Gender Diverse Awareness Training - University of Gibraltar
When my friends Jason and Allison Desoiza contacted me to invite me to Gibraltar’s first Gender Diverse Awareness Training, I was genuinely interested to attend and learn more. I know some of their personal story and the challenging journey for their transgender son. I admire their strength and courage to be the very first, the trailblazers, to bring education and awareness to this subject in Gibraltar.
The Gibraltar Equal Opportunities Act 2006, makes provision for the protection of people against discrimination on the grounds of sex (section 6); gender reassignment (section 7A); gender reassignment discrimination absence from work (section 7B) and sexual orientation (section 10). Yet until this date, no education or awareness training has taken place locally.
Attendees were therefore invited from a cross section of Gibraltar’s community who may encounter transgender people in the workplace, such as: teachers, learning support assistants, health professionals (doctors, nurses, ambulance staff), youth and social workers, the civil service, customs officers, prison staff, police and voluntary organisations such as Gibraltar Samaritans and the Citizens Advice Bureau and lawyers.
Mermaids UK founded in 1995 is a Charity which supports children and young people under the age of 20 who are gender variant and their families. Mermaids promotes education and awareness and were the Trainers for the event. There were also some powerful testimonials shared by local transgender youth and some of the parents.
The core learning outcomes were:
- Understanding gender and sexuality
- Terminology
- Vulnerable young people
- Toilets and changing rooms
- Policies and guidelines
- How can we improve LGBT + equality?
- Visibility and support
Having defended and won cases of discrimination in employment on grounds of pregnancy and been an avid supporter during my youth of the Charity ‘Gibraltar Disability Awareness and Information Group’ and co-founder with Eric Rowbottom of Gibraltar’s first Shopmobility Centre (2000) for the disabled and elderly in our community; the topic of discrimination generally, is close to my heart. The issue of Bullying is also another topic I have worked with closely, having legally represented many targets of workplace bullying. I was deeply saddened to learn that in UK, 45% of young trans people have attempted suicide, almost 1 in 10 have received death threats, 84% have self-harmed and 64% have experienced bullying at school.
Mermaids UK offers: help and support services; online forums; residential weekends; support groups; lobbying and advocacy; training and legal support. They hold the core values of support, kindness and understanding. Their motto is ‘Embrace, Empower and Educate’.
“As a growing charity Mermaids has been successful in raising awareness of the difficulties facing transgender children and young people and campaigning for better education, treatment and acceptance of the same. The work that we do has expanded and we now have an effective and skilled in-house legal support person to provide guidance for families and young people facing discrimination and prejudice. As part of the role, they will oversee and develop a legal framework for Mermaids to grow this offering, including developing a network of legal support, delivering training and keeping up to date with the latest legislation.”
After the huge success that this Training was, both Jason and Allison registered Gibraltar’s first Charity in support of Gender Diverse children and young people called Gib Mermaids.
For further local information, support and guidance please contact:
Email: gibmermaids@gmail.com
GibMermaids is Registered Charity 314
For Mermaids UK please contact:
Email: info@mermaidsuk.org.uk
Website: Mermaidsuk.org.uk
Mermaids is a Registered Charity Number 1160575