The University of Leicester in the UK last month updated its guidelines for trans inclusion in museums and galleries. The university made the change despite the threat of a lawsuit from the Freedom Movement for the Arts (FITA).
The university said the 44-page document was “regularly reviewed and kept up to date” Art MajorThis follows a series of updates last month.
Earlier this year, FITA threatened to sue the university in an Aug. 7 letter over “misleading” guidance on promoting transgender inclusion in museums and galleries and demanded it remove the “trans culture” guide from its website.
FITA’s argument echoes a UK Supreme Court ruling earlier this year, claiming that “women” and “sex” in the Equality Act only refer to biological women and biological sex.
The guide, published two years ago by the university’s Research Center for Museums and Galleries (RCMG), provides a framework for “creating inclusive public spaces and workplaces”. It also addresses legal and ethical issues surrounding transgender inclusion.
The university guidelines are supported by 22 culture and heritage groups, including the International Council of Museums UK (ICOM UK) and the Association of Independent Museums (AIM).
A second letter from FITA, sent on November 3, argued that the new guidelines were “unlawful” and objected to the guidelines’ restroom etiquette, which states “trans visitors should be free to use the restroom where they feel most comfortable.”
A spokesman for the University of Leicester responded: Art Major”, “The university is considering FITA’s latest letter and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time. “
