Inquiry into transphobia
Launch a serious inquiry into transphobia across Unimelb campuses and in Unimelb services.
With rising hostility against Transgender people and transphobic violence across the world, the University of Melbourne unfortunately remains a site in which this takes place. We seek to instigate a serious inquiry into the transphobia that occurs at UniMelb through gathering responses from students across campuses. We need to highlight the impact of the University’s complicity in failing to protect Trans students, as well as UMSU’s lack of care and advocacy for Trans students, including deadnaming students on their own website and emails! This report would help us gather vital information and data to put forward to the University to push for change, identify how UMSU can advocate for these students better, and eventually make the campus a safe space for all.
Why this matters
Far too many Trans and Gender Diverse students face discrimination, harassment, and abuse at this University, with concerns and complaints frequently going unheard by both the University and the Union. A comprehensive inquiry into transphobia will be a crucial start to meaningfully tackling these problems and help Trans students in finding safe space at university.
How we implement it
Taking direction from the implementation of the People of Colour department’s incredibly important Racism at UniMelb Reports, we will facilitate a large-scale survey that allows students to express experiences of transphobia that they have faced at the University of Melbourne. These findings will be presented to the University in order to work towards better outcomes and student experiences for Trans students, as well as giving guidance to the Union’s elected representatives on how UMSU can better support Trans student needs and safety.