Murcott during launch of #TransAwareness@UP website

The University of Pretoria (UP) recently hosted a lunch to celebrate the launch of the TransAwareness@UP microsite.

Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Tawana Kupe delivered a keynote address to attendees, which included members of UP’s official queer social society, Tuks UP&OUT, as well as representatives from the Law Faculty, the Transformation Office, the Student Representative Council (SRC) and the Institutional Transformation Committee.

Following engagement with key stakeholders such as the Centre for Sexualities, AIDS and Gender and the Transformation Office, the Law Faculty together with the Department of Institutional Advancement developed and launched the new microsite, which provides information and resources for staff and students on transgender inclusion and sensitisation.

Professor Melanie Murcott, Associate Professor in the Department of Public Law, opened the event by stating the intention of the microsite. “The website is intended as a resource for both staff and students to implement the Trans Protocol and to advance gender justice at the University. This event aims to celebrate how far we have come, but also to bring staff and students together in order to reflect on where we need to go.”

Director of the Centre for Human Rights Prof Frans Viljoen offered insight into the Trans Protocol. “Stemming from UP’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, the Trans Protocol was adopted in 2020 as the guiding approach to work with transgender, intersex, gender non-conforming and non-binary students and staff members, and to build an inclusive space for all. Subsequently, students may now use their preferred name, pronouns and gender marker on UP platforms.”

“UP recognises that in some cases, the prejudice – and even harm – that trans people at higher learning institutions may face are intentional, but that it can also come from a place of misinformation and assumptions around gender,” Prof Kupe said. “This is why a resource such as the TransAwareness@UP website is so valuable. It acts as a knowledge bank for everyone at UP – whether you identify as trans or not – and offers staff and students the opportunity to start a conversation about gender diversity and its intersectional nature.

“The site provides lecturers and tutors with suggestions on how to create a more gender-inclusive classroom by, for instance, making use of gender-neutral terminology and incorporating trans perspectives into the curriculum. Students are advised on how to share their preferred pronouns with lecturers and their peers, and clued in on the kind of recourse available to them in cases of misgendering. The site also offers staff and students a helpful guide on how to change their gender marker on the UP Portal.”

Nafisa Ayman Roza, Vice-Chair and Transformation Officer at Tuks UP&Out, talked about why trans awareness matters. “We can’t recognise trans people only during Pride Month but ignore their existence for the rest of the year. Trans people exist, and that’s reason enough for them to matter. I would like to thank the VC and all the other key stakeholders for their constant support.”

Roza then handed over a memorandum compiled by students that contained a list of concerns about the need for greater transgender recognition and inclusion at UP and practical suggestions on how the University’s management can respond to the needs of transgender individuals.

A video of the full event will be made available at a later stage.