a free, confidential helpline 24/7 (with support available in over 200 languages) and other resources for all students.
