Beyond Reflections Trans+ Research Hub
Policies and Values
Introduction
The Trans+ Research Hub is dedicated to creating a community for researchers to discuss ideas, share results and find new collaboration opportunities, as well as amplifying community-centred research into their respective wider fields. We aim to create a safer space for trans+ researchers to come together in a variety of ways, including both traditional academic settings and queered spaces, and a centre for research that allows new researchers and those outside the community greater access to results in order to create meaningful change. Over time we hope for the hub to change the narrative of allied researchers seeking out trans+ experiences for pre-defined projects to instead ask what does the community need and what are your priorities in research.
We wish to welcome both traditional academic researchers (undergraduate, master’s and PhD students, and those employed in research fields) as well as community researchers with no formal training. All knowledge is considered valuable, including lived experience and community-based knowledge
This document outlines the core policies and values of the research hub. This is intended to ensure that all members have the same understanding and expectation of the hub and behave in a respectful and accepting manner.
Core Values
Community and Solidarity - We believe in the power of trans+ researchers supporting one another. Our community is built on mutual aid, shared knowledge, and collective celebration of our diverse contributions to understanding.
Authentic Inclusion - Trans+ experiences are diverse, with most people holding multiple identities and facing intersecting systems of oppression. Every member of our community deserves to show up as their full, authentic self. Our space welcomes people of all identities, expressions, and experiences; including gender, race, class, disability, neurodivergence, age, sexuality, immigration status, mental and physical health, and much more.
Flexibility and Accessibility - We understand that people have varying needs, schedules, and ways of participating and learning. Our hub operates with maximum flexibility to ensure everyone can participate meaningfully according to their circumstances and goals. We aim to provide a queered research space that allows our members to imagine research outside of the confines of traditional academic settings.
Dignity and Respect - Every person's identity, experience, and contribution is valued. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination, harassment, or invalidation of any person, for any reason.
Community Wisdom – All research and knowledge is recognised and respected within our hub. We support and welcome both community researchers and academic and professional researchers within our hub. We champion and respect all forms of research equally and strive to create a world where community wisdom is recognised equally.
Research into Action - We help to promote research that emerges from our community to their respective wider fields and into spaces that can turn research into action and progress.
Community Expectations
We expect all our research hub members to embody our core values, particularly in the following key ways:
- Honour the expertise that comes from lived experience alongside academic training
- Practice active listening and make space for all voices in discussions
- Acknowledge when you make mistakes and commit to learning and growth
- Avoid assumptions about others' identities, experiences, or research methods
- Respect different communication styles and participation preferences
- Appreciate that people come to the group with different life experiences including trauma and other sensitive topics
- Remain reflexive and mindful about our own positionalities and privileges
- Maintain confidentiality about personal information shared within our community
- Ask before sharing others' research, ideas, or personal details outside the hub and respect anonymity or privacy requests
- Respect boundaries around what people choose to share about their work or experiences
- Offer constructive feedback that builds up rather than tears down
- Share resources, opportunities, and connections generously
- Celebrate each other's successes and provide support during challenges
We recognise that mistakes, miscommunications and bad days happen to us all. We aim to solve any issues within the community fairly and with open, compassionate discussions. However, repeated or significant breaking of these expectations will result in members being asked to leave hub activities and they may not be able to participate in future.
Hub Events
One of the hub's key aims is to provide spaces for researchers to come together to share their research, have meaningful discussions and to socialise.
We aim to host at least one in person event per year. We are committed to using an accessible venue, which can be reached by public transport to allow as many people to attend as possible. However, there will also be the opportunity to participate virtually.
Other events will be hosted solely online and offered at various times and days to accommodate different schedules. All events longer than 1-hour will include regular and appropriate breaks.
Additionally, we will seek ways to maintain connectivity between researchers outside of set events.
Members are encouraged to connect outside of the hub and organise additional local or online gatherings. We expect that the values of the hub will be upheld during these meetings, however, we do not take responsibility for any events not organised and hosted by Beyond Reflections.
Hub Management
The Trans+ Research Hub will be managed at the highest level by Beyond Reflections and in turn its trustee board.
A steering group for the hub will be maintained under this managed by Beyond Reflections Staff, with at least one member of the hub also appearing on the trustee board.
The steering group will determine the direction of the hub and its activities but will also seek wider community input on key issues. The community is encouraged to give feedback informally whenever they would like, and formal community feedback sessions will be hosted once a year.
Membership of the steering group will regularly rotate to allow fresh perspectives. Each member of the steering group will be expected to serve for at least 6 months to ensure continuity and long-term resilience of the hub. Exceptions to be made for life altering and unforeseen circumstances.
Beyond Reflections will seek to ensure that the hub and its steering group includes a diverse range of people. Using the diversity data provided by members to identify inequalities, and implement targeted initiatives to create a more inclusive environment.
Living Document
The hub and its guiding principles are meant to evolve with our community. We commit to reviewing and adapting these based on changing needs and circumstances, and continuous learning about how to better serve our community.