UVSS Issues Joint Statement Against Transphobia in Response to TERF Graffiti

"You are loved. You are seen. You are valid. You are not alone. We stand with you."

This afternoon, the UVSS Board of Directors, along with with UVSS advocacy groups UVic Pride, Society for Students with a Disability (SSD), Gender Empowerment Centre (GEM), and the Students of Color Collective (SOCC) issued a response to a spree of transphobic and transmisogynistic graffiti across campus. The statement, written by the advocacy groups, is likely referring to the harmful and false messaging stickers stuck onto various campus signposts during the break.

The full statement can be read here.

Locations where the graffiti was found include various residence parking lots and a pole directly in front of the Ring Road rainbow crosswalk. The Seagull is not publishing photos of said graffiti as it will not spread transphobic messages on its pages. The UVSS is seeking information regarding the graffiti, but has not provided contact information in its statement.

Unfortunately, it seems like it’s not a singular occurence.

Last December, UVic Pride put out a statement claiming that there has been “an unfortunate rise in violence targeting trans people both on campus and in online spaces” and stated that trans students felt unsafe at UVic. In that statement Pride did not specify any events, but outlined several ways that UVic and the campus community could help. The Seagull has reached out to Pride for comment.

Evidently, some members of the campus community are continuing an unsafe environment in our school.

In a coordinated fashion, UVic also posted a similar statement today. In it, it acknowledges that that UVic “has not always been supportive of trans, Two-Spirit and non-binary members of the campus community” and that much more work has to be done, amongst other corporate platitudes. UVic also recommended students to contact the overworked EQHR office and to report problematic posters or materials to Campus Security.

“Watch UVic social media for upcoming opportunities to join the community conversation," the statement concludes.

Transphobia and violence against trans people is shitty and we don’t have any snarky jokes or comment for this article, other than the fact that the UVic social media team is literally the only good thing about this university. But I would like to quote a section of the statement to serve as an ending:

To our trans feminine and trans women community members: You are loved. You are seen.  You are valid. You are not alone. We stand with you.