The University of Leicester in England made updates to its guidance on trans-inclusivity for museums and galleries last month. The university made the change, despite receiving litigation threats from the campaign group Freedom in the Arts (FITA).
The 44-page document in question was “regularly reviewed and kept up to date”, the university told Arts Professional, following a series of updates last month.
Earlier this year, in an August 7 letter, FITA threatened to sue the university over “misleading” guidance on furthering transgender inclusion in museums and galleries and demanded that it remove “Trans-Inclusive Culture” guidelines from its website.
FITA’s argument echoes a ruling by the UK Supreme Court earlier this year, claiming that “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act refer only to biological women and biological sex.
The guidelines, which were published by the university’s Research Center for Museums and Galleries (RCMG) two years ago, offer a framework to “generate inclusive public spaces and workplaces.” It also addresses legal and ethical questions about trans inclusion.
The university guidelines are backed by the support of twenty-two cultural and heritage groups, including the International Council of Museums UK (ICOM UK) and the Association of Independent Museums (AIM).
A second letter, sent by FITA on November 3, argues that the new guidance is “unlawful”, objecting to the guideline’s bathroom etiquette, which states, “trans visitors should be free to use the bathroom that they feel most comfortable using.”
In response, a University of Leicester spokesperson told Arts Professional, “The university is considering the latest correspondence from FITA, and it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
