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Latest News
LGBT
LGBT|Latest News
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Legal Protection for People of Trans Experience
Since 2008 trans people who ‘have undergone, intend to undergo or are undergoing gender reassignment’ are covered by legislation and cannot be discriminated against in the provision of Goods and Services. Click here for here information about your legal rights in the UK.
Gender Recognition Certificate
The Gender Recognition Act (2004) allows a trans person who fulfils certain criteria (for example, living full time in their preferred gender for two years) to obtain a certificate (the Gender Recognition Certificate) which can be used to change their sex on identification documents and which allows the person, for example, to marry in their acquired gender. A GRC is not necessary in order for a person to be covered by the 2008 legislation. Click here for more information about GRCs.
Equal Bathroom Rights
In the UK, people of trans experience have the legal right to use the bathroom of the gender with which they identify. For example, women of trans experience (designated male at birth) have the legal right to use women’s bathrooms and changing facilities, even if they do not ‘pass’ well, even if they have not had any medical interventions or changed their legal ‘sex’ on identity documents.
Despite legal protections, trans individuals do report continuing discrimination and mistreatment. At a recent London Pride event (still looking for a good link about this), a woman of trans experience was harassed by a police officer for using a women’s bathroom. After trans organisations complained, the police issued a public apology and acknowledged that they acted illegally. If you encounter unequal treatment, it is important to report it to someone! You can talk to Gavi, the Trans Representative Officer of the LGBT Society, about your options.
Gender-Neutral Toilets
While trans individuals are entitled to use the toilets and changing facilities that match their affirmed gender identities, cases of harassment like the incident at London Pride and even assault of trans individuals in public toilets remain widespread. Additionally, sex-separated public toilets are often difficult or uncomfortable for trans individuals who don’t ‘pass’ or people with androgynous or non-binary gender presentations. A gender neutral toilet, also known as a unisex toilet or a gender-free toilet, is a public restroom or toilet that is available for use by people of any gender or combinations of genders. Many people of trans experience choose to use disabled toilets when official gender-neutral options are unavailable, even if they do not require adjusted access facilities. We hope to begin a map of gender-neutral toilets on campus and in Guildford in 2010. Contact your Trans Rep Gavi if you would like to help with the map.
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