Thousands sign NUS petition to end deadnaming at university campuses

The National Union of Students Queer/LGBTI+ Department has recently launched a campaign to end deadnaming across university campuses in Australia. The campaign highlights the current lack of accessibility for many students to enter and use their true names across university platforms, as well as for staff to be able to access and view their students’ true names. The NUS seeks to not only change this, but also ensure guides are provided for students on how to change their names across university platforms.

According to a survey conducted by the NUS Queer Department and the RMIT University Student Union’s Queer Department, 83% of respondents noted a deadnaming issue at their university, with 93% saying that they have personally been deadnamed on student facing platforms.

NUS Queer Officer Jordy Duffey spoke to Rabelais about how their university experience has been affected by deadnaming, and how important this issue is to them:

“The Issue around deadnaming is a personal issue for myself considering the fact that I am a non-binary student and deal with situations and issues where I’ve updated the university about my chosen name but continue to be deadnamed in various platforms.”

“This issue is something I was always passionate about addressing, having already engaged with the queer collective I was always connected with queer advocacy to address these key issues.”

Jordy spoke on how widely supported the campaign is among students and advocates:

“This topic of issue has been one that’s been passed around collectives for many years now. I’ve worked closely with the RMIT student union, and they’ve done a similar campaign addressing deadnaming on student platforms, lasting for 6 years (could be longer). Receiving a very wide response and support from collectives around the country. The petition has been shared around the nation (just under 2000 signatures), which shows that staff and student stand in support and solidarity with us in being our true authentic selves.”

At the time of publishing, the petition has exceeded 2000 signatures. If you want to help ensure university campuses are safe and inclusive spaces for all, you can sign the petition here: https://www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/stop-deadnaming-at-universities

A number of organisations outside student politics have come out in support of the ‘Stop Deadnaming at Universities!’ campaign:

“Queer Unionists in Tertiary Education released a statement of support saying that this needs to be addressed, and Just Equal came out in support (national LGBTIQ support organisation that addresses key issues nationally and lobby MPs and such).”

In their statement of support, Queer Unionists in Tertiary Education highlight the need to recognise students’ identities:

“Make no mistake, there is no such thing as a “preferred” pronoun or name. These are our names, or pronouns, and they are non-negotiable.”