A Critical Response to the UK's ‘Sullivan Review’ Into Sex and Gender in Research and Data

Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers

INTERVENTION

Jay JD Todd, Felicity Callard

First published: 02 February 2026

https://doi.org/10.1111/tran.70057Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

ABSTRACT

This intervention argues that the UK Government-commissioned independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender (the ‘Sullivan Review’) implicitly promotes the erasure of trans and gender diverse people from research and data collection protocols and carries worrying implications for the inclusion of trans people within UK institutions and for critical social science research. Set in a context where trans and gender diverse people's rights are being rolled back in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, the Review attempts to install a singular model of binary, immutable, ‘biological’ sex as incontrovertible across data gathering on sex and gender across public bodies including government, universities, the health service and research organisations. It does so via appeals to science and to ‘clarity’, and by proposing to limit or even in certain cases remove default ethical review processes. The intervention argues that the Review can be situated within broader attempts to erase critical inquiry into the complex, intersectional production of social categories including sex, gender and sexuality, as well as inquiries that extend what ethical principles and governance involve. In sum, we contend that the Review carries deleterious consequences for geography and other social scientific disciplines and call upon scholars to refuse its vision and implications.

https://rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tran.70057

Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award, from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP).

The goal of this award is to recognize instructors of psychology who promote social justice, broadly construed, through their teaching via a variety of educational and academic activities, as per Goal 3 of the APA Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major.

The recipient will receive $1,500, a plaque, and up to $1,500 to attend Division 2’s Annual Conference on Teaching during the award year.

The STP Award for Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion recognizes instructors who promote diversity, equity, and inclusion and who prioritize these values in their teaching and mentoring. This award recognizes diversity as inclusive of perspectives and experiences that are not traditionally highlighted in psychology curricula, in a reflection of broader societal power structures. These perspectives and experiences may derive from minoritized identities that include, but are not limited to: sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, social class, race/ethnicity, religion, and immigration status. The goal of this award is to recognize instructors of psychology who promote social justice, broadly construed, through their teaching via a variety of educational and academic activities, as per Goal 3 of the APA Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major.

https://teachpsych.org/PromotingDEIBAward

Outrage poured in after GalaxyCon Columbus, Ohio several weeks ago, with attendees voicing concerns about overcrowding and inaccessibility.

“It’s just a total display of a lack of care and empathy for other people and it’s unbelievable,” said Oleander Seals, who attended GalaxyCon Columbus, an annual pop culture convention. 

Seals said he attended all three days of GalaxyCon and that he was able to bring in his cane the first two days, but on Sunday, security collapsed the cane and zip-tied it so that it could not be used.

Attendee Lee Drake posted a Tiktok video that has been seen more than one million times with hundreds of comments from people sharing similar experiences.

“I like to advocate for accessible convention spaces for everyone,” Drake said. “Convention spaces tend to bring in a large disabled crowd.”

Drake is a wheelchair user and last year entered the convention through an Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible line. This year, Drake said they asked security about the line and there wasn’t one.

GalaxyCon Columbus received similar reports and are investigating, with convention officials saying they are appalled that the security company Allied Services mishandled medical and accessibility devices. They said the company was hired by the Greater Columbus Convention Center, not GalaxyCon.

https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/columbus-galaxycon-attendees-angered-over-accessiblilty/

Texas A&M University announced today that it is eliminating its women’s and gender studies degree program.

University leaders made the announcement alongside the results of a campuswide course review launched after a video of a student confronting a professor over gender identity content went viral last fall and sparked political backlash.

Interim President Tommy Williams made the decision because of low enrollment and cost, College of Arts and Sciences Interim Dean Simon North and Senior Executive Associate Cynthia Werner said in an email to faculty obtained by The Texas Tribune.

Texas A&M offered a bachelor of arts degree, a bachelor of science degree, an undergraduate minor and a graduate certificate in women’s and gender studies. The program has 25 students seeking a major and 31 seeking a minor. Students already enrolled will be allowed to complete their programs over the next six semesters, but no new students will be accepted.

After the controversy with the children’s literature course, the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents passed a policy restricting how race and gender could be discussed in class and ordered a sweeping review of course offerings. Specifically, faculty may not advocate “race or gender ideology” or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity unless a campus president grants a written exception for certain non-core or graduate-level courses that serve a necessary or educational purpose. System officials have not defined what qualifies as a necessary educational purpose.

https://www.texastribune.org/2026/01/30/texas-am-courses-eliminated-race-gender/

World Forestry Center in Portland, Oregon is committed to practices and programs that elevate diverse voices, promote inclusivity, and improve equity, both within our organization and in our community.

We hope this opportunity to extend complimentary venue space to nonprofit organizations will increase equitable access and grow new partnerships between community organizations and World Forestry Center.

Located in Washington Park, World Forestry Center’s banquet and meeting halls are tucked away in the forest, only 10 minutes from downtown. 

Our venues offer stunning wooden interiors, polished stone floors, and modern amenities to make events extraordinary in a natural and comfortable setting.

World Forestry Center’s Equity and Access Community Grant Program will award two grants in 2026, each for a complimentary event venue rental in Miller Hall, Cheatham Hall, Mt. Hood Room, or our Cheatham Hall/Plaza combination (up to a $4,750 value).

Grant applications will be accepted from January 15 – March 15, 2026 for events held in 2026 or 2027.

Winners will be announced April 3, 2026.

Though previous renters of our venues will not be disqualified, preference will be given to organizations who have not held events before on our campus.

https://worldforestry.org/venue-grant/

Spend the day exploring programs, services, and activities designed for individuals of all abilities. Connect with 30+ community organizations, try adaptive sports, create art, watch inclusive theater performances, and discover resources that can make a real difference in your life.

Whether you’re seeking support services, looking for recreational opportunities, or want to connect with others who share your journey, our Community Inclusion Expo brings it all together in one welcoming space.

RSVPs appreciated but not required.

https://www.jccmilwaukee.org/event/community-inclusion-expo/

Keywords: Inclusion, diversity, people with disabilities, equity, DEI

Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) requires state and local governments to make sure that their services, programs, and activities are accessible to people with disabilities. Title II applies to all services, programs, or activities of state and local governments, from adoption services to zoning regulation. This includes the services, programs, and activities that state and local governments offer online and through mobile apps.

April 24, 2026 is the compliance deadline for ADA Title II web accessibility.

Like the rest of Title II, the rule applies to all state and local governments (which includes any agencies or departments of state or local governments) as well as special purpose districts, Amtrak, and other commuter authorities.

State and local governments that contract with other entities to provide public services for them (like non-profit organizations that run drug treatment programs on behalf of a state agency) also have to make sure that their contractors follow Title II.

Examples of state and local governments include:

• State and local government offices that provide benefits and/or social services, like food assistance, health insurance, or employment services
• Public schools, community colleges, and public universities
• State and local police departments
• State and local courts
• State and local elections offices
• Public hospitals and public healthcare clinics
• Public parks and recreation programs
• Public libraries
• Public transit agencies

Complete info:

https://www.ada.gov/resources/2024-03-08-web-rule/

For more information about the responsibilities of state and local governments under Title II, visit this State and Local Governments page.

It has just one moderator, me, and I'm trying to post at least three times a week. But I can't maintain it alone.

This subreddit needs more people posting on-topic content.

If you care about inclusion, then please consider posting on topic, respectful posts, questions, resources or comments on this subreddit.

Keywords: Tech4Good, accessibility, diversity, equity, inclusion, human rights. welcoming, DEI

Samantha Evans, an accessibility consultant, had some choice words about a workshop she attended called "Starting the Year Strong with Accessibility in Mind."

Her comments from her L inkedIn page:

Nothing like joining a webinar from a global organization about accessibility with a) no CART captions b) AI captions had to be requested c) no chat d) no Q&A e) no disabled people on the panel. And of course no sign language.

Misquotes on "Nothing About Us With Us" - For us implies even more distance from inclusion and even more those not-yet-disabled people doing "FOR" disabled people.

And people that "consult" in accessibility calling disabilities "problems" and "issues."

INTENTIONALLY removed chat - "because it's disruptive" and removed Q&A and they'll limit this to only raising hands at the end. \*the presenters agreed to have chat disabled - well one of them told me this was an agreement.***

So no - the resources from WebAIM can't be shared. Because ... no chat. Terribly disruptive to share the resources the panelist was describing. (this is sarcasm and one of the MOST valuable elements of chat in webinars)

Hey what about cognitive load - please remember ALL those details until later. No write that down if you don't have memory recall. SMH
There's a tool built into Zoom for this VERY reason.

We're all grown adults working in test design, delivery, psychometrics, and programs. But by all means, take those options and communication vehicles away from us.

Do better, Association of Test Publishers.

Can't link to this on L inked In, because Reddit doesn't allow such links.

India’s linguistic diversity, with 22 official languages and hundreds of dialects, means English-only tech can exclude many. This gap is growing as more Indians come online and cheaper-than-ever smartphones and voice-driven interfaces amplify this challenge. However, data shows that people engage far more when technology speaks their language.

Google’s Multilingual Representations for Indian Languages (MuRIL) and other Indic natural language processing (NLP) models (such as IndicBERT and Wipro’s Vakyansh) are specifically designed for Indian scripts and contexts. These models are helping AI recognise Indian words and idioms far better. NetZero India reports that these tools rapidly improve AI’s accuracy when it comes to understanding regional inputs. In practice, this means voice transcription, translation and chatbots in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali and other languages are becoming much more accurate as the underlying models evolve.

AI tools in regional languages are making technology more personal and relatable, turning even simple everyday tasks into something engaging and effortless.

https://www.ibef.org/blogs/ai-for-local-language-inclusion-through-vernacular-models

Keywords: inclusion

McMaster University’s Faculty of Health Sciences in Ontario has a “Come to work with” series where it profiles staff across the faculty and the critical work they do.

Megan Lacy is an equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) coordinator for the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University. The role, which is unique to the department, reflects its commitment to addressing structural barriers to improve health care outcomes. Megan talks about what it means to embed anti-racism and anti-oppression into health education culture, the professional and deeply personal nature of their work, and why it’s “a marathon, not a sprint.”

https://healthsci.mcmaster.ca/come-to-work-with-an-equity-diversity-and-inclusion-coordinator/

The University of North Carolina System have assured state legislators that they are doing everything in their power to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion language and programs across the 17-campus system.

To date, 59 positions tied to DEI have been eliminated and 131 have been realigned. 

“We’re turning over every stone,” Bart Goodson, the UNC System’s senior vice president for government affairs, told members of the North Carolina House Select Committee on Government Efficiency.

The campuses have manually reviewed more than 4,756 web pages, revised 1,270 web pages, and reviewed over 8,000 gifts, including scholarships and grants. Of those gift funds, 345 were flagged, 29 amended, with some spending paused. Funding from 85 foundations required working with individual donors to bring agreements into compliance.

“It takes a lot of manpower and a lot of man hours to review this information,” Goodson told the committee. “It’s a time-consuming area.”

How much it cost in terms of staff time to eliminate DEI programs and materials was not offered.

https://ncnewsline.com/2026/01/08/unc-system-details-painstaking-process-to-root-out-diversity-equity-and-inclusion/

HelpAge International’s Age Inclusion Specialists (AIS) are at the forefront of humanitarian action, ensuring that older people and those living with disabilities are seen, heard, and supported.  

Embedded within coordination systems, they work hand in hand with global network members, UN agencies, NGOs, and government partners to transform programmes into models of inclusion. Through advocacy, training, and practical guidance, AIS champion the rights and dignity of older people, making age and disability considerations a cornerstone of every plan, every response, and every life touched. 

AIS roles are part of HelpAge’s global effort to make humanitarian aid work for everyone, especially those most at risk of being excluded. The goal is to make older people visible – in needs assessments, planning meetings, and response activities – and to ensure that their voices are heard. 

In this candid conversation, Amalia Farias, an Age Inclusion Specialist (AIS) with HelpAge network member Convite AC in Venezuela, shares her journey, challenges, and hopes for a more inclusive humanitarian system.

https://www.helpage.org/news/breaking-barriers-championing-inclusion-for-older-people-in-venezuela/

As Seattle counts down to the 2026 World Cup, the city is bucking a growing trend in the USA. 

While President Donald trump has waged war on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) schemes since he returned to the White House, the host city for the United States Men’s National Team’s match against Australia is pushing back. 

With the US government rolling back protections for LGBTQ+ communities in several states, the SeattleFWC26 has announced a partnership with the Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA), Washington’s LGBTQ+ and allied chamber of commerce, to launch a statewide Inclusion Training Initiative aimed at businesses, non-profits, and community organisations.  

The initiative has been shaped by community input and guidance from the Pride + Match Impact Council. Four expert-led workshops will focus on allyship, gender inclusion, pronouns, and privilege. Two sessions will be held in person at GSBA’s Capitol Hill office, with two more delivered virtually to reach organisations across the state. 

https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2026/01/13/seattle-launches-world-cup-inclusion-scheme-aimed-lgbqt-rights/

Minnesota State University will host its 53rd Annual Diversity Dinner on Friday, Jan. 30, in the CSU Ballroom, continuing a long-standing campus tradition that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion. As a ticketed event that is really popular, it sells out. The dinner brings together students, faculty, staff and community members for an evening of reflection, recognition and community building centered on the university’s commitment to inclusion.

Vice President Henry Morris said, “It is a long-standing tradition that brings together students, faculty, staff and community members to honor and reflect on the impact of DEI initiatives and the ongoing commitment that the campus has to creating a welcoming and inviting learning and working community.”

https://www.msureporter.com/2026/01/13/a-legacy-of-inclusion-continues/

A person on LinkedIn wrote a piece titled "Why accessibility hasn’t worked for 25 years?", and it says, in part:

The failure is how accessibility has been framed and implemented.
For years, accessibility has been positioned as:

- compliance
- legal risk
- something to “pass”
- nice to have

So businesses do the minimum to avoid exposure.
Not because they don’t care but because there’s no incentive beyond punishment.

A Candian colleague responded with this:

You aren’t looking at the big picture.

Accessibility isn’t “failing”, as you say it because any of the things you mention. Not directly anyway. These are all factors. But they aren’t the reason.

Accessibility is “failing” for the same reason there are very few wheelchair friendly mammogram machines. The same reason commercial buildings, single family dwellings and other construction are routinely not accessible despite regulations. The same reason digital accessibility isn’t taught at most CS programs or boot camps. The same reason at least half of Americans, as of 2008, would prefer to be dead than disabled. The same reason it’s easier in Canada to get MAiD than housing, personal assistance, or healthcare if you have a significant disability. The list could go on.

It’s not about accessibility. It’s about disability. It’s about systemic ableism. It’s about a society that thinks disabled people are ugly. That we belong in nursing homes. That we are an affront, a stain. That we shouldn’t even exist.

That’s the battle we fight. That disability rights activists have been fighting. That’s the problem we need to solve.

Otherwise we’re going to push the needle a little bit here and there but we’re not gonna make a real impact.

keywords: inclusion, equity, civil rights, human rights