York St John University makes #NoBystanders pledge

Yesterday, at less than a day’s notice, thirty-seven members of the York St John University community, including staff, students and alumni, gathered to make a pledge for fairness and kindness and never to be bystanders to bullying and teasing language. The Pro Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer both signed the pledge and stood proudly near the front of a group photo, and the Vice Chancellor signed the pledge later in the day.

The pledge (above) is part of Stonewall’s ongoing #NoBystanders campaign, which has received a raised profile for Anti-Bullying Week. Whilst Stonewall’s focus is solely on lesbian, gay and bisexual people, the pledge, along with its accompanying video (below), apply more widely to any form of discrimination. Yesterday’s pledge coincided with International Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual event dedicated to the memory of people murdered for being trans, of which there were 226 recorded cases around the world between 1 October 2013 and 30 September 2014¹.

¹ For more information, see the report by Transrespect versus Transphobia Worldwide.