EDITORIAL: Taking pride in the LGBTQ+ community at UHCL
In the words of American writer Audre Lorde, “there is no thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.” The people of the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) must understand that the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning) community’s stride for inclusion is also their stride.
Three years ago on June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court concluded in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges that the 14th Amendment requires the licensing and recognition of same-sex marriage. While this is a landmark decision in terms of LGBTQ+ rights, equality does not end with same-sex marriage.
For example, some counties in the United States, such as Texas’ Waco County, still do not grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples; the White House released a memo on March 23 signed by President Donald Trump disqualifying transgender people from military service except under “certain limited circumstances;” Senate Bill 6, the “bathroom bill” dominated discussion in the 2017-2018 Texas Legislative Session, and ultimately died in special session.
In the current political and social environment, it is apparent that there is still work for LGBTQ+ equality that needs to be done. Relying on lawmakers to solve such a complex issue is not enough. The battle for LGBTQ+ equality can happen in our own communities, including here at UHCL.
Policies at UHCL:
The UHCL “Students Rights and Responsibilities” section of the Student Life Policy Handbook guarantees freedom from discrimination by stating, “Students shall be treated on an equal basis in all areas and activities of the University regardless of race, color, sex, genetic information, religion, age, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected status.” The term “protected class” includes sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
By approving the “Student Rights and Responsibilities” section in the handbook in May 2014, the university took a step in the right direction by showcasing its commitment to equality, even when sexual orientation and gender identity is not a protected class in the state of Texas.
Regarding employment rights in the university community, the UH System states, “the System prohibits discrimination in all aspects of employment on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.”
The current mission statement on the UHCL website – approved in 2009 – does not convey clear support of the UHCL LGBTQ+ community members. It states that the university “serves a diverse student body,” but does not define the diversity beyond saying, “UHCL facilitates a respectful and inclusive environment with regard to individual, societal, and global perspectives,” in UHCL’s core values.
What UHCL is doing:
The Office of Student Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (OSDEI) has previously provided programming during National Coming Out Day, Transgender Day of Awareness and Pride Week. OSDEI also has hosted a Women and LGBTQ Health Fair as well as conducted Safe Zone Training. This year, for the first time in UHCL history, OSDEI is sponsoring a group that will march in the Houston Pride Parade on June 23.
The office is currently in the process of hiring someone to fill the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Program Coordinator position, whose job will be to continue to make the LGBTQ+ community at UHCL not just feel welcomed but also supported by continuing the existing programming and adding new programming.
UHCL offers seven gender-neutral bathrooms throughout its ten buildings. These bathrooms are to help any person in the UHCL community feel comfortable when going to the bathroom. In the three new buildings being constructed, there will be two gender-neutral bathrooms in the Recreation and Wellness Center, one in the STEM and Classroom Building and one in the Health Sciences and Classroom Building at the Pearland campus.
While UHCL offers these resources to students in the LGBTQ+ community, there is still a lot of work to be done. For one, the coordinator position in OSDEI was vacant for the 2017-2018 school year. The number of gender-neutral bathrooms on campus is a ridiculously small amount compared to the number of bathrooms total, and some of them are not labeled at all, and the visibility of support is an issue.
The LGBTQ+ community has been visible through the LGBTQ+ Student Coalition, the student organization previously known as UNITY. The organization “aims to provide visibility and social support to the LGBTQ community within the UHCL campus.” While the LGBTQ+ Student Coalition is supported by the Student Life Office, it is still a student organization that is dependent on its student membership to exist and remain visible on campus.
What other universities are doing:
If you compare UHCL to other schools in the UH System, it is in line with the University of Houston-Downtown and the University of Houston-Victoria in terms of the things that it does for the LGBTQ+ community, including Safe Zone Training.
However, the University of Houston (UH) houses the LGBTQ Resource Center for students. The Resource Center has a Visibility Project, which is a voluntary list of members of the UH community that are “out.” This list is a “source of pride and inclusiveness for all of UH’s LGBTQ community and allies.”
The Center also has an LGBTQ Advisory Board whose purpose is to “improve the campus climate for LGBTQ students, staff and faculty through education and advocacy for LGBTQ inclusive policies.” The Center also awards scholarships, provides information on internships and offers information on academic programs specifically for LGBTQ+ students.
An emergency crisis fund is available for students who face financial difficulty based off of their sexual orientation or gender identity, a lending library as well as programs like sexual health week, peer mentoring and the Sexuality and Gender Acceptance (SAGA) Squad, a student leadership program for LGBTQ+ students and allies.
How UHCL can be forward with its inclusivity:
UHCL obviously does not have the capability to offer the wide amount of programming and resources that UH can offer. However, there are certain aspects that UHCL can adapt to its current and previous programming.
One thing that could be accomplished is adding verbiage that is supportive of the LGBTQ+ community in the new vision, mission and values of the university.
The new Women, Gender, and Sexuality Program Coordinator could educate the UHCL community through things such as classroom visits, pamphlets or emails to go along with new programming similar to that offered at UH. For example, a peer mentoring program could also involve the Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement program in the Student Life Office.
Collaboration with the LGBTQ+ Student Coalition from other student organizations or offices on campus to create events would go a long way in strengthening LGBTQ+ visibility.
It is going to take more than just one or two offices getting involved to truly make a change at UHCL. It must be an institution-wide effort. Going further than that, it also needs to be a community-wide effort.
What is it that the UHCL community can do? Attend and support the university’s first appearance in the Houston Pride Parade, support events put on by the LGBTQ+ Student Coalition, and advocate for the implementation of stronger LGBTQ+ programming.
In the grand scheme of things, the furtherance of LGBTQ+ rights requires a lot of work. However, if we start in our own community we can become an example of a progressive university.
Also published on Medium.
