HUB Radio, the student university station based at the University of the West of England, reports that the LGBTQ+ Society has criticised the University's sponsorship of Bristol Pride. In a press release explaining why, LGBTQ Soc report:

"In September 2025,

UWE Bristol changed their Trans/Non-Binary policy claiming it was in response to a letter from the EHRC. hey claimed "ongoing engagement with trans and non-binary communities"

This is not true.

The University made no attempt to reach out to us (UWE LGBTQ+ Society) or any trans and non-binary staff.

They did open a consultation.

However, the document states that this consultation had already been completed. We are fairly certain they never intended to take in the feedback given.

As far as we can tell, no trans people at all were involved in making these policy changes.

The University states:

"All members of the University community are expected to comply with the legal obligations placed upon them. This includes:

- Using facilities designated for individuals based on their sex or using gender neutral facilities."

This is the core addition for compliance with the EHRC, no longer allowing trans people to use the correct spaces. The policy does also state this will not and cannot be policed by the university or by students, but this only raises further questions as to how any of this policy is expected to function.

The supreme court ruling is not yet law.

And the EHRC is not demanding immediate policy change. The university rushed this out with little to no regard for the safety or privacy of their students.

They lied to us directly.

In meetings with our committee, UWE made claims about the EHRC guidance that were simply not true.

Bristol Pride should not be sponsored by UWE.

They have proven themselves to be an institution that does not care about the safety and wellbeing of their trans and non-binary students.

Sign our petition."

If you are interested in signing the petition from LGBTQ Soc, then visit https://uwe.lgbt/pride