Trans woman student abused and shoved out of toilets at Leeds UniversityEvery time we have to use a public bathroom we take a change on being assaulted or worst. This woman didn’t cause any trouble she was there just to do what she had to do when she was assaulted. She is not the first trans-person to be attacked in a restroom and she will not be the last. At a support group last Thursday we were discussing how sometimes we get complacent and let our guard down and that is we are most vulnerable.
Pink News
by Joseph Patrick McCormick
8 February 2013
According to reports, Alexis, a Microbiology student who was transitioning from male to female, was shouted at and shoved in the chest by two girls, during a night called Fruity.
[…]
A Leeds University Students’ Union spokesperson told this paper: “As a Union we support the right of transgender students to use the toilets in which they feel most comfortable. A member of our security team explained the situation to the two females and they said that they understood.”
Alexis, a second year student, did not wish to take any further action but added: “The security staff were excellent, and I really appreciate what they did”.
In England where this happened they have very good anti-discrimination laws but this still happened. Here in New England we also have good laws protecting us, but all it takes is for one person to cause trouble. We might have gone to the same place a hundred times, but all it takes is just once.
On a positive note; Massachusetts Department of Education issues their guideline for gender non-conforming students this past week…
Guidance for Massachusetts Public Schools: Creating a Safe and Supportive School Environment: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity
You can find Connecticut’s guidelines here…
Guidelines for Schools on Gender Identity and Expression
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