David Ruebain, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Culture, Equality and Inclusion) wrote to all staff on Thursday 19 June. You can read his message in full:
Dear Colleague,
Some of you may be aware of a recent decision of the Supreme Court which may impact members of our community. In For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, the Court considered the definition of the protected characteristic of sex in the Equality Act and determined that it means (to use their terms) “biological” sex and not “certificated” sex (the latter referencing those who hold a Gender Recognition Certificate in accordance with the Gender Recognition Act). Although the case concerned a challenge to statutory guidance issued by the Scottish government, the decision has wider implications for universities in ensuring non-discrimination on a number of grounds; including sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion and belief, and disability. Subsequently, the Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC) produced interim guidance about the implementation of the Supreme Court decision, but that guidance itself raises a number of unanswered questions and is being subject to challenge. Meanwhile, the EHRC has also commenced a consultation on proposed changes to their statutory Code of Practice.
As well as the Equality Act 2010, the issues raised by the judgement engage a number of other statutory and regulatory obligations for the University, including in respect of the Human Rights Act 1998, Gender Recognition Act 2004, Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, and in also relation to the Office for Students Conditions of Registration public interest governance principles. In seeking to meet all our obligations and also our commitments to equality, diversity and inclusion, we are responding to the EHRC’s consultation with a view to seeking clarity as well as compliance. In the meantime, and pending publication of the revised Code of Practice, we do not intend to act peremptorily and will keep our current policies and procedures under review.
In this month’s update:
- Spotlight on Black at Sussex
- Supporting local learners during Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month
- Pride Month 2025 and Pride events this summer
- Pride at Sussex exhibition celebrates LGBTQ+ staff - open until 31 July
- Carers Week: Online workshop for busy parents, 10 July
- Making campus easier to navigate with AccessAble updates
- Sussex colleagues recognised for impact and inclusion at Royal Garden Party
Spotlight on Black at Sussex
Black at Sussex, the five-year programme launched in 2022 to transform the Black student and staff experience at the University, has continued to progress and now has an all-Black steering committee with refreshed clearer objectives and ringfenced funding opportunities for collaborative partnerships. There are a number of exciting new developments, and you can find out more in a spotlight article on the Staff Hub. Staff and students are encouraged to connect with the programme - whether through events, research, or proposing new ideas. To get involved, contact Bud Johnston (bud.johnston@sussex.ac.uk) or visit the Black at Sussex webpage.
Supporting local learners during Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) History Month, celebrated annually in June, aims to challenge prejudice, reshape understanding and amplify Gypsy, Roma and Traveller voices and at Sussex we are committed to a range of initiatives and activities to promote inclusion for Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Showmen and Boater (GTRSB) students in higher education.
For GRT History Month, the Widening Participation team hosted an event with learners from a local primary school, including students from the Traveller community, as part of an initiative to support and celebrate reading skills. The initiative, which is a collaboration between the Local Authority Traveller Education Support Unit, the primary school leadership team, national advocacy charity: Friends, Families, and Travellers and the University, aims to address barriers to education. During May, the Widening Participation team also hosted a storytelling day on campus focused on Priscilla, the beautiful cob horse statue outside Jubilee lecture theatre, and third year Media, Arts and Humanities undergraduates delivered in-school workshops as part of their ‘Championing Literacy’ module.
Pride Month 2025 and Pride events this summer
Pride Month is marked in June in many countries across the world each year, coinciding with the anniversary of the Stonewall riots which took place on 28 June 1969. Whilst our work towards equality continues throughout the year, Pride Month offers an opportunity to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and reflect on the struggles that LGBTQ+ people continue to face, here in the UK and worldwide.
Later this the summer, from 1-3 August, Brighton & Hove Pride is taking place across the city, raising money for local LGBTQ+ charities and organisations and promoting inclusion and respect in our community. Once again, the University will be part of the Pride Community Parade on Saturday 2 August. Staff, students and alumni are invited join the University’s walking party in the parade so please register your interest by 30 June. You can also take a look at the photos from last year’s event.
Ahead of Brighton Pride, Trans Pride Brighton is coming up on 19 July, welcoming trans people, their friends, allies and families. One of the largest Trans Pride events in Europe, Trans Pride Brighton aims to celebrate trans lives, educate, eliminate discrimination and promote equality and diversity.
Pride at Sussex exhibition celebrates LGBTQ+ staff - open until 31 July
To celebrate Pride month this year, I am very pleased that LGBTQ+ members of staff are featured in the Pride at Sussex photography exhibition, open until 31 July at the Library. I am amongst those featured, and I was delighted to be part of an initiative drawing together and highlighting some of the diverse experiences of LGBTQ+ staff at Sussex. Reading some of the powerful stories of those in the exhibition took me back to the late 1970s and 1980s when I came out as a teenager and tentatively took steps towards finding a community by volunteering at London Gay Switchboard. At that time, no less than one-third of the calls that we took were abusive. I also recall the onset of HIV and AIDS followed by Section 28 and the hostility and cruelty engendered by much of the media and others. At the same time, organisations like Outrage, Regard (the UK organisation for disabled LGBTQ+ people that I was involved in), the Food Chain (delivering nourishing meals to those living with HIV and AIDS) and many others were established, amplifying the voices of our community and allies. There remains much work to do but it is also important to see how far we’ve come, and remember those who came before us.
Carers Week: Online workshop for busy parents, 10 July
We recently marked Carers Week, which seeks to increase the visibility of caring, highlighting the challenges unpaid carers face and recognising the contribution they make. This year’s campaign focuses on the inequalities faced by unpaid carers, including a greater risk of poverty, social isolation, poor mental and physical health. On Thursday 10 July from 12 noon to 1.30pm, the University’s Parent and Carer Network is hosting a 90-minute online wellbeing workshop with Dr Caroline Boyd. ‘Sustain yourself this summer: A wellbeing workshop for busy parents’ will offer support on recognising triggers, provide evidence-based tools and practices to regulate and reset, and more. Book your place.
Making campus easier to navigate with AccessAble updates
The AccessAble website and app helps make campus easier for staff, students and visitors to navigate and provides access information about venues, complete with facts, figures and photos, so that everyone can make informed decisions based on their individual needs. Earlier this year, AccessAble information about several buildings on campus was updated to reflect recent changes and improvements. Despite the financial constraints that we find ourselves in, the University is committed to improving accessibility at Sussex. To view the latest access information for our campus buildings, visit the University of Sussex page on the AccessAble website.
Sussex colleagues recognised for impact and inclusion at Royal Garden Party
Finally, I was honoured to be one of a number of Sussex colleagues invited to join the Education Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May. The event was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the impact of many on education and inclusion.
With good wishes,
David
David Ruebain
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Culture, Equality and Inclusion)
Coming up:
- Windrush Day, 22 June
- International Women in Engineering Day, 23 June
- International Non-binary People’s Day, 14 July
- South Asian Heritage Month, 18 July–17 August
Information about upcoming awareness days will be shared on the Staff Hub.
Religious days and observances:
- Litha/Midsummer (Pagan), 20 June
- Islamic New Year (Muslim), 25 June
- Feasts of St. Peter & St. Paul (Roman Catholic), 29 June
- Dhammacakka Day (Buddhist), 9 July
- Shiva Asar B'Tammuz (Jewish), 13 July
- Chokhor Düchen (Buddhist), 28 July