Breitbart A leading higher education trade union in Britain has drawn criticism after supporting so-called trans-racialism, in which people can self-identify as another race.
Last week, the Edinburgh branch of the University and College Union (UCU) wrote on social media to reassert its position in favour of âtrans inclusionâ, saying that âliberation cannot be built on exclusionâ.
The post linked to a 2019 document entitled âUCU position on trans inclusionâ, in which the union argued for its members to be able to self-identify as âbeing black, disabled, LGBT+ or womenâ.
A staff member at Edinburgh University, who declined to be named out of fear of drawing the ire of the union, told The Times that the issue of trans rights was being âweaponisedâ in order to force out academics who fail to follow the party line.
âThe branch is being used as a platform for an ideological crusade, with no resistance from University of Edinburgh management,â they said.
The union said that it is committed to an âintersectional approach within all its work.â
âThe concept of intersectionality has at its core an understanding that within marginalised groups there are a number of different identities, such as white women, Black women, disabled women, cis women, trans women,â the document explained.
âListening and trying to understand difference within groups, from an intersectional position, is key to building the strength of the group as a whole,â it added.
this baffling statement begins by boasting that the union has enabled people to self-identify as black and disabled and iâm not sure it has. or should have. https://t.co/sgXI1AUIX5
— euan mccolm (@euanmccolm) October 9, 2021
The issue of transracialism has been a contentious issue on the progressive left, with some coming out in favour of the idea and others likening it to the leftist taboo of cultural appropriation.
It first gained international attention after a biologically white American branch president of the NAACP, Rachel Dolezal (pictured above), announced that she identified as âblackâ in 2015, despite having two white parents.
Taking language often used to justify transgenderism, Dolezal argued that ârace is a social constructâ and therefore she should be able to identify with another race. In 2017, Dolezal legally changed her name to Nkechi Amare Diallo, a West African name that means âgift of God.â
More recently, British internet personality Oli London announced that he had transitioned into a Korean, after having a swath of surgeries in order to look more like Jimin, the famed singer of the K-Pop band BTS.
âHey guys! Iâm finally Korean. Iâve transitioned,â London said in a video posted in July, adding: âI identify as Korean â thatâs just my culture, thatâs my home country, thatâs exactly how I look now.â
Again, using the logic of the left, London wrote: âBeing Transexual is the same as being TRANSRACIAL because you are born in the wrong body.â
The story enraged many in the pro-trans community as it seemingly deconstructed their arguments, however, the transracial influencer said that he would not back down in the face of âradical woke trollsâ.
A spokesman for UCU defended the unionâs position on self-identification, saying: âSelf-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.â
Jessica Krug, a professor covering African history at George Washington University also known as Jess Lam Bombera, admitted to lying for years about her race. "…napalm toxic soil of lies…" https://t.co/JXdhQh4Yi3
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) September 4, 2020
