How To Be A Trans and Non-Binary Ally
Part of the Diversity Week 2021 series
How To Be A Trans and Non-Binary Ally
Lee Thair-White, Chair of Spectrum Students’ Network Michael Petticrew, Vice-Chair of Spectrum Students’ Network Becky Minta - Primary Education, Year 1 Megan Ball, Student Union PresidentWhat is Trans?
You might have heard of the terms Cisgender and Transgender; Cisgender refers to someone who identifies with the gender they were assigned at birth, and Transgender or Trans refers to someone who does not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth.
For example, when a child is born they are usually assigned ‘male’ or ‘female’ on their birth certificate by a doctor, based on their reproductive organs. Someone who is trans does not identify with the marker on their original birth certificate.
What is Non-Binary?
A Non-Binary person is someone whose gender does not fit within the male/female gender binary, which also means that they do not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth, meaning that they also fit within the definition of Trans. That is not to say that all Non-Binary people have to identify as Trans, as some prefer not to use this label. So, although Non-Binary people are widely considered a part of the Trans community, never assume that someone who identifies as Non-Binary also identifies as Trans.
How does someone know if they’re Trans or Non-Binary?
Everyone’s experience with gender identity is different, and this applies to both Cis and Trans people. You may have heard of the term Gender Dysphoria, the discomfort felt by someone due to an incongruence between their body, or societally perceived gender, and their internal sense of gender identity.
“When I first came to terms with my gender identity, it was because I had started experiencing Gender Dysphoria, particularly once puberty had really set in. As a man who was raised as a woman, and went through oestrogen-induced puberty, my Gender Dysphoria stemmed from the fact that I dealt with periods monthly, and my chest had developed enough that I always needed to wear a bra.”
Alongside Gender Dysphoria, there is something else that can be an indicator for Trans and Non-Binary people: Gender Euphoria.
“The best way I can describe Gender Euphoria is through my early experimentation with gender presentation. Everyone presents their gender identity in a different way, and I began presenting as masculine by binding (the act of compressing the chest with clothing to create a flatter appearance) and wearing men’s clothing. The first time I tried on a binder (the compression garment) and looked at my flat chest, I felt a huge rush of euphoria: that is gender euphoria.”
Gender Euphoria can come from many places, such as dressing a certain way, acting a certain way, being called by the name and pronouns you are most comfortable with, etc. It is also important to note, that there is no right or wrong way to be Trans or Non-Binary.
What are pronouns, and why is it important to respect them?
Pronouns are an aspect of language that we use everyday to refer to the people around us. For example, if a friend is driving you home and their phone rings, you might pick up the phone and say, “Sorry, she/he is driving.”
We use pronouns to refer to people when we don’t need to use their name, and to make it clearer who we’re talking about, pronouns can be masculine (He/Him/His), feminine (She/Her/Hers) or gender-neutral (They/Them/Theirs). There are also many modern pronouns, referred to as Neopronouns, used by the Trans and Non-Binary community, such as Xe/Xem/Xyrs or Ze/Zir/Zirs.
Using the correct pronouns is a sign of respect, and deliberately using the incorrect pronouns is a show of disrespect and discrimination.
If you’re unsure of somebody’s pronouns, the best thing to do is ask!
“Hi, what pronouns do you use?”
If you get someone’s pronouns wrong, the best thing to do is apologise, correct yourself and move on.
“I saw him - sorry - I saw them yesterday.”
How to be an Ally to Trans and Non-Binary people
Listen to what Trans and Non-Binary people have to say:
Firstly, to be an Ally, you need to listen to what Trans and Non-Binary people have to say, and keep up a discussion on how you can be more inclusive. Within the Student Union, there are Representational Networks that are designed to champion, and be the voice for, underrepresented groups within the student body. Spectrum Students Network exists to champion the LGBTQPIA+ community and, subsequently, gives a voice to our Trans and Non-Binary students; through campaigns and events, Spectrum raises awareness and provides education of the community, and stands as a safe space for all LGBTQPIA+ students and allies.
Normalise pronoun use:
As well as asking people for their pronouns, you should normalise stating your own pronouns, which will create an inclusive and safe environment for Trans and Non-Binary students to share their pronouns. For example, the Student Union has committed to signing emails with both the name and pronouns of the sender.
Use inclusive language:
Changing the gendered language we use everyday to gender-neutral language can go a long way in creating an inclusive environment. You can do this, for example, by replacing “Hey guys” with “Hey everyone”, or replacing “Welcome ladies and gentlemen” with “Welcome esteemed guests” and so on.
Support Trans and Non-Binary charities:
International, national and local charities can make a difference in the lives of Trans and Non-Binary people with a multitude of campaigns and services. For example, Mermaids is a UK charity for Trans, Non-Binary and gender-diverse children, young people, and their families. Mermaids provides a host of services, including a dedicated helpline, web chat, and texting service for those needing support and/or advice, and a bunch of really useful resources on their website. Donating to charities like Mermaids, and attending their events, can help fund potentially life-saving services for young people in crisis.
Student Union commitments:
The Student Union is committed to being a Union that represents all students and is an ally to Trans people in our community.
Pronoun usage:
The Student Union has committed to using pronouns at the end of every email sign off, however, we will also ensure that we include pronouns in all of our other media and resources. We would also like to continue working with and encouraging the University to do similar with pronoun usage, potentially introducing a Pronoun Usage Policy.
Gender Neutral Bathroom Policy:
The Student Union champions a policy in which students can use whichever bathroom they feel most comfortable in. We will continue to champion this campaign and raise awareness around this with our venue reopening sometime in the near future. We will also continue to work with the University to ensure gender-neutral bathrooms are commonplace on campus.
Tackling Period Poverty:
Our #BattlingPeriodPoverty campaign has been running for just under two years now, but it is important that we always remember that trans and non-binary people can also menstruate. We will commit to focusing on making our language around this campaign as inclusive and gender-neutral as possible.
A Staff Guide to Supporting Trans Students:
The Student Union team has committed to co-writing, with Spectrum Students’ Network, a guide for staff on how they can better support their students who are from the Trans community. This guide will be for staff, such as lecturers, to encourage them not to shy away from the topic and to offer advice and insight on how to educate around gender identity.
Useful Resources
Other Transgender allyship guides:
- GLAAD - Beginners Guide to being an ally to trans people: https://www.glaad.org/amp/beginners-guide-being-ally-to-trans-people
Useful Resources:
- GLAAD Media Reference Guide - https://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender
- Stonewall’s Glossary - https://www.stonewall.org.uk/help-advice/faqs-and-glossary/glossary-terms
- Gender Minorities, Trans 101, Glossary - https://genderminorities.com/database/glossary-transgender/
- Mermaids (Charity supporting Transgender youth) - Might be useful for anyone going into professions with young people/family - Homepage - Mermaids (mermaidsuk.org.uk)
