University event aims to 'normalise trans lives'

Organisers of a university conference have said they are "normalising trans lives" by reuniting researchers across healthcare, science, cultural studies and the arts.

Charity Beyond Reflections has organised Thursday's event at Bournemouth University, with topics including facial feminisation and masculinisation surgeries, and transgender representation in film.

It comes just weeks after the Supreme Court ruled the definition of a woman in the Equality Act should be based on biological sex.

Gillian Russell, chief executive of Beyond Reflections, said the event, which was organised a year ago, was "not political" but instead aimed to be "a beacon of hope for the trans community".

She said researchers would be presenting their work, as well as looking to collaborate and share data and feedback.

"We wanted to create a foundation for really good, qualitative, trusted trans research," she said.

"At the moment, when research is taking place, trans voices are not heard so we wanted to create a place where that is possible."

In films, Ms Russell said it was "sort of a cultural thing to see trans people as villains all the time, especially in the horror world, so we've got someone coming in from the [US] to talk about how trans horror is moving".

"We will also talk about what we call gender euphoria - the hope for the future, the way that gender can be a liberating and enhancing experience," she said.

Ms Russell said trans healthcare would also be explored and "how the community gets though the various political and health challenges".

"I think we exist, at the moment, in a sort of environment which is quite negative for trans people," she continued.

"We want this to be a bit of a beacon of hope and light to the trans community, showing that the vast majority of trans people just want to get on with their lives..."

She said researchers and allies of the trans community would be attending the conference.

"Their job is showing that we are normalising trans lives as trans lives have been for the last thousands of years and people are just getting on, living their lives."

Dr Kate Jupp from the university's Public Involvement in Education and Research (PIER) Partnership said: "One of our key aims in PIER is to support the people who experience marginalisation to carry out research themselves into the issues that matter to them.

"We believe this is the best way to bring about social change.

"Beyond Reflections are a very important, trusted community partner who can bring together the people with experiences of the issues we want to explore."

Her colleague Stevie Corbin-Clarke added that the aim was for the conference "to lead to a new research hub, developed by Beyond Reflections and led by the trans+ community".

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