I am saddened - but unfortunately not surprised - that last week we witnessed one of the worst examples of right-wing-bigotry for some time - and I don't mean the shenanigans at Tory party conference (that's a story for another day/blog).

No, I'm talking about the media onslaught directed at a students’ union's attempt at becoming more inclusive to its members [by providing a gender neutral toliet].

I am not alone in believing that, a students’ union, by it's very nature, has a responsibility to be inclusive to all of its members; to be responsive to their needs and therefore strive for greater inclusivity where needed. By this I am not simply referring to a union's legal responsibility but its moral duty to all of its members and what should be its positioning as a progressive part of contemporary society.

When situations like this arise in the media, it brings home to me the importance of recognising and realising that being truly inclusive means action, not just words. That we should be willing and prepared to take the necessary action in order to change lives for the better. It is not about being a talking shop or wearing a badge of inclusivity.

The case in question was a practical attempt to provide a truly radical and forward thinking facility. What the media failed to report was that only one set out of many toilets were renamed - inline with a mandate from students’ union policy. The more 'traditionally' branded toilets remained in place throughout the rest of the facilities.

We must resist the arguments that pitch instances like this as a case of 'us versus them' - that an emphasis is being placed on the importance of one group's rights at the expense of another's. This is not the argument that we should or want to be having. We should not let it take our focus off the main aim - to represent and deliver the best we can for all of our members and to stand united against all forms of discrimination.

To me, what has happened this week, illustrates how much more we have to do to make our students’ unions inclusive. It also causes us to sit up and take note of how, when the media or wider world are quick off the mark to label something as “political correctness gone mad”, it reveals a certain unwillingness to understand or ignorance of issues - a perspective that can often be found at the root of discrimination in society.

The Women's Campaign stands up to all forms of discrimination and will support students’ unions who endeavour to do the same.

You can check out Lucy Brookes' blog for an LGBT perspective on this issue.

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