UK

UNION WORKERS DEFEND LGBTQ RIGHTS

PCS opposes V&A’s removal of trans rights and LGBTQ+ materials from museum

PCS opposes a decision by the director of the V&A to remove a poster supporting transgender rights and 2 books about LGBTQ+ identities from the Young V&A.

The decision to remove the poster and books ahead of the museum’s reopening on 1 July was made by the V&A director, Tristram Hunt, last week. PCS urges the V&A to reverse this decision.

The local PCS branch has been working closely with the V&A Staff LGBTQ Working Group and our trade union comrades in Prospect to explore ways to have the popular poster returned to display, and the books to the Young V&A (YVA) shop.

On Monday (26 June), members of the LGBTQ Working Group, Prospect reps, and several of our branch reps attended a meeting with Tristram to discuss the issue. The group stated that the object should be returned to display and the books to the shop. This request was denied.

Reps will continue to work closely with the LGBTQ Working Group, the MASS Action Group, Prospect reps, and PCS branch members to find a way forward and resolve this issue.

The poster, which was produced by the charity Stonewall, reads: ‘Some people are trans, get over it!’. The books removed from the YVA bookshop - Seeing Gender and Here and Queer - are illustrated books on gender identity on queerness.

Steven Warwick, PCS Culture Group Secretary, said: "PCS is absolutely clear that we oppose the removal of these objects and urges the V&A to reverse this decision. The poster was simply a statement of fact that “Some people are trans”. That the director of the V&A considers this to be a controversial statement is disappointing

"Seeking to hide the existence of Trans people contributes to the idea that being Trans is somehow unacceptable and adds to the current climate of transphobia and trans-erasure, putting trans people, particularly young trans people, at risk. It is particularly galling that this decision was made during LGBTQ+ History month.

"PCS gives our unwavering support to our trans and non-binary members and to the larger trans and non-binary community."