*Content Warning: this article includes discussion of violence against trans people and Jordan Peterson’s transphobic rhetoric.*
Transgender people, because of their gender, are at great risk for violence, harassment, and discrimination. At particular risk are intersectionally marginalized groups like transfeminine people, racialized trans people, and low income trans people. At the University of Toronto, Jordan Peterson and his followers have significantly perpetuated a culture of fear surrounding marginalized bodies since his rise in popularity in late 2016. Given these factors, what steps are being taken by the University to ensure the safety of trans students? Perhaps more importantly, do trans students feel safe at UofT?
The basics
Trans people refers to, as an umbrella term, all people whose gender identity does not align with their gender assigned at birth. It is important to note, however, that not all people who fit into this definition identify themselves as trans. Other terms used by students to describe their gender include: non-binary, agender, demigirl or boy, androgynous, and gender fluid. Trans people can use any, all, or no pronouns.
There are significant access barriers that exist for trans people in attaining employment or education. It was reported in one of the few studies on the experiences of individuals who identify as trans in Ontario, by the Trans PULSE Project in July 2015, that 13 percent of trans people were fired for being trans and 18 percent were turned down for a job. In an academic context, 58 percent could not get an academic transcript with their correct name and pronoun. One effect of these examples of additional barriers is that they create a significantly higher risk of homelessness, poverty, and unemployment for trans people.
The rates of violence against trans people in Ontario are staggering. In the same Trans PULSE Project study, 20 percent of participants reported physical or sexual assault due to being a trans person, and 34 percent more reported verbal threats or harassment for the same reason.
When working to understand the experiences of trans students, it’s important to note the intersectional marginalization that further impacts how a person navigates the world. Intersectionality is a concept that highlights the ways that race, class, gender, sexuality, and other factors intersect with each other and how these intersections influence our treatment of each other. Specifically, in the context of trans experience, patriarchy and fragile masculinity means that trans women and femmes are at a significantly higher risk for assault and harassment, as well as black trans people, Indigenous trans people, and low income trans people. This does not minimize the fact that trans people, as a whole, experience incredibly high rates of discrimination.
University policy and resources
In previous years, UofT has made numerous attempts to provide resources for trans students on campus. The Sexual and Gender Diversity Office provides online explanations for how to access hormone therapy and change one’s name on official documentation. One important addition to the name change policy is that students do not need to have their legal names on their academic records. They currently run a discussion group, called Gender Talk, specifically on trans experience and multiple events for queer and trans students of colour. Also provided is a map that shows students single-user and all-gender washrooms. One barrier to washroom access for trans students on campus that still exists, however, is the limited number of gender neutral washrooms. Moreover, almost all are single stall and accessible. Many non-disabled trans students are uncomfortable using them as it takes away the use of a washroom from students with accessibility needs.
Other resources on campus for trans students include: The Centre for Women and Trans People that provides food, a fully functional kitchen, and programming with an intersectional framework in mind. LGBTOUT, the longest running group for queer and trans students at UofT, hosts a drop-in centre where students can volunteer and seek non-professional support. Individual colleges also have their own LGBT student organizations, such as VicPride! at Victoria College.
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It would be virtually impossible to discuss the experience of trans students at the University of Toronto without examining the impact that Professor Jordan Peterson’s transphobic and misogynistic comments made after coming into public attention in the fall of 2016. The rise of his discourse on free speech had many consequences, a major one being the creation of a space for white-supremacist, free-speech groups on campus. Much of his public discussion surrounded his refusal to use gender neutral pronouns, due to their supposed inability to fit into proper English grammatical structure.
Following many of his most inflammatory comments, hundreds of groups, academics from across Canada and the United States, and University of Toronto faculty, among others, signed a letter to the Dean of Arts & Science, David Cameron and Provost, Cheryl Reghr, asking for the termination of Professor Peterson on the grounds of violation of University policy. Earlier that year, Peterson had been warned by Cameron and the Vice Provost of the University that he must follow the Ontario Human Rights Code to be employed by the University. More recently, Peterson spoke out against Bill C-16, which passed in May 2017 to protect gender identity against hate crimes in Canadian law. Despite his continual discriminatory attitudes towards many marginalized communities (including trans people), Jordan Peterson is still employed by the University of Toronto.
Student experience and safety
On the topic of safety, Daniela, a University College student, said “Obviously safety as a non-cis person is something on my mind, but the focus should also be more on racialized experience, and safety of black bodies. I don’t want to take up more space than bodies that experience more marginalization. I don’t think my voice as a more privileged queer person matters more.”
On the whole, other trans students who were interviewed for comments also reflected this, saying that speaking on issues where they don’t feel personally affected and representing a community over more marginalized bodies would be erasing people’s experiences by highlighting their own voices. Another sentiment that was expressed wholeheartedly was the ways that other groups, namely black, Indigenous, and specifically transfeminine people experience heightened marginalization and should be centred in discussions on marginalization.
An anonymous trans student, on the topic of racialized and trans experience, said that she “feels inherently wrong at this school […] I am brown, trans, and low income. University of Toronto’s population of student leaders are mostly cis, white, and high income. When almost everyone who is elected into power is part of one group, where does that leave the rest of us?” She went on to comment that, as for trans safety on campus, “Jordan Peterson’s tenure and the rise of alt-right groups makes me scared to exist in my body here.”
What’s clear is the ways in which representation is power, and how privileged voices are still centred and represented in leadership positions at the University of Toronto.
Another trans student, N, expressed a similar sentiment. They said that, while on campus or in class, they’ve been “consistently misgendered after correcting people multiple times. I find it difficult to go to class and interact with other students knowing that attitudes like Peterson’s are still financially endorsed by the University.”
Many students at UofT experience intersectional marginalization. Intersectionality must be acknowledged when considering any experience on campus, whether it be writing a test or living in the year after Peterson. Recognition of intersectional experiences further allows the community to empower and protect its members. Discrimination and marginalization do not exist exclusively within UofT’s campus borders. Peterson’s rise in popularity has sent ripples throughout North America, where his alt-right following has only grown. The fast metabolism of prioritizing a harmful rhetoric of freedom of speech only further allows for further discrimination and abuse. Although there are several resources for trans students on campus, fear is not obsolete. Trans students continue to feel unsafe on campus. The university administration should look further into resources for trans students on campus and encourage a community that recognizes them.
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