Purple Training, a two-day conference on gender identity, was launched last weekend in Maynooth University, making it the first of its kind in Ireland. The event, which was organised by the Maynooth Pride Society, offered workshops on topics ranging from Trans 101 to make-up tutorials.
The conference, held on Saturday March 12th and Sunday March 13th, was attended by 71 students, with delegates from nine colleges including Maynooth University, Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), Queen’s’ University Belfast (QUB) and Trinity.
A variety of speakers led workshops over the weekend, including the Public Relations Officer of the Irish Trans Student Alliance and the founder of Non-Binary+, Kay Cairns, as well as the Trans Officer of Maynooth University Pride Society.
Speaking to The University Times by email, President of the Pride Society, Dee Campbell, emphasised the “huge success” of the two-day conference.
Campbell cited the support of Maynooth Students’ Union (MSU) as being helpful in the organization of the event, but emphasised that the Pride Society organized “all the speakers, facilitators, workshops, artwork, t-shirts and all the extra little details”.
She further explained that: “This weekend was about highlighting the transgender and gender non-binary voices in our society, about hearing their struggles, celebrating their successes and learning to explore gender identity and expression in a safe environment.”
Speaking to The University Times, Karen Kane, incoming Vice-President for Welfare and Equality in MSU, said: “It was great that there was a platform available for those who may not understand transgender struggles and transgender issues to come and talk to people who are actually trans and to have a platform that isn’t intimidating.”
Purple Training is building on the well-established annual conference weekend, Pink Training, which is hosted by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). The two-day event gives students across the country a chance to engage with LGBT issues in a safe and welcoming environment.
Pink Training is helped organized by the country’s LGBT societies, with each society allowed to bring a group of students. Trinity’s LGBT society, Q Soc, selects its delegation through an application process, with Q Soc members who have not previously attended given priority.
Kane hopes that Purple Training will run again next year, while Campbell is hopeful that “all colleges will follow in Maynooth’s footsteps and put trans issues on the agenda of the Student Union Officers”.
Correction: March 16th, 2016
An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Kay Cairns was the Trans Officer of Maynooth University Pride Society. She is the Public Relations Officer of the Irish Trans Student Alliance and the founder of Non-Binary+.
Sinéad Baker also contributed reporting to this piece.
