Protestors clash with transphobes at Edinburgh University

Yesterday afternoon, around 100 protestors descended on Edinburgh University’s Gordon Aikman lecture theatre. Bearing trans and pride flags, students, staff, and activists came together in a powerful show of solidarity to protest against Edinburgh University’s decision to screen Adult Human Female, a transphobic documentary.

Some university staff and student groups had called for the screening to be cancelled, arguing that the film contained content that was “a clear attack on trans people’s identities”. The protest was organised by the University of Edinburgh Staff Pride Network and LGBTQ activism group Cabaret Against the Hate Speech after the university refused to engage with these concerns.

Standing behind a crowd barrier, protestors took part in a sing-along. Others joined a conga line and danced to Born This Way. Doorways into the lecture theatre were also blocked by masked protesters (a separate group from the main protest), with university security staff refusing to intervene and ultimately deciding to cancel the screening.

This is the second time a screening of the film has been cancelled. It was also meant to be shown back in December, but was also successfully stopped by protestors who occupied a screening room just minutes before the film was due to start.

Katie Nicoll Baines is co-chair of the University of Edinburgh Staff Pride Network and co-organised the protest with Cabaret Against the Hate Speech. “I felt it was important to organise the protest so that we can demonstrate to our trans colleagues and students that there are people who support their rights and want to make the university a place where they can be safe and included,” she says. “Transphobia has no place in civilised society and our places of learning.”

“The atmosphere in our protest was joyful, celebratory and supportive. When a woman who was angry about our protest attempted to accost me while I was giving a speech, those around me were quick to step in and prevent her from getting near me. I felt very safe and supported by my fellow protesters,” Nicoll Baines continues.

Grace Woodhouse, 19, attended the protest as a member of Edinburgh University’s Gender Liberation Society, a new student society which seeks to promote gender equality and inclusivity on campus. “Being genderfluid, I fall under the transgender umbrella and very much consider myself a trans person,” they say. “Attending the protest felt as essential to me as taking my next breath of air. It is so important to not only challenge transphobia, but completely dismantle it from the ground up: transphobia has no place at the University of Edinburgh, or anywhere else for that matter!”

“The whole protest felt like a beautiful celebration of queer joy, a statement that we are here, and we deserve the same protection from harassment as any other student,” they continue. “That’s all we want, to be treated with the same respect and dignity as everyone else.”

Jaime Prada, Edinburgh University’s LGBTQ+ Liberation Officer, also attended Wednesday’s protest. “The protest was a celebration of queer joy. Not a single person was violent,” they tell Dazed. “People were singing, dancing and chanting all through the evening. People of all ages came together to celebrate that we are here and stronger than ever.”

Prada is critical of the university’s decision to allow the event to be organised in the first place. “They knew the harm it would pose to the queer community on campus. Still, they keep defending that they respect trans people,” they say. “Yesterday we proved that they do not have the power to do so. We take it from them. They will respect us.”

An Edinburgh University spokesperson said the university remains “fully committed to upholding freedom of expression and academic freedom, and facilitating an environment where students and staff can discuss and debate challenging topics. We are disappointed that again this event has not been able to go ahead.”

"However, with protesters restricting access to the venue, safety concerns were raised should the event proceed. It was therefore decided that the screening should not continue.”

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