Top universities are ‘queering the curriculum’ in a bid to make their courses more welcoming to transgender and non-binary students.
A number of Russell Group institutions are trying to embed ‘queer perspectives’ into courses, a Daily Mail audit shows.
The word ‘queer’ was once considered offensive but has now been ‘reclaimed’ as an empowerment term – by both transgender activists and the gay community.
The idea comes from the movement to ‘decolonise the curriculum’, which involves adding more ethnic minority writers to courses.
However, last night campaigners said including transgender theory in course content could result in the ‘subversion of reality’.
In one example, Warwick University has a ‘Queering University Programme’ which promotes ‘queer pedagogies and perspectives.’
It encourages teaching in which is ‘inclusive of trans people’ and advises lecturers to ‘include trans and gender diverse content in teaching’.
Meanwhile, Exeter University has produced a booklet written by students for academics, advising them to ‘include trans people in the curriculum’ as part of a ‘trans inclusion booklet’.
A number of Russell Group universities are incorporating ‘queer perspectives’ into their courses, a Daily Mail audit shows (file photo)
It said there should be ‘more coverage of academics and theorists who are transgender’ as ‘this will show that transgender identities are normal’.
In 2023, UCL’s prestigious Barlett architecture school produced a research paper called ‘Queering the Bartlett curriculum’.
It said the case for a ‘queer curriculum’ is ‘particularly relevant in the built environment fields’.
The paper criticises architects’ ‘reliance’ on single-sex toilets, claiming they are associated with ‘violence’ and suggests ‘queer methodologies’ could be embedded in architecture teaching.
This year, Leeds University’s medical school published research advocating ‘queering the curriculum’, asking: ‘Why is your medical curriculum straight?’
It suggests medical students learn about ‘non-traditional pregnancy and birth’ as well as ‘diverse family structures’.
SOAS, University of London, said in 2022 guidance to staff that they should ’embed trans, non-binary and intersex awareness into their curriculum’ and invite guest lecturers who are ‘trans, non-binary or intersex’.
And in 2021, York University’s English department held a seminar to ‘celebrate ways of queering the curriculum’, including studying ‘encounter LGBTQ+ writers from across history’.
Last night, Stephanie Davies-Arai of the campaign group Transgender Trend said: ‘This shows that queer theory – which claims that objective biological reality is a social construction – has become a virus that is damaging education and freedom of inquiry.
‘The aim of queer theory is the destabilisation and subversion of reality.
UCL’s Bartlett architecture school (pictured) published a paper in 2023 highlighting architect’s reliance on single-sex toilets and suggesting ‘queer methodologies’ to be embedded in teaching
‘The reality of being male or female is described as something which must be stamped out, along with the rights of female students, such as female toilets.’
An Exeter spokesman said its booklet is currently ‘being reviewed’ but gives ‘practical advice’ about being ‘more inclusive’ and is ‘not designed to prescribe teaching practice.’
A UCL spokesman said: ‘We have policies and protections in place for LGBTQ+ staff and students and are continually listening to our community.’
A SOAS spokesman said staff are ‘encouraged to include the stories and voices of the LGBTQ+ community across their teaching’ but it is ‘at the discretion of academics.’
Leeds, York and Warwick did not respond to requests for comment.