Student Union Paying for Binders, Amongst Other Things

[NoToBinders]

I have had to name change for this but I am a regular poster, this is just very close for my employment.

I am disgusted, shocked and outraged that this is being offered to students. Yes they are adults but what right do a student union have to pay for items that cause serious harm and damage to students?!?!?!?!

www.subu.org.uk/news/article/tnbigipluscampaign/SUBUs-new-Gender-Expression-Fund-now-open-for-applications/

What!!

I know students are 18 plus but they are still very young. And with all the other things students may need help with what a waste of money.

I have less problem with the union offering help with travel costs when there is no clinic near that university. At least that is helping students access professional help but the rest is out of order. The SU are not clinicans.

Jeez, that's alarming. Bind your breasts girls ! We'll help you! Whatareyouwaitingfor?

I've noticed that all it takes is one fervent believer, and whole organisations are infiltrated, safeguarding and just basic common sense goes out the window, and previously neutral spaces are rendered 'safe spaces' for trans, to the detriment of women's and gay and lesbian rights. We just have to keep raising our concerns, in legal, polite and respectful ways.

I am trying to work out how I can fight this and keep my job. It is tricky. There are redundancies offing and I have my mortgage and bills to pay. They have money for these vanity projects but still make redundancies. Just an absolute joke.

The damage that this could do to vulnerable students (which their are many) is unimaginable.

Would the people or person approving the applications have any liability for harm done by the products they provided funds for? There is a decent amount of research on the harm done by binders.

Is there a profession specific GC organisation who can offer advice?

Not sure what to suggest but my conscience wouldn't let me say nothing at my workplace (FE college - Stonewalled). I have raised my concerns, safeguarding and women's rights, with SMT quite a few times. They have the info now to make an informed decision, or not. I frame it as safeguarding or women's/ religious rights and avoid being accused or transphobia. I am not sure if I will keep pursuing it, although I do need to ask SMT what their actual thoughts are, as so far it's been a deafening silence. Really frustrating and I have had to detach to an extent. Good luck!

This article may help. It is not anti binding but it shows that something like 97% of users have negative effects.
helloclue.com/articles/cycle-a-z/chest-binding-tips-and-tricks-for-trans-men-nonbinary-and-genderfluid