The political will and commitment were already there. It was a simple computer software configuration problem that prevented universities from recognizing the first names of their staff. For a few days, it is now possible in Rennes. Rennes 1 and Rennes 2 universities announced this Tuesday on the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
Often used by transgender or transidentity people, this possibility of adopting a usual first name has already been offered to students since 2017 at Rennes 2 and since 2019 at Rennes 1. Their email address, their student card and all the administrative register facs took into account this new identity, without taking into account civil status. “For the staff, it was more complicated because we came up against a human resources software problem,” explains Nicoletta Tchou. The vice-president of Rennes 1 in charge of equality and the fight against discrimination hopes “to make further progress in reducing discrimination” against LGBT people. But its establishment, like all the others, is currently coming up against the reluctance of software from the Ministry of Higher Education.
The CROUS also got involved
In Rennes, students and staff can also use their usual first name within the CROUS services. An essential link for all people who have decided to change a first name or an identity “which was not theirs”, recalls the vice-president. Discussions have been initiated with the Keolis company which manages the Star public transport network. The possibility of the first name of use could be opened to holders of the Korrigo card, whose services are more and more extensive.
The establishments in Rennes also wish to remove the notions of “madam, sir” from their documents and internal letters for people who request it. While waiting to be able to generalize this practice, sometimes considered discriminatory.