A union that represents academics has reasserted a commitment to allowing its members to self-identify as being black, disabled or female.
A Twitter post by the Edinburgh branch of the University and College Union (UCU) said: “A reminder of UCU’s strong position in support of trans inclusion. Liberation cannot be built on exclusion”.
It contained a link to a policy document endorsed by the UK-wide union that states: “UCU has a long history of enabling members to self-identify, whether that is being black, disabled, LGBT+ or women.
“UCU supports a social, rather than a medical, model of gender recognition that will help challenge repressive gender stereotypes in the workplace and in society.”
One staff member at Edinburgh University, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, claimed that trans rights activists within the union were seeking to “weaponise” the issue and force out academics who expressed scepticism over the concept of self-identification.
“The branch is being used as a platform for an ideological crusade, with no resistance from University of Edinburgh management,” they said.
Robert Davis, a professor of religious and cultural education at Glasgow University, commented on Twitter: “Was Rachel Dolezal a member [of UCU]? Might have saved her a lot of bother.”
Dolezal, a US university professor, was dismissed in 2015 after she was revealed as pretending to be African-American.
She taught Africana Studies at Eastern Washington University and served as president of a branch of a black civil rights organisation.
She admitted to being “biologically born to white parents” after her mother and father presented her birth certificate to a newspaper. Dolezal now identifies as being “transracial” and goes by the name Nkechi Amare Diallo.
Hilaria Baldwin, wife of Alec Baldwin, the Hollywood actor, insisted she was from Spain in dozens of interviews and spoke with an Iberian accent.
This year, Oli London, an English influencer and singer, faced criticism after claiming to identify as Korean and having eyelid and nose surgery.
In July, Professor Braden Hill, of Edith Cowan University, an Aboriginal Australian, co-authored an essay that criticised “transracialism”, writing: “There is a difference between affirming your gender as a trans person and choosing to live and appropriate another culture.”
James McEnaney, a college lecturer, author and commentator on Scottish education, defended the union’s position. Addressing critics of self-identification, he said: “What’s the alternative to self-ID in those cases? What systems are supposed to be put in place to police it? Genetic tests to see if someone is black enough?”
A spokesman for UCU said: “Self-ID is not new and is standard practice across the UK. Adults will regularly self-ID when accessing national and local government services, the NHS, and when applying for jobs or completing the census.”
In June, Ann Henderson, a former rector of Edinburgh University, said that she feared for her safety on campus after students falsely accused her of transphobia. Neil Thin, 60, a senior lecturer, stepped back from teaching at Edinburgh University this year after campus activists claimed he had voiced “problematic” views on social media and had penalised candidates who challenged him. He was vindicated after an eight-week investigation.