Hi Ellie
Only just seen this through the weekly digest email but I can give the definitive answer.
My corps email address is lgbtadvisor2@aircadets.org and, in that role, I have been a member of the LGBT+ working group of ASPIRE, the organisation’s inclusivity team, with a specific brief to advise at commandant level on transgender policy.
I am a transgender member CI of a squadron in No 1 Welsh Wing, Wales and the West Region.
We are (literally this week) about to publish non-binary and transgender guidance in Annex D to PI104 (location for the information of senior staff who may need help). This sets out in detail the corps policy, which is completely inclusive, both of cadets and CFAVs (Cadet Forces Adult Volunteers).
Wings may not know who their LGBT+ rep is, because, at wing level, this will be a new appointment. Up until earlier this year, reps were organised at a regional level, and they, plus two specific advisors, remain the core team. However, all wings were instructed to nominate a wing LGBT+ rep and most are now in place.
Regional rep email addresses are of the form lgbt.region@aircadet.org where region is replaced by the regional abbreviation - ww, ce, sni, laser, sw, north.
We are also rationalising the training packages, from hour long conference talks to day long workshops, that those reps will be able to provide, or deliver.
While I, personally, have never found any environment in the entire corps to be anything less than welcoming and inclusive, we have dealt with isolated incidents of homophobic or transphobic behaviour, sometimes of the robust humour kind, sometimes of the misuse of social media kind. These have been dealt with appropriately.
Just as an example of how supportive the corps is, consider the guidance on allowing transgender cadets to participate in competitive sport.
It comprises a flow chart with notes, but I’m just going to summarise briefly.
Would the cadet pose any health and safety risk, to themselves or others.
If yes, they may be excluded, else, of no:
Would the cadet have a competitive advantage.
If no, they may compete, else, if yes:
Would the competitive advantage matter?
The only time a cadet should be excluded for competitive advantage is is the competition is against an external organisation, in which case, the rules of the sport’s governing body should be followed. In any internal competition, the competitive advantage should NOT be used to exclude the cadet.
The basis is that the primary aim of the Air Cadets is to provide an enjoyable experience for all cadets.
Now none of this is intended to contradict the sensible guidance to shop around and find a unit that fits you. But transphobia, overt or unconscious, is, absolutely, not tolerated, at commandant level, both outgoing and incoming.
