The Equality Act 2010 defines gender reassignment as a protected characteristic. This provides legal protections to those who propose to undergo, are undergoing, or have undergone gender reassignment. The Trust embraces these principles.
Trans people may choose to transition either medically or socially.
The Trust recognises that some transgender people may not wish to medically transition. These people must similarly be treated with dignity and respect.
Equality legislation has a broader reach than just those who belong to these groups. Protection is extended to those associated with them – family members or carers, for instance. It is also extended to those who are perceived – even wrongly – to be trans where they suffer a ‘detriment’ as a result.
This legislation seeks to ensure that the privacy of trans people and their families is respected and that they are treated with dignity on all occasions. The Trust is proudly committed to delivering such standards of behaviour to all its service users and staff.
The Trust recognises that a person’s gender identity may not be that associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. The Trust has a zero tolerance of transphobic behaviour and discrimination. Staff must not discriminate on any grounds, including gender reassignment (as defined in the Equality Act 2010). Equally, staff must not discriminate against gender variant people who are not covered by the Act, e.g., those who do not currently intend to transition or those who identify as non-binary. We also stand with our trans and gender variant staff, volunteers, and students, and will not tolerate any discrimination against them.
Alongside the Trust’s awareness of this growing community who identify outside the gender binary, is a commitment to gain a better understanding to inform our policies and practices.
Please refer to the Procedure and guidance for supporting transgender staff and service users for further understanding the broad scope of transgender.