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Task force to address transgender issues

By Julie Peterson

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Office of the Vice President for Communications

A task force appointed by Provost Paul N. Courant is working to assess the climate on campus for transgender, bisexual, lesbian and gay (TBLG) faculty, staff and students. The group, appointed in March, hopes to present a set of recommendations by January. The task force is chaired by Bruce Frier, professor of classical studies in LSA and professor of law.

In his charge to the task force, Courant noted that the University “has been known as a national leader for practices and policies that support lesbian, gay and bisexual members of the University community.” He cited the reports and recommendations of earlier groups considering these issues, beginning in the early 1990s. However, he said, since that time, “awareness and understanding of gender identity issues have increased significantly, particularly with respect to individuals who identify themselves as transgender or who are questioning their gender identity.”

Courant asked the task force to present recommendations for improving the climate for TBLG students, faculty and staff, and to review University policies and practices to ensure that all TBLG members of the campus community are supported and protected from discrimination, harassment and assault. In doing this work he asked the task force to draw upon the work and research of earlier groups, to examine the impact of changes made since those earlier reports upon the lives of TLBG community members, to recommend additional data collection if needed, and to gather information about relevant practices and policy at peer institutions.

Courant also asked the group to consider ways in which members of the task force can serve as an ongoing campus resource.

Two town hall meetings have been scheduled at which community members can meet with the task force and share their thoughts on climate and related topics. On Oct. 9, the task force will hold a meeting in the Michigan Union’s Pendleton Room. The climate for bisexual people will be the topic of discussion from 6-7 p.m. and the climate for bisexual, lesbian and gay people will be the focus from 7-8 p.m. A discussion of the climate for transgender people will be held 6-8 p.m. Oct. 15 in the Pond Room of the Michigan Union.

The task force has established a Web site where members of the community can share their concerns and comments anonymously: http://www.umich.edu/~provost/programs/index.html . Comments also may be submitted by e-mail to TBLG.Task.Force@umich.edu. The task force members hope to collect all comments by Sept. 30.

Members of the task force, in addition to Frier, include: Derrick Anderson, U-M alumnus; U-M student Jacqueline Bray; Lynn Conway, professor emerita, College of Engineering; Glenda Haskell, assistant provost; Rabbi Robert Levy, Temple Beth Emeth; Jennifer Lyle, doctoral student, Social Work and Social Science; Stephen Rassi, doctoral student, Social Work and Psychology; P.J. Two Ravens, clinical social worker, Internal Medicine-Infectious Diseases; Martha Vicinus, professor, English Language and Literature; and Edward Willis, dean of students.

Related information

Earlier this year, the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Affairs within the Division of Student Affairs initiated an inventory of campus restrooms in response to transgender community members’ need for restrooms that are unisex (single-stalled) or gender inclusive (not restricted to a single gender). With assistance from Facilities and Operations’ Plant Extension, the University recently completed the inventory. A listing of the locations of these restroom facilities will be made available this fall through the Office of LGBT Affairs.

Royster Harper, vice president for student affairs, also appointed during the past academic year a Gender Identity Work Group made up of students and staff. The group’s purpose was to learn about the gaps that exist for transgender students in the programs and support provided by the Division of Student Affairs, and to make recommendations for filling those gaps. The group is expected to report on its findings this fall. Its work will inform the recommendations of the Provost’s Task Force on the Campus Climate for Transgender, Bisexual, Lesbian and Gay Faculty, Staff and Students.

A town hall meeting will be held by the Division of Student Affairs at 5 p.m. Sept. 30 to discuss the efforts of the Gender Identity Work Group, the restroom facility survey and other LGBT issues. For meeting location and questions regarding gender-inclusive restrooms, contact the Office of LGBT Affairs at (734) 763-4186.