Trans, gender diverse and intersex people have always (and will always) exist. This is why they are an integral part of our community, and why treating people in these groups with equity is a core committment.
For those who need it, we run a weekly Trans+ support group called T-time and the Gender Expression fund, details of which can be found below.
Key points:
- Introducing yourself with your preferred pronouns makes many people feel much more at ease, and more likely to share their own.
- Trans people do not have to "pass" to be valid. (and non-binary people do not owe anyone androgyny)
- Trans people do not have to have gender dysphoria. Any gender identity is valid, no matter the reason; some people transition because living in their preferred gender(s) gives them gender euphoria.
- It is normal to be unsure, and it is okay to not have a fixed label for your gender identity.
Nobody should be harrassed because of their gender presentation. If you do experience harassment anywhere within or outside the university, please contact support and report. They are trained proffessionals who have done this before.
(Words in bold are defined at the end. For any questions about this, email su-transgender@bath.ac.uk)
If you have a problem or suggestion regarding gender inclusion, email us at lgbt@bath.ac.uk or su-transgender@bath.ac.uk and let us know. We take this seriously, and want you to get in contact - your ideas can help us make this university a better place.
What we do to help:
Gender-based discrimination.
We do not run exclusive single-sex socials or events. We make sure that every venue we go to is trans inclusive and has a friendly atmosphere for everyone - regardless of gender identity.
Harrassment is an issue faced by many people who present femininely and/or in a gender non-conforming manner. We encourage any members affected by harrasment in the university to tell support and report or university security. We have stopped using venues in the past when members have reported discrimination at those places, and we will do so in the future; we take safety seriously and aim to eradicate gender based discrimination.
A few of our activities and topics may appeal to some more than others, but everyone is welcome at any event.
If you feel like we do not do enough topics or events that appeal to you, contact our inbox with ideas!
Trans+ inclusion
(NB: Trans+ here including intersex, gender diverse and non-binary people - though not all in those groups identify as trans)
Due to barriers faced by the Trans+ community, we make active efforts to ensure trans+ students are safe and welcome at our events. Our committee is deeply committed to campaigning for positive change both in and out of the university.
The university policy has strong protections for transgender students, and we work alongside staff to keep it that way.
All students are able to use whichever facilities they feel most comfortable in, and get library cards matching their preferred name and pronouns for free.
NB: As of January 2026, we are not aware of any changes to any university procedures due to the FWS supreme ruling. The underlying university policies remain unchanged. If any changes seem to have occured, let us know and we will do our best to help.
T-Time (weekly support group)
T-Time is a weekly meeting providing a safe space for students that do not identify as cis (or are unsure of their gender identity). You won't be forced to share anything, but you are more than welcome to participate and ask questions or talk about your experiences. It is a good opportunity to get in touch with a lovely community and hear pepole with shared experiences.
T-time meetings involve:
- A warmup topic (e.g. What is something that helps ground you?),
- A main topic (e.g. What does "gender" mean to you?),
- Supportive sharing (a discussion/sharing oppourtunity),
- A low-pressure cooldown game to reduce stress.
There will be a student facilitator to keep the conversation flowing and address concerns, allowing people to be heard. We try to rotate facilitators to better represent Transmasculine/POC perspectives.
We will try to be in the same place and time every week (even weeks may have a different time).
If there are any issues with the way T-time is run, tell us at su-transgender@bath.ac.uk. No issue is too small to talk to us about.
Gender Expression Fund (£50 per student, per semester)
A couple of years ago, we set up a fund to reduce the financial barriers to changing gender presentation. You can apply for gender affirming stuff; anything from binders and packers to skirts and haircuts! The trans representative is in charge of managing the fund, and is there to help students access it. This is a trust-based scheme, and we don't require evidence of finances - it is not means-tested.
At the moment, the GEF application process is being reworked (with some exciting new changes!).
To apply to the GEF, email Charlotte the trans rep at su-transgender@bath.ac.uk with details of the item/service you want to apply for.
Things to be aware of
- It may take up to 28 days to complete the whole process. We are only human, and can't speed up some things (like postage). If it's likely to take longer than this, we will let you know.
- if you are asking the SU for a reimbursement, please claim it within the financial year. You will need to fill in a yellow expense form and provide a receipt as proof of purchase.
- If you want an item that is over £50, or is not in our list, please contact us and we will do our best.
You can talk to our staff contact at The SU by emailing su-gef@bath.ac.uk, but emailing su-transgender@bath.ac.uk will probably be easier. We can then help you with any questions.
Step 1: Submit your application
Firstly, let us know what you'd like us to order for you! You can do this by emailing one of our trans, nonbinary or gender non-conforming committee members through our trans mailbox. We will guide you through your application further.
Step 2: We will work to process and place your order
Once the form is complete and we've been in touch to find out any missing information, we will double check that:
- We have enough money left
- You're not over the £50 limit
- Your item is covered by the GEF
After that, we will grant your request, usually by ordering the item to the SU.
Step 3: We will be in touch to let you know that your order has arrived
Step 4: Collect your item(s)!
Usually, collection is from The SU, either by you or by our Trans Rep/Chair who will arrange a pick up point for collection.
- Binders
- Clothing
- Cosmetics (such as makeup, perfume, aftershave)
- Lingerie
- Minor Cosmetic Procedures (such as haricuts)
- Packer/StP device
- Procedural Documents (such as ID updates)
- Tucking underwear/gaffs
- Wigs
- Medication
- Surgery
- Fundraisers
Definitions
Trans (as used in trans woman/trans man and transgender):
In this context, "trans" is used as a shortening of the adjective "transgender". It describes a person that currently is a different gender to the one they were assigned at birth. For example, a trans woman may refer to someone that was male or non-binary at birth but is currently a woman.
This terminology has changed over time, and the word "transsexual" was once a common descriptor for trans people; at present, it is not accepted as a descriptor for the community as a whole, or a trans person you do not know (some people still identify as "transsexual", in which case use their preferred identity to refer to them).
Cis:
"Cis" is similar to trans, but it describes someone that currently identifies with the same gender they grew up as.
Non-binary (AKA enby):
In recent european traditions, people are given one of two genders: "man" or "woman". This is referred to as the "gender binary".
"non-binary" refers to genders that are not "man" or "woman", or to people that are neither men nor women. Non-binary genders do not have to be somewhere in between man and woman, and they do not have to look androgynous.
Many (but not all) non-binary people use "they/them" as their pronouns. (e.g. "I talked to Jenny the other day, they have a new puppy!")
"passing":
In trans slang, to "pass" means that you fit the expectations of your gender enough that people assume the correct gender. A feminine trans woman or androgynous enby might "pass", while a gender non-conforming cis person might not for example.
gender dysphoria:
Negative feelings from being seen as a particular gender, or from thinking of yourself as a particular gender. These feelings can range in intensity from "barely noticeable" to extremely severe and can have many secondary (mental) health effects. https://genderdysphoria.fyi is a good website for more information.
NB: not all trans people feel dysphoria. You do not have to feel dysphoria to experiment with presentation nor to socially transition.
gender euphoria:
Positive feelings from being seen as a particular gender, or from thinking of yourself as a particular gender. This can be just as extreme as dysphoria, but positively so. Gender euphoria is also talked about in the website linked above.
Cisgender people feel gender euphoria a lot of the time.
intersex:
This is a term to describe people whose sex characteristics don't fit cleanly into the boxes of "male" or "female". There are many different intersex conditions, and many go undetected.
gender identity:
The gender someone thinks of themselves as being, be it male, female or anything else (including agender).
gender modality:
A more recent umbrella term to describe how people came to be their current gender. Trans, cis and intersex are all examples of gender modalities, as well as detrans and retrans (which are terms used by some people who identify as trans, then change their mind, and people who stop transitioning and restart respectively).
gender presentation:
The way someone's outfit, voice and behaviour align (or do not align) with traditional gender roles. For example, a person who "looks like a woman" would be said to have a feminine gender presentation; this does not mean that they necessarily are a woman. Gender identity and presentation don't always match.
gender non-conforming:
This phrase describes a person whose gender presentation does not match with traditional expectations for their gender identity. For example, a woman that wears masculine outfits may self describe as "gender non conforming".