From school to society, the challenges facing transgender people – a UK academic shares his personal experience
As the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations, the British Council develops relationships with people from a wide range of backgrounds. Engaging positively with diversity enriches what we do, aligned with our core values. We are committed to equality of opportunity and inclusion, and believe that our Equal Opportunity Policy (EOP) benefits employees, partners, clients and customers and helps achieve dignity at work. We believe our EOP enables us to provide the best possible service to all stakeholders.
Transgender people, all over the world, are often marginalised. They tend to be represented negatively – for example, in the entertainment industry - or stereotyped as sex workers. In reality, however, they can be found in every profession and walk of life, making a significant contribution to society.
Invited by the British Council, Professor Stephen Whittle OBE, PhD, MA, LLB , BA, Professor of Equalities Law at Manchester Metropolitan University, will share his own experiences of the transition from female to male at a time when discrimination and intolerance were commonplace in the UK. He will talk about his journey, about losing numerous jobs, and eventually becoming a lawyer committed to advocating equal rights for the transgender community. You will also hear about his personal and family life.