A PETITION to disband a Reading University Students’ Union society has been launched over concerns about the nature of discussions held by members.
Turning Point UK society members stood outside the Edith Morley Building on Thursday, February 9, asking students for their opinions on transgender court proceedings.
One of the questions they asked was: “If convicted, given a custodial sentence – should a trans woman go to a male or female prison?”
As the event had not been given prior permission, the group were asked to stop.
The group is a derivative of Turning Point USA, which claims to stand for “free markets, limited government, personal responsibility and duty to others”.
Elliott Gardner, a member of Reading Labour, created a petition asking for the group to be expunged from campus.
He said: “People are entitled to have their views, but these are inflammatory statements and loaded questions which make the university an unsafe place for trans students.
“Groups which promote anti-trans, far right messaging should not be allowed.”
A spokesperson for Reading Pride said: “We are aware of an anti-trans protest that took place on February 9.
“It’s important that universities are places where views can be freely shared, but when this crosses the line into bullying and harassment of people simply going about their day, we’d expect the university and its Student Union to uphold its diversity and equality policy.
“We extend our support and solidarity to trans and gender-non-conforming students and staff of the University who will understandably be very concerned by the actions of this group.”
Reading Labour also issued a statement, which urged the students’ union to disband Turning Point UK as a society and to issue a statement condemning its views.
Turning Point UK was contacted for comment but had not provided a statement at the time of publication.
The petition can be found here.
