New UWI gender policy in the making

A major row is developing at The University of the West Indies (The UWI) over a proposed new gender policy which will require everyone connected to the regional institution to be referred to by the gender with which they identify.

The new policy focuses on a person’s gender identity — cisgender, transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary, genderqueer, among others; rather than their sexual orientation — heterosexual, homosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, same-sex loving, same-gender loving, women-loving women, men-loving men — among others.

It is said to be designed to foster a secure environment in which all students and staff members, across the spectrum of gender and sexual identities, on all campuses feel protected and safe from any form of gender-related violence and create living, working and learning environments across the university which provide for people of all gender identities and sexual orientations.

But Jamaica Observer sources say a group of Christian lecturers are objecting to the proposed policy and are planning protest actions while not ruling out taking the matter to court.

“In terms of a national priority, this is way beyond the science and the research. While it is part of the discourse of gender advocates, there is no consensus that the United Nations has a clear position where it recognises gender identity as a fundamental human right.

“There are many curves that people have to go through to get to that point, and beyond that there is still a lot of science against arguments supporting that notion,” said one UWI source opposed to the policy.

“Within the context of a Jamaican society our constitution reigns supreme, and our constitution speaks to discrimination based on the male or female gender, and so I don’t think there is anywhere in the constitution where a person believes that he is a he or she, or whatever it might be,” added the source.

Another source said: “I think I understand, however, where the policymakers in the university may want to go, but in the larger scheme of things it is probably jumping the gun. There are many other things to be resolved in the society more than this.”

The sources pointed the Observer to what is dubbed 2022 revision of The UWI Gender Policy: Promoting Gender Justice for All.