Outcry as core member of anti-trans hate group LGB Alliance announced as the next Rector of Edinburgh University.

Simon Fanshawe, a co-founder of Stonewall who left the organisation due to his anti-trans stance, was appointed without a vote after another candidate was disqualified on a technicality.

Staff, students and alumni are campaigning to have Fanshawe’s appointment rescinded on the basis that his values do not reflect those of the University of Edinburgh community.

What can you do?

Staff, students and alumni have been urged to raise their concerns about the appointment of Simon Fanshawe with Peter Mathieson, Principal of the University of Edinburgh (principal@ed.ac.uk)

Alumni have set up a petition calling for Fanshawe’s appointment to be withdrawn.

An open letter expressing the collective dismay of University of Edinburgh students and staff will be published soon.

Allies can support UoE members by raising awareness of Simon Fanshawe’s record of anti-trans hate speech and boosting calls for his dismissal on social media.

For more on the LGB Alliance please have a look at the references at the end of this blog.

References

The staff and students open letter and how to sign it

Edinburgh University Alumni Against Transphobia open letter and how to sign it

LGB Alliance condemned by Trades Union Congress in vote

LGB Alliance: Neo-Nazis and homophobes among the group’s supporters

LGB Alliance’s London address leaked as 55 Tufton Street, home of notorious right-wing groups