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Colleges and Universities Outside the US You Might Want to Explore

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Colleges and Universities Outside the US You Might Want to Explore

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Another resource from our colleague Carolyn Caplan at AdmissionsMom: Maybe you’re concerned with the way the US government will be moving towards the treatment of trans people altogether and feel like you (or your child) would be safer in another country during the next four years. While, of course, there’s no guarantee what will be happening abroad, it might be worth looking into.

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NAFSA's Queer International Student Handbook (2023)

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NAFSA's Queer International Student Handbook (2023)

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NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the world's largest and most comprehensive nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange, working to advance policies and practices that ensure a more interconnected, peaceful world today and for generations to come.

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Fostering Inclusive Classrooms

We provide LGBTQ-inclusive books to Pre-K through 3rd grade classrooms to help students and teachers “Read out loud, read out proud!”

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"Thank you to Miley Cyrus and Happy Hippie Foundation for generously donating to our organization! We are grateful for your support and your donation will help us send LGBTQ-inclusive books to elementary school classrooms across the US and Canada!"

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At Pride and Less Prejudice (PLP), our mission is to foster inclusive classrooms by providing age-appropriate LGBTQ-inclusive books to preschool - third grade classrooms.

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CampusPride.org has not been updated since 2023. We are leaving this column as an historical resource but please know the info is not current.

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CampusPride.org has not been updated since 2023. We are leaving this column as an historical resource but please know the info is not current.

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Navigating College Admissions as a Transgender Applicant

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Navigating College Admissions as a Transgender Applicant

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From our colleague Carolyn Caplan at AdmissionsMom. Carolyn provides a ton of valuable information about federal and state legislation that affects the trans community.

From this document:

If you’re queer, trans, nonbinary, genderfluid, otherwise LGBTQ, or the parent or loved one of a queer or trans student, I have no doubt you are more than aware of the anti-trans legislation sweeping across the US in record numbers over the last few years (so far over 800 bills this year alone),

and the potential consequences for trans students as a result of the recent election.

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Navigating College Admissions as a Transgender Applicant.pdf

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University of Denver Trans Student Guide (2022)

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University of Denver Trans Student Guide (2022)

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This guide is a resource for current, past and prospective University students, who are Transgender, non-binary, or otherwise gender expansive. In this document, we use the umbrella term “Trans” to encompass these diverse range of identities. We recognize that labels are very personal and fluid, and that this term may not fully cover the range of everyone’s experience—but we do mean to use it in the most inclusive way possible. While every individual’s journey is unique and different, The Cultural Center and campus partners provide this Guide to help answer some questions related to being Trans and/or transitioning on campus.

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Vanderbilt turns over transgender patient records to state in attorney general probe

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Vanderbilt turns over transgender patient records to state in attorney general probe

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Vanderbilt University Medical Center has turned over transgender patient medical records to the Tennessee Attorney General's office, which confirmed Tuesday it is conducting an investigation into potential medical billing fraud.

VUMC, through a spokesperson, confirmed to The Tennessean on Tuesday the facility provided patient medical records to the attorney general.

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Vanderbilt University Medical Center has turned over transgender patient medical records to the Tennessee Attorney General's office, which confirmed Tuesday it is conducting an investigation into potential medical billing fraud.

VUMC, through a spokesperson, confirmed to The Tennessean on Tuesday the facility provided patient medical records to the attorney general.

The Tennessean reviewed a VUMC notice informing patients of the move, which the facility said was the result of an investigation into "billing for transgender care services provided to individuals enrolled in State-sponsored insurance plans." The state requested medical records from Jan. 1, 2018 to the present.

The attorney general's office said VUMC began providing relevant records in December 2022, and the state's investigation is focused on the facility and certain providers, not patients.
New details: Tennessee AG is seeking referrals, doctor records in broad VUMC transgender clinic inquiry
The state has legal standing to seek the private medical records, per a health care legal expert. However, the move has sparked privacy concerns among families whose children sought treatment at VUMC amid an increasingly contentious political climate surrounding transgender issues in Tennessee, where multiple legal battles are ongoing over state policies.

"VUMC received requests from the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General as part of its investigation seeking information about transgender care at VUMC. The Tennessee Attorney General has legal authority in an investigation to require that VUMC provide complete copies of patient medical records that are relevant to its investigation. VUMC was obligated to comply and did so," John Howser, VUMC's chief communications officer, said in a statement.

In its notice to patients, VUMC said it provided the records with the AG's "assurance that the records would remain confidential as required by Tennessee law."

"We are surprised that VUMC has deliberately chosen to frighten its patients like this," AG Chief of Staff Brandon Smith said in an emailed statement.

"The Office does not publicize fraud investigations to preserve the integrity of the investigative process. The Office maintains patient records in the strictest confidence, as required by law. The investigation is focused solely on VUMC and certain related providers, not patients, as VUMC is well aware."

Court records filed in a separate case reveal Tennessee officials used a powerful legal tool called a civil investigative demand, which doesn't require probable cause or a judge's sign-off to compel testimony or documents. Tennessee first sought the medical records for a list of specific patients, before issuing another CID in March with sweeping demands for broad documentation, including emails sent and received from a general LGBTQ health program email address and the names of any individuals referred to the transgender clinic. It's unclear if Vanderbilt has supplied those records to the state.

Chris Sanders, executive director of the Tennessee Equality Project, an LGBTQ advocacy organization, said three different parents of transgender children called him in a panic since Monday after they were told by Vanderbilt that their child's medical records were released to the attorney general as "part of an investigation."

Sanders said the parents had no other details.

"They're terrified," he said. "They don't know what's next, they don't know how this will be used or whether they will be targeted in some way. They feel like their privacy has been violated."

Sanders said many people are upset that Vanderbilt did not fight harder to prevent turning over patient information. He said others are concerned over the implications for other politically charged issues such as abortion, and whether the attorney general could obtain reproductive health care information.

Patients affected were provided with a hotline number to call with questions and concerns, which is an answering service that asks callers to leave a name and phone number.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said last fall his office planned to investigate VUMC's practices after conservative advocates published allegations that VUMC punished those who objected to its gender-affirming treatment program for children and that some treatments were used as money-making schemes.

Vanderbilt denied the allegations, but the story sparked a major backlash among Tennessee conservatives. Skrmetti and Gov. Bill Lee vowed to investigate the clinic's practices, though neither cited any current laws VUMC potentially ran afoul of at the time.

Paul Hales, a St. Louis-based attorney who specializes in health information privacy, said the attorney general has legal recourse under federal and state law to request patient health records if it is in fact investigating a possible issue at the medical center.

"They would have recourse under the law if they're making a valid administrative request," he said.

Under HIPAA law, for uses and disclosures of medical records for which authorization is not required, the records can be released for a civil investigative demand.

The information sought must be relevant to a legitimate law enforcement inquiry and is necessary when de-identification information (such as redacting a patient's name and other identifying information) could not reasonably be used, the federal health privacy law says.

Under its patient privacy practices, Vanderbilt on its website notes that it may share medical information with law enforcement and for lawsuits or disputes.

The VUMC controversy led to heated debates within the General Assembly this spring, when the Republican supermajority dedicated its first piece of legislation to banning all gender transition treatment for minors. Democrats and local families with transgender children lobbied unsuccessfully against the bill, arguing health care should remain a private decision between doctors and families.

The law, set to go into effect on July 1, has been challenged by local families and the Department of Justice in a federal lawsuit, with a judge weighing whether to grant a preliminary injunction ahead of trial. The law bans any treatments or procedures prescribed to treat gender dysphoria, such as puberty blockers, even though doctors could still prescribe those medications to children for other reasons.

Minors currently undergoing treatment from in-state providers would have to cease treatments by next spring. Some lawmakers sought to include a child abuse portion in the legislation that would leave parents open to civil penalties if they supported a transgender child seeking gender-affirming care, but the measure was dropped before the bill's final passage.

In a separate lawsuit filed last month, two former teachers and several Tennessee teacher associations sued Tennessee over state-sponsored health plans that specifically exclude coverage for gender-affirming care their health care policies specifically exclude coverage for gender-affirming care.

A federal judge last year ruled against a Georgia county in a similar case, finding a county health care policy discriminated against a sheriff's deputy because the policy only affected transgender employees.

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Vanderbilt turns over transgender patient records to state in attorney general probe

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Though Tennessee has legal standing to seek the records, a LGBTQ advocacy organization says families feel their privacy has been violated by the move.

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Activist organizations seek to block Title IX rule in over 600 colleges nationwide

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Activist organizations seek to block Title IX rule in over 600 colleges nationwide

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The extensive list contains over 1,100 schools and higher ed institutions, including in liberal states, and could complicate how the rule is implemented.

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An article from

The extensive list contains over 1,100 schools and higher ed institutions, including in liberal states, and could complicate how the rule is implemented.

First published on

Listen to the article 4 min

Dive Brief:

Dive Insight:

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Activist organizations seek to block Title IX rule in over 600 colleges nationwide

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The extensive list contains over 1,100 schools and higher ed institutions, including in liberal states, and could complicate how the rule is implemented.

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Two Spirit and LGBTQ Idenitites: Today and Centuries Ago

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Two Spirit and LGBTQ Idenitites: Today and Centuries Ago

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As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, it is helpful to reflect on Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ identities in Native American communities, beginning during pre-colonial times, and the impact of colonialism on these identities today.

Research shows that more than 150 different pre-colonial Native American tribes acknowledged third genders in their communities.

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As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, it is helpful to reflect on Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ identities in Native American communities, beginning during pre-colonial times, and the impact of colonialism on these identities today.

Most known scholarship about pre-colonial American sexuality and gender comes from the journals of early European colonizers. The most prominent accounts note seeing men married to men, whom they called "berdache," and "passing women," who were assigned female at birth but took on masculine roles.

Research shows that more than 150 different pre-colonial Native American tribes acknowledged third genders in their communities. And that may have been a unifying feature of different pre-colonial cultures. Historians have also documented the highly regarded role of spiritual leaders in pre-colonial West Africa who were assigned male at birth but presented in a feminine manner, the existence Muxes in Zapotec culture in what is now Southern Mexico, Bakla in pre-colonial Philippines and Hijra in South Asia. All of these individuals were assigned male at birth but their gender expression and/or community role was more feminine.

By no means did all pre-colonial Native American communities accept or celebrate gender and sexual orientation diversity. Often when tribes were conquered, they were taken as slaves or forced to submit sexually to their conquerors. However, we also know from writings of the European colonizers that not everyone they wrote about self-identified as third gender - some of them were conquered warriors who were forced to dress femininely. Interpretations of the role and standing of Two-Spirit and third gender people varied by tribe. What is clear from these accounts is that gender and sexuality was certainly more fluid in Native American society than it was in European society.

The effects of colonialism in Native American communities resulted in both marginalization on the basis of racial/ethnic identity and also of gender and sexuality. Christian European colonizers condemned same-sex relationships and gender variance as sinful and used these beliefs to further dehumanize Indigenous people. Native American Heritage Month enables us to honor and build awareness of the legacy left by many whose stories are rarely told.

Below we highlight two prominent Two-Spirit leaders from the 1800s:
We'wha - Zuni tribe
We'wha was a member of the Zuni tribe in New Mexico (as seen in header image). She was what the Zuni called Lhamana, which was a traditional Zuni gender role who was assigned male at birth but lived in part or mostly as a woman and wore women's clothing. Llamana people did a mix of women's tasks in daily life but also fulfilled special functions (usually reserved for males in Zuni society) that included spiritual, meditation, skill in crafts and the knowledge for instructing others.

In 1886 We'wha was hosted in Washington, D.C., by anthropologist Matilda Stevenson. During that visit, We'wha met President Grover Cleveland and was generally mistaken for a cisgender woman. One of the anthropologists close to her described We'wha as "the strongest character and the most intelligent of the Zuni tribe."

Osh-Tisch was a leading baté of the Crow nation and held an esteemed position in her society. In the Crow nation, it was not only acceptable for one to be baté, but they were often regarded highly as being the bridge between the two genders. Being baté, Osh-Tisch was allowed to take on both traditionally female and traditionally male roles and was known for excelling at both. She was esteemed not only for the amazing sewing skills that earned her the right to make the Crow Chief Iron Bulls a buffalo skin lodge, but she was also known for her ferocity in battle. Her strength as a warrior is what earned her the name Osh-Tisch, which translates to "finds them and kills them." Not only incredibly threatening and impressive, but it also refers to the time she helped another soldier by shooting a wounded enemy in the Battle of Rosebud.

We encourage you to learn more about Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ Native American identity and history by visiting the following websites:

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Two Spirit and LGBTQ Idenitites: Today and Centuries Ago - HRC

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Post submitted by Ana Flores, HRC Senior Manager, Inclusion, Education & Engagement

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LGBTQIA+ Pride and Two-Spirit People

We Are Not Separate from Our Communities: LGBTQIA+ Pride and Two-Spirit People

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Earlier this month, Congressman Mondaire Jones (D-NY) and Secretary of the Interior Debra Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) met at the historic Stonewall Inn in New York to discuss issues affecting the LGBTQIA+ community and to kick off Pride Month. Haaland, the first Native American cabinet secretary in U.S. history, is the proud parent of a Two-Spirit child. When asked in a 2018 interview about an LGBTQIA+ person who has impacted her worldview, Haaland answered, "That would be my daughter, who is a lesbian. I think about how I have this beautiful, wonderful lesbian daughter who I adore, and who I want to have every opportunity for success." [Note: Haaland's child, Somáh, is non-binary and now uses they/them pronouns.] Haaland has been vocal about her support of issues affecting Native and non-Native people, and she credits Somáh for educating her on gender identity and LGBTQIA+ issues.

In the acronym LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual/ally), the "+" acknowledges other identities that are not included. One identity that often gets incorporated at the end is Two-Spirit, which is an umbrella term for Native people who have both male and female spirits and acknowledges different gender identities present among Native people of North America. There are also social, spiritual, and community roles for Two-Spirit people within their Native nations, and some Two-Spirit people prefer words from their Indigenous languages for gender variance.

The term Two-Spirit originated in 1990 by Myra Laramee (Cree) at the Third Annual Inter-tribal Native American, First Nations, Gay and Lesbian American Conference in Winnipeg. It is a translation of " niizh manidoowag " or "two spirits" in the Anishinaabe language. While Native people might use the terms gay, lesbian, or transgender, Two-Spirit is a term created by Native people for Native people. More people are becoming familiar with the term, and there are Two-Spirit events across North America, including the annual Two-Spirit Powwow in San Francisco. This Pride Month, I interviewed Native people from various tribal communities about being Two-Spirit and how they celebrate that identity.

Geo Socomah Neptune

In 2018, Geo Socomah Neptune (Passamaquoddy), who uses they/them pronouns, was featured in a video on them, an online magazine and community platform from Condé Nast featuring the stories and voices of LGBTQIA+. They explained the meaning and history of Two-Spirit, including that, "The term was intentionally introduced by Native people with the goal of finding common ground and helping educate about traditional teachings in a contemporary context." Neptune identifies as Two-Spirit and also sees the term as having multiple elements. They pointed out that, "what people struggle with is that they define [Two-Spirit] as a sexual orientation, a gender identity, a spiritual identity, or [having] a societal role. In reality, those four parts are not separate but exist into one intersectional identity."

Neptune is a basket maker, educator, storyteller, activist, and drag performer based in Maine. They have been weaving since the age of four and were taught primarily by their grandmother, Molly Neptune Parker (1939-2020), a Passamaquoddy master basket maker and founder and former president of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance. Neptune, at the age of twenty, also became designated as a master basket maker, the youngest person in the tribe's recent history. Neptune, who works primarily in ash and sweetgrass, weaves baskets with boundless creativity-large and miniature sizes, fancy baskets, lidded baskets, and baskets in the shape of strawberries and birds to name a few. They won first place and best in class for division A basketry at the 2018 Heard Art Market in Arizona and received a United States Artists fellowship in 2021.

In September 2020, Neptune made headlines for being the first openly transgender person in Maine elected to a school board. As an educator and an art teacher, they want to advocate for curricula that includes permanent art and cultural programs. Neptune grew up in Indian Township, one of two Passamaquoddy reservations in Maine. They moved to New Hampshire to attend Dartmouth College and returned to Indian Township about ten years ago. Neptune does attend Pride Month events and performs in drag shows in Bar Harbor, which is about a two-hour drive south. Indian Township might be considered rural and isolated, but Neptune has built a life there. They live in a house where they make art, raise animals, keep bees, and tend a garden on land where their ancestors have been for more than 13,000 years.

Neebinnaukzhik Southall

Neebinnaukzhik Southall, who uses they/them pronouns, is a graphic designer, artist, photographer, and writer based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They are Anishinaabe, a member of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation of Ontario, Canada. Southall operates their own design company, Neebin Studios, and works with museums, cultural organizations, magazines, and other clients on print and online projects. They recently completed a residency as a 2021 Dobkin Native artist fellow at the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe where they developed digital illustrations for Anishinaabe communities and cultural organizations.

Southall identifies as Two-Spirit which they describe as someone having masculine and feminine energies coming together, existing in one body. They also pointed out that various Anishinaabe communities have their own terms and words they use. For example, in the book, A Two-Spirit Journey: The Autobiography of a Lesbian Ojibwa-Cree Elder, the author Man-Nee Chacaby said that her grandmother used the words "niizhin ojiijaak" to describe her. For a person who presents as a woman or a transfeminine person, they have heard the words "agokwe" or "ikwekaazo" among the Ojibway and "m'netokwe" among the Potawatomi. For a person who presents as a man or a transmasculine person, they have heard "agowinini" and "ininikaazo" among the Ojibway.

"I think Two-Spirit and queer people tend to be more involved in social justice and community work," Southall clarified. They know Two-Spirit people who are activists, educators, culture bearers, and artists. Southall attended their first Pride Parade/Day in 2016, and they understand the importance of such events and how they highlight the history of LGBTQIA+ activism. Also, some Native organizations do participate in Pride events which provides visibility and a platform for Indigenous issues. "By using the term Two-Spirit," Southall clarified, "we are centering ourselves as Native people and showing a responsibility to our communities. We are not separate from our Native communities. We are part of a larger whole."

James Abler and Terry Johnson II

Nearly eight years ago, James Abler (Suquamish) and Terry Johnson II (Zuni) exchanged marriage vows on the lawn of the Suquamish Clearwater Resort overlooking the waters of Agate Pass near Seattle. The tribe's Chief Judge Randal Steckel officiated the ceremony with Suquamish Chairman Leonard Forsman in attendance. While the resort had been the site of other same-sex marriage ceremonies, that September 2013 event marked the first such service for a tribal member. Reporters from local and national news agencies covered the event, including the local television station.

While the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriages were legal in all 50 States in June 2015, about twenty-five tribal nations had passed marriage equality laws for their members before that ruling. The Suquamish Tribe of Washington State passed an ordinance recognizing same-sex marriages in August 2011. The tribe can issue marriage licenses to two unmarried adults, regardless of gender, as long as one is an enrolled member of the Suquamish Tribe. Abler is Suquamish, and Johnson is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Zuni in New Mexico. As Chairman Forsman told the Seattle Times, "[the Suquamish] want to allow our people to be happy and free. Our tradition is to be open." Johnson echoed that belief as he remarked, "[the Suquamish] have embraced us and acknowledged us as people. Their hospitality is selfless." Johnson had moved from New Mexico to Washington State in 2009 and met Abler soon after. They have been raising two children, both of whom are Suquamish, since 2011.

Johnson, as a member of Zuni Pueblo, grew up with stories about We'wha (1849-1896), the well-known Zuni lhamana (the term in the Zuni language). As Johnson explained, "We'wha was valued [at Zuni] for being both male and female and was a weaver, potter, took care of the children, gathered wood. We'wha did everything." Johnson likes the term Two-Spirit, because "the Creator gifts people with one breath of life but gifted us with two breaths."

Abler grew up on the Suquamish reservation as the youngest of seven children. Family and community have always been important to him. He has worked at the Suquamish Tribe's Early Learning Center for fifteen years. Together the Abler and Johnson house has become the location for family gatherings, and they started a vegetable and flower garden. When asked what being married means to them, Johnson explained, "[James] completes me in every way. We have similar thoughts. We finish each other's sentences. He always makes me laugh. I have never had anyone like that [in my life]." As for the ability to have their union recognized by the tribe, Abler answered, "the [Suquamish] community has been great to us. My community supports me. I feel very proud to be Suquamish."

Alray Nelson

Alray Nelson (Diné) is Executive Director of Diné (Navajo) Pride, the largest Indigenous Pride event in the United States. He was a senior advisor for two Navajo Nation presidents and is the founder of Diné Equality, an advocacy organization for LGBTQIA+ equality on the Navajo Nation. As Nelson explained to NPR, "Since our creation, the Diné people have acknowledged and revered LGBTQ and especially the trans community in our leadership." The Board of Directors for Diné Pride includes Two-Spirit leaders from the Navajo Nation and other tribes.

Nelson explained that Pride Month means different things to different people, but, for him, "Diné Pride recognizes and publicly celebrates our Native identity." He added that, "it's different from other Pride events, because ours is community based." Diné Pride will award two scholarships to Diné high school seniors who identify at LGBTQIA+ for their contributions to the community. It also organized a Pride art show featuring the work of Two-Spirit artists.

The theme for the 2021 Diné Pride is Indigenous matriarchs and "honoring all Indigenous Womxn who continue to uplift communities, lead our movements & are the changemakers for our Sovereign Nations." The programming schedule includes a virtual opening ceremony, roundtable discussions, entertainers, a parade, and a closing ceremony. While most of the Diné Pride programs will be online, the June 19 parade will be an in-person event following COVID-19 safety protocols. According to Nelson, it is the only Pride Parade on tribal lands. The parade route ends in front of the Navajo Nation Council Chamber, and the building will be lit in rainbow colors.

June 2021 will be the fifth annual Pride Week for Diné Pride. Each year the attendance numbers grow, and the organizers now extend their programming throughout the year. In May, for example, Diné Pride hosted an online panel of Indigenous Two-Spirit youth discussing college life during COVID-19 and racial justice movements. Nelson affirmed that, "We have the right to be ourselves. Before colonization, our communities recognized the value of LGBTQIA+. We are reclaiming that knowledge."

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We Are Not Separate from Our Communities: LGBTQIA+ Pride and Two-Spirit People

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Colorado State University Pride Resource Center

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Colorado State University Pride Resource Center

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“Rooted in Abundance: 25 Years of Pride” is a short documentary exploring the trajectory of the Pride Resource Center and LGBTQIA+ community at Colorado State University over the past 25 years.

The film was produced by Hannah Tran in the Division of Marketing and Communications with the Pride Resource Center.

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"Around that murder, there were also some bias incidents happening on campus here at CSU in Fort Collins. Fort Collins got some national attention around that time," said Maggie Hendrickson, current CSU Pride Resource Center Director. "And so, it just really highlighted that we really needed to find a physical location and resources to support our community here."

The Fort Collins Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Alliance, the Student Organization for Gays, Lesbians, and Bisexuals, and others worked with the Associated Students of Colorado State University to open GLBT Student Services at CSU, which opened officially on Aug. 1, 1998. The center's opening was several years after political unrest surrounding Amendment 2, which barred discriminatory protections based on sexual orientation. Despite being coined as the "hate state" nationwide, Amendment 2 was struck down in 1996.

"There was a lot of pride, too, around CSU being one of the earlier schools to open an LGBTQ center despite all the things happening around the nation at the time," said Hendrickson. "We were reconciling and coming out of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. There was a lot more visibility and destigmatization of LGBTQ folks."

CSU's GLBT Student Services opened without a physical office. The first director, Lisa Phelps, shared a position with Residence Life and the GLBT Student Services office. It was not until November 1998 that the office gained a physical location in the basement of the Lory Student Center.

"The first center was really literally just an office cubicle downstairs. But after the flood, you go upstairs and there's a space. There's not a cubicle with a desk and a chair," said CSU alumni Morris Price, who graduated in 1987. "I think that's what struck us more than anything else. The universe was putting it front-facing and not hiding it."

Price, who is now the vice president of grants and impact at the Colorado Trust, worked with the center's first full-time director, Randy McCrillis, to mobilize CSU alumni to raise funds to support the growth of the center.

In 2002, increased visibility of the center led to a 175% increase in contacts over a period of one year. In 2016, the center changed its name to what it is now known today: the Pride Resource Center.

Following the testimonies of the center's earliest days, the film delves into the reflections of recent CSU alumni, who emphasize the center's profound impact on helping them succeed and graduate during their time as students.

Ali Owens, who first attended CSU in 2004, dropped out of school at the time due to feeling a lack of direction and community.

"I felt so alone and so lost. I didn't really have a sense of community anywhere," said Owens. "I was so scared to get involved with any kind of clubs or, you know, anything that that would have helped me meet people and feel a sense of belonging."

Owens eventually came back to CSU and is now a current student and graphic designer for the CSU Pride Resource Center. Owens, who identifies as non-binary, sees the CSU Pride Center as an integral part of finding their identity through exchanges with others with similar experiences.

"Gen Z, they know how to take care of each other. And I've really seen that a lot in the Pride Center. It's been so inspiring and in a way it's been healing for that younger part of myself that never really received that. So, it's been absolutely beautiful," said Owens.

In recent years, the CSU Pride Resource Center utilized information and data on the well-being of LGBTQIA+ students to advocate for three full-time professional staff.

"We're actually one of few LGBT centers in the country that's on a college campus that has more than two full-time professional staff, which is really exciting," said Hendrickson.

Currently, staff at the center are expanding on what thriving looks like for students, from good grades, fostering community, to finding a job that aligns with their career goals. Owens also outlined the center's initiatives to better integrate intersectionality and inclusivity for students from diverse backgrounds.

"We don't see a lot of diversity here, unfortunately, and that's also reflected in the campus," said Owens. "It can be really hard to create spaces for people with marginalized identities that aren't centering around whiteness. And so one of the challenges that we've come up against at the Pride Center has been how do we actually make this space more affirming and more safe for students of color?"

The film culminates to present-day accomplishments and signature events that have grown throughout the years. The Pride Center's events accentuate queer joy, self-expression, and a sense of family. Several students also established the "House of Ovis," one of the few university drag houses in the nation.

"Big pieces of our collective queer history comes from drag culture, ballroom culture, how black trans women and other folks have gathered and created avenues for chosen family, but also self-expression," said Hendrickson. "To see our students really honoring that legacy by creating their own drag house, for example, hosting the state's largest drag show, the students are really trying to latch onto what is that legacy around self-expression?"

The film premiered at the Lory Student Center Theater during the event "Legacy of Leaders," one of several events planned for LGBTQIA+ History Month in October. The event also featured a historical presentation and panel discussion with previous leaders of the Pride Resource Center.

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Watch: 'Rooted in Abundance: 25 Years of Pride'

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"Rooted in Abundance: 25 Years of Pride" is a short documentary exploring the trajectory of the Pride Resource Center and LGBTQIA+ community at Colorado State University over the past 25 years.

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While Tampa might not be the first Florida city that comes to mind when planning an LGBTQ-inclusive vacation, this gay-friendly destination should be at the top of your list. In fact, the Tampa Bay region has often been referred to as Tampa Gay.

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Visit Gay Tampa: Florida Travel Guide | OutCoast.com

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The Tampa Bay region is often referred to as Tampa Gay. Put this LGBTQ-friendly destination at the to of your travel list.

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HRC's 2022 MUNICIPAL EQUALITY INDEX SCORECARD (TAMPA, FLORIDA)

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HRC's 2022 MUNICIPAL EQUALITY INDEX SCORECARD (TAMPA, FLORIDA)

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On June 15, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia that sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination are
prohibited under federal sex-based employment protections. Nevertheless, it is imperative that localities continue enacting explicitly LGBTQ+-inclusive
comprehensive non-discrimination laws since it will likely take additional litigation for Bostock to be fully applied to all sex-based protections under existing
federal civil rights law. Moreover, federal law currently lacks sex-based protections in numerous key areas of life, including public spaces and services.
Lastly, there are many invaluable benefits to localizing inclusive protections even when they exist on higher levels of government. For these reasons,
the MEI will continue to only award credit in Part I for state, county, or municipal non-discrimination laws that expressly include sexual
orientation and gender identity.

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LGBTQ-FRIENDLY

TAG APPROVED® HOTELS

More and more Tampa Bay hotels are becoming TAG Approved®. These hotels have agreed not to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in their employment practices, to actively outreach to the LGBTQ community, and to strive to create a LGBTQ-friendly experience for their guests.

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LGBTQ-Friendly

More and more Tampa Bay hotels are becoming TAG Approved®. These hotels have agreed not to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in their employment practices, to actively outreach to the LGBTQ community, and to strive to create a LGBTQ-friendly experience for their guests.

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More and more Tampa Bay hotels are becoming TAG Approved®. These hotels have agreed not to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in their employment practices, to actively outreach to the LGBT community, and to strive to create a LGBT-friendly experience for their guests.

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Welcome to Florida’s Most diverse destination! On this episode of Unlocking Tampa Bay, we’re talking Tampa Pride and the 7th Annual Diversity Parade through historic Ybor City. Meet Rachel Covello, the founder of OutCoast, a digital magazine and travel blog that markets Florida as an LGBTQ-inclusive destination to visit. After purchasing a home in Gulfport, Florida, Covello fell in love with the Tampa Bay area. The diversity of the people, the beautiful gulf coast, and the up-and-coming business community sparked creativity from within. Hear how Covello works with Visit Tampa Bay and other Florida destinations to share stories of the state’s LGBTQ community and encourage people to visit and see for themselves.

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Tampa Bay is filled with Pride! Visit Tampa Bay’s LGBTQ+ video showcases the best of our bold attractions, restaurants, and nightlife featuring our incredible GaYbor. There are hidden treasures around every corner in Tampa Bay.

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Read Visit Tampa Gay - 2023 by Euclid Media Group on Issuu and browse thousands of other publications on our platform. Start here!

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TAMPA BAY HAS PRIDE

When it comes to having fun, Tampa Bay has everything under the sun. From art festivals and culinary delights to dazzling dance clubs and outdoor adventures, there’s a treasure trove of discoveries waiting for you.

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EVERYTHING LGBTQ+

When it comes to having fun, Tampa Bay has everything under the sun. From art festivals and culinary delights to dazzling dance clubs and outdoor adventures, there's a treasure trove of discoveries waiting for you.

Explore the brick-lined streets of GaYBOR (a LGBTQ-friendly collective of 200+ businesses located in historic Ybor City) to the scrumptious restaurant scene, Tampa Bay is Florida's most welcoming destination with treasures hidden around every corner. You can check out our bold nightlife with clubs, restaurants and bars, indulge in some world-class shopping-or have an incredible adventure at one of our many local attractions. Whatever you seek, you'll find it in Tampa Bay.

GUIDES AND NEWS

Read up on some amazing Tampa Bay guides and news written by travelers and publications.

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Check out our LGTBQ-friendly collective of 200+ businesses located in historic Ybor City including clubs, restaurants and bars, and world-class shopping-or have an incredible adventure at one of our many local attractions. Whatever you seek, you'll find it in Tampa Bay.

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College Scholarships for LGBTQ+ Students

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College Scholarships for LGBTQ+ Students

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Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer (LBGTQ+) students need the support of their communities to thrive in higher education. Many also need financial support. Thankfully, LGBTQ+ students can find a wealth of scholarships for college at both the undergraduate and graduate levels whether you're looking to pursue a traditional on-campus degree, an online degree or a combination of college credit exams and traditional credits. That part you've no doubt gathered from our title.

What might surprise you, though, is that there are also all sorts of scholarships for LGBTQ+-identifying students. LGBTQ+ scholarships are more inclusive than that, even. In fact, scholarships for college are available for all students who are actively involved in promoting acceptance and equality for all gay, lesbian and transgender communities.

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WELCOME TO STEALTHMOMMA

A safe, supportive community for mommas of transgender and gender non-conforming kids.

I’m holding this space for you.

I know what you are going through and It is going to get better…

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STEALTHMOMMA – For Parents of Transgender Kids | A Safe, Supportive Community

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For Parents of Transgender Kids | A Safe, Supportive Community

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Bard Queer Leadership Project at Simon's Rock

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Bard Queer Leadership Project at Simon's Rock

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The Bard Queer Leadership Project (BQLP) is a revolutionary, new Bachelor of Arts degree program designed for, and by, LGBTQIA+ college students to elevate LGBTQIA+ students and college graduates into leadership roles in school and across the workforce…while serving as a space for actualizing educational practices designed for students to thrive.

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Submit two essays to show us your point of view and writing style.

Joining a novel queer leadership program is an intrepid academic choice. What goals, ambitions, and motivations have led you to apply for admission to Bard Queer Leadership Project at Simon's Rock? Are there particular experiences, either academic or personal, that have contributed to your desire to focus your studies on queer leadership? How does the particular kind of education and community that the BQLP and Simon's Rock offer fit your own desires for intellectual and personal growth? How will your presence affect the academic and social development of the project? (500 to 1000 words)

Choose one of the following options:

1. How old were you when you first understood that people may not fit neatly into the gender binary? How did you first react to that reality? Has your relationship to the idea of non-binary identities changed over time? If so, how? (500-1000 words)

2. The term 'queer' has evolved much in recent years, with a great variety of meanings between people and groups. What does Queer mean to you personally? What has influenced your current understanding of the term? (500-1000 words)

3. What would be the characteristics of an ideal Queer or LGBTQIA+ affirming world? How might queer leadership serve to achieve this vision? (500-1000 words)

4. How has your understanding of transgender identities evolved over time? Who or what has influenced your thinking? (500-1000 words)

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Bard Queer Leadership Project at Simon's Rock

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Submit two essays to show us your point of view and writing style. Joining a novel queer leadership program is an intrepid academic choice. What goals, ambitions, and motivations have led you to apply for admission to Bard Queer Leadership Project at Simon's Rock?

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At Wellesley College, Students Vote to Admit Trans Men

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At Wellesley College, Students Vote to Admit Trans Men

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Students supported a nonbinding referendum on Tuesday that calls for opening admission to all nonbinary and transgender applicants. Opponents say the school’s mission is to educate women.

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At Wellesley College, Students Vote to Admit Trans Men

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Students supported a nonbinding referendum on Tuesday that calls for opening admission to all nonbinary and transgender applicants. Opponents say the school’s mission is to educate women.

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Students Weigh Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws in College Decisions

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Students Weigh Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws in College Decisions

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When Reagan Gonzalez began applying to law schools, she didn’t imagine that she would have to research the laws of the states to which she was thinking about moving. But this year’s wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and proposals—the American Civil Liberties Union is currently tracking 388 bills—wound up shaping her decision in ways that she didn’t anticipate.

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When Reagan Gonzalezbegan applying to law schools, she didn't imagine that she would have to research the laws of the states to which she was thinking about moving. But this year's wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and proposals- the American Civil Liberties Union is currently tracking 388 bills -wound up shaping her decision in ways that she didn't anticipate. Gonzalez, who is queer and who typically wears traditionally masculine clothing, had been excited to apply to Vanderbilt University, in Tennessee, and the University of Miami, in Florida. But now, after each state passed laws restricting LGBTQ+ rights, Gonzalez plans to cross them off her list.

"I didn't think that things would get so scary so quickly," she said. "You don't feel safe when you start seeing all of these laws getting passed that are attacking the person that you are."

Gonzalez is one of a growing number students who has been forced to alter her college plans out of concern for her well-being.

Echo Bodell is another. Bodell, who is non-binary and wants to be a sound designer or voice actor, had planned to apply to Ringling College of Art and Design in Florida.

"A lot of the alumni are very successful; they work at Pixar and Disney" they said. "But because of the all the anti-LGBT laws that were being passed, I didn't feel comfortable. I've heard all these horror stories about people getting beat up for their identity."

Daniel Santos, CEO of Prepory, a college counseling service, has seen how the bills have shaped college searches recently.

"You're seeing a lot of students outside the Southern region of the US really decrease their interest in exploring colleges in red states, particularly Southeastern states," he said. "You're also seeing students who live in these Southeastern states look more outside of their state in a way they hadn't before."

Santos says that he hasn't seen a great number of students cross schools off their lists because of the local political climate, but that many are considering it as a factor. Having to take state politics into account is an unfair additional burden on LGBTQ+ students, according to Dr. Margaux Cowden, chief program officer at the Point Foundation, a nonprofit that grants scholarships to LGBTQ+ learners.

"Having to do that extra labor in the college search adds quite a bit of stress. Not only are they worried about making sure they have the right extracurricular profile and enough community service and a 4.2 [GPA], they're also now worried about whether they will need to hide themselves when they get to college. They're worried about being harassed, bullied, physically assaulted by people on that campus and not being protected by the leaders of the community that they have decided to join," she said.

Their choices are also more limited.

"Even if a LGBTQ student gets into the same 12 schools that their straight, cis peer does, they might only be able to choose between four of them as places where they will be able to successfully learn and grow," said Cowden.

Cowden also thought that the bills could cause a decrease in LGBTQ+ enrollment in college overall.

"We're already seeing the ways in which anti-LGBTQ measures are creating bad experiences for students in elementary and high school," said Cowden. "Students no longer wish to pursue their education, or their grades suffer. And that means that if they're applying to selective colleges and universities, they are less competitive to get into those schools and to get financial aid from those schools."

And students from lower-income backgrounds have even less flexibility.

"Most of our students that are in harm's way are students who can't afford to go out of state," said Shane Windmeyer, founder and executive director of Campus Pride, a national organization for LGBTQ+ student leaders and campus groups. "They're stuck in these places that are attacking LGBTQ+ people."

For students who do study in states that are proposing or passing anti-LGBTQ+ bills, the measures can interfere with their schoolwork.

"If someone's safety is impacted, then their learning is impacted," said Windmeyer. "There's enough research out there that shows that students perform better at campuses where they feel welcome and included."

Bodell is experiencing some of the stress. After deciding not to apply to Ringling, they matriculated at the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), reasoning that, although Georgia is a red state, Savannah is a liberal city. However, Georgia has advanced several anti-LGBTQ+ proposals, and recently, the state legislature passed a bill that would deny gender-affirming care to trans youth.

"That concerns me beyond comprehension," said Bodell. "Having that dark knowledge on top of all of the mountains of work that I have to do definitely would affect my mental health."

Although Bodell has been happy at SCAD, they think it's wrong that their choices were limited.

"It's frustrating, but it's mainly unfair," they said. "People in the LGBT community shouldn't have to worry about being attacked if they're applying to a school. That shouldn't be a part of it."

Gonzalez was still holding out hope that something could change.

"I'm kind of hoping for some kind of miracle where they're just like, 'We're taking this law away and you can come here," she said.

But she, too, resented that her opportunity to find the best school for herself had been restricted.

"I feel anger, but I know that anger is a secondary emotion," she said. "I know that it's trying to protect me from the pain."

Jon Edelman can be reached at JEdelman@DiverseEducation.com.

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Students Weigh Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws in College Decisions

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When Reagan Gonzalezbegan applying to law schools, she didn't imagine that she would have to research the laws of the states to which she was thinking about moving. But this year's wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and proposals- the American Civil Liberties Union is currently tracking 388 bills -wound up shaping her decision in ways that she didn't anticipate.

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Students switch up college plans as states pass anti-LGBTQ laws

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Students switch up college plans as states pass anti-LGBTQ laws

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Cody Nobles hopes to study environmental science or marine biology at a college on a shoreline town, where he can observe ocean life firsthand.

But after his native Florida adopted legislation restricting LGBTQ rights, Nobles, who is gay, is planning to find a similar environment in a different political climate. The 19-year-old says he wouldn't have to worry as much about discrimination or even physical assault in California.

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Cody Nobles hopes to study environmental science or marine biology at a college on a shoreline town, where he can observe ocean life firsthand.

But after his native Florida adopted legislation restricting LGBTQ rights, Nobles, who is gay, is planning to find a similar environment in a different political climate. The 19-year-old says he wouldn't have to worry as much about discrimination or even physical assault in California.

"I came to reality and realized that I might actually have to involve those things into where I go, because you never know where I might be going," Cody said, expressing concern about the possibility of having to attend school in "a place that has a record of hate crimes or a very old-fashioned point of view when it comes to gender."

"For me personally, I just naturally assumed I was going to college down here," he said. "But if things got worse, then I suppose I would have no choice."

Florida state lawmakers have passed laws that block classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary schools and aim to restrict race-based conversation and analysis in business and education. Another recent bill would let the state board that oversees public universities give direction on removing majors and minors in subjects like critical race theory and gender studies and bar spending on programs or activities that support such curricula.

Cody's mother, Cindy Nobles, who serves as president of the Jacksonville chapter of the LGBTQ advocacy group PFLAG, said Florida's legislation has "changed how I'm looking at every school."

"Now instead of worrying about whether it's going to be a fit for the major he wants to go into, I have to look at the board of trustees. I have to look at the political viewpoints of the people who are in charge of the schools and figure out whether or not they're going to be a good fit before I even worry about his major."

Interviews with students, parents and college counselors suggest LGBTQ young people are striking colleges in states where such legislation is being pushed. Some students worry about having access to hormone therapy while away at school, some want to attend schools with all-gender housing options, and others fear hostile rhetoric puts them at a heightened risk of physical violence.

Across the country, state legislators have moved to restrict LGBTQ rights with hundreds of bills already this year, including in Texas, Alabama, Tennessee and Arizona. Some of the bills would ban transgender students from competing on sports teams consistent with their gender identity, while others would stop people from changing their gender identity on official documents or force teachers to tell parents about any information they learn on a student's gender identity.

Advocates say a shift in college applications from LGBTQ students could lead to diminished diversity at colleges, where part of the learning experience is encountering people of different backgrounds. Others, like Sarah Eckhardt, a Democratic state senator from Texas, also caution that legislation targeting LGBTQ rights could stifle academic research and harm the state economy.

"Our state is home to some of the top universities in the country, yet many GOP lawmakers are set on infringing on the rights and safety of the very students, faculty and staff that make up these world class institutions," a spokesperson for Eckhardt said in a statement to NBC News. "With almost 75 bills filed that would be detrimental to our LGBTQ+ community - and state as a whole - Texans have an uphill battle in advocating for simple equality."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential 2024 presidential candidate, recently asked Florida's state universities to report data on the number of students who sought or received gender dysphoria treatment, including sex reassignment surgery and hormones. And last week, the bill that would direct universities to remove majors and minors on gender studies and other programs dealing with diversity - an issue DeSantis has championed - was introduced in the Florida Legislature.

"Like DEI and CRT, radical gender ideology has supplanted academics at many institutions of higher education," Jeremy Redfern, DeSantis' deputy press secretary, wrote in a statement, referring to policies on diversity, equity and inclusion and critical race theory, which teaches about structural racism. "We are committed to fully understanding the amount of public funding that is going toward such non-academic pursuits to best assess how to get our colleges and universities refocused on education and truth."

Redfern declined to provide evidence for his claim or comment on whether he thought fewer LGBTQ students would want to attend Florida's public colleges and universities as a result of state actions.

While research on how anti-LGBTQ legislation could affect college applications is limited, college counselors say families are increasingly raising the issue as a factor in their decisions on where to attend. Venkates Swaminathan, the chief executive of LifeLaunchr, a college admissions counseling firm, said between 20 and 30 of the few hundred students he works with each year express concerns about state legislation. Daniel Santos, CEO of Prepory college counseling, echoed the point, adding that one of his gay students struck every college in a red state from their list this year, deleting the University of Florida, the University of Texas at Austin, Washington and Lee University, and Washington University in St. Louis.

Eric Sherman, a counselor at IvyWise, a college admissions counseling company in New York, said between 10% and 15% of the students he works with flag campus climate for LGBTQ students as an issue of concern. LGBTQ students tended to "categorically exclude certain parts of the country," he said.

Brandon Wolf, press secretary for the LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Florida, said fear is driving the issue.

"Sending a kid out of the nest and into the world for the first time is already really scary when you've spent 18 years making sure that they eat three square meals a day and have clothes on their back and take a shower in the morning," Wolf said. "It's scary to send them off into the world for the first time, and that becomes infinitely more terrifying when you are concerned you're sending them to a state where simply the person they are may put them in grave danger because the most powerful leader in that state has placed a target on their back."

Instances of violence targeting LGBTQ people more than tripled in the last year, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. Renan Barker, a 17-year-old Ohio resident who uses they/he pronouns, said they wanted to attend school in California, where they wouldn't fear for their safety. But Barker couldn't afford the out-of-state tuition and will attend Kent State University instead. Barker expressed fear about leaving home, beyond the nervous excitement many students feel before starting college.

"If something were to happen to me, if I am hate-crimed or something like that, I can't just go home and be like, 'Mom, help me.' I don't have that comfort, that net," Barker said.

Stella Keating is refusing to go to school in a state where anti-trans bills have reached the legislative floor, indicating support among lawmakers. She added that politicians' rhetoric about LGBTQ people has adversely affected her mental health. "It excuses the behavior. It allows for transphobia everywhere," Keating said. "It makes it seem, 'Oh well, my senator can do this so so can I. And I can make fun of the trans kids at my school, that's okay.' That seeps into everyday life."

According to a 2021 survey by the Trevor Project, a LGBTQ youth suicide prevention group, 94% of LGBTQ young people said recent politics had negatively affected their mental health.

Parents of LGBTQ students also said that concerns over state politics are influencing how they approach school choices for their children.

Melissa McLaren, an Ohio resident with a transgender daughter, said she scoured college sites to see whether they had LGBTQ-specific housing as an option, health services for LGBTQ students, and mental health programs for LGBTQ young people.

Cindy Nobles researched campus crime rates and anti-LGBTQ violence for schools of interest to Cody.

"At this point there are so many things that we have to worry about, to be honest I don't even know where to start," Nobles said. "It just made what should be a fun time of his life very scary for me as a parent."

Some colleges in conservative states have taken action to counter the potential influence of anti-LGBTQ legislation, emphasizing their openness to LGBTQ students, said Ellen Kahn, senior director of programs and partnerships at the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group. Anti-LGBTQ legislation has been a "clarion call" for higher education leaders, and some colleges and universities have begun to compete to be a school of choice for LGBTQ students, she added.

Duke University, for example, added an option to its application form to allow LGBTQ students to write about their identity and how it affects them, Santos said. Sherman added that students seem more receptive to applying to schools with websites that emphasize an LGBTQ student center and other support mechanisms.

Shane Windmeyer, founder and executive director of Campus Pride, which helps students identify LGBTQ-friendly campuses, said sympathetic policies are crucial for students who for financial reasons must attend a public university in their state. Some colleges in red states, like the University of North Florida and the University of Texas at Austin, are serving as a "safe haven" for LGBTQ students, Windmeyer said.

Wolf, of Equality Florida, said that Florida's higher education system loses out on talented students because of the state's legislation, a point that Kahn mirrored, saying she worries about "brain drain."

Cindy Nobles, meanwhile, said she's considering sending Cody to school in Michigan, where his sisters live and she feels he'd be safer. "It has definitely been put on the table," Cindy Nobles said. "As much as I don't want to see him move across the country, for his safety I might have to."

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Students switch up college plans as states pass anti-LGBTQ laws

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Students, parents and college counselors say some LGBTQ youth are choosing not to attend colleges in states that have passed legislation targeting their rights.

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Students switch up college plans as states pass anti-LGBTQ laws

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Students switch up college plans as states pass anti-LGBTQ laws

# data[].attributes.body
Cody Nobles hopes to study environmental science or marine biology at a college on a shoreline town, where he can observe ocean life firsthand.

But after his native Florida adopted legislation restricting LGBTQ rights, Nobles, who is gay, is planning to find a similar environment in a different political climate. The 19-year-old says he wouldn't have to worry as much about discrimination or even physical assault in California.

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Cody Nobles hopes to study environmental science or marine biology at a college on a shoreline town, where he can observe ocean life firsthand.

But after his native Florida adopted legislation restricting LGBTQ rights, Nobles, who is gay, is planning to find a similar environment in a different political climate. The 19-year-old says he wouldn't have to worry as much about discrimination or even physical assault in California.

"I came to reality and realized that I might actually have to involve those things into where I go, because you never know where I might be going," Cody said, expressing concern about the possibility of having to attend school in "a place that has a record of hate crimes or a very old-fashioned point of view when it comes to gender."

"For me personally, I just naturally assumed I was going to college down here," he said. "But if things got worse, then I suppose I would have no choice."

Florida state lawmakers have passed laws that block classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary schools and aim to restrict race-based conversation and analysis in business and education. Another recent bill would let the state board that oversees public universities give direction on removing majors and minors in subjects like critical race theory and gender studies and bar spending on programs or activities that support such curricula.

Cody's mother, Cindy Nobles, who serves as president of the Jacksonville chapter of the LGBTQ advocacy group PFLAG, said Florida's legislation has "changed how I'm looking at every school."

"Now instead of worrying about whether it's going to be a fit for the major he wants to go into, I have to look at the board of trustees. I have to look at the political viewpoints of the people who are in charge of the schools and figure out whether or not they're going to be a good fit before I even worry about his major."

Interviews with students, parents and college counselors suggest LGBTQ young people are striking colleges in states where such legislation is being pushed. Some students worry about having access to hormone therapy while away at school, some want to attend schools with all-gender housing options, and others fear hostile rhetoric puts them at a heightened risk of physical violence.

Across the country, state legislators have moved to restrict LGBTQ rights with hundreds of bills already this year, including in Texas, Alabama, Tennessee and Arizona. Some of the bills would ban transgender students from competing on sports teams consistent with their gender identity, while others would stop people from changing their gender identity on official documents or force teachers to tell parents about any information they learn on a student's gender identity.

Advocates say a shift in college applications from LGBTQ students could lead to diminished diversity at colleges, where part of the learning experience is encountering people of different backgrounds. Others, like Sarah Eckhardt, a Democratic state senator from Texas, also caution that legislation targeting LGBTQ rights could stifle academic research and harm the state economy.

"Our state is home to some of the top universities in the country, yet many GOP lawmakers are set on infringing on the rights and safety of the very students, faculty and staff that make up these world class institutions," a spokesperson for Eckhardt said in a statement to NBC News. "With almost 75 bills filed that would be detrimental to our LGBTQ+ community - and state as a whole - Texans have an uphill battle in advocating for simple equality."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential 2024 presidential candidate, recently asked Florida's state universities to report data on the number of students who sought or received gender dysphoria treatment, including sex reassignment surgery and hormones. And last week, the bill that would direct universities to remove majors and minors on gender studies and other programs dealing with diversity - an issue DeSantis has championed - was introduced in the Florida Legislature.

"Like DEI and CRT, radical gender ideology has supplanted academics at many institutions of higher education," Jeremy Redfern, DeSantis' deputy press secretary, wrote in a statement, referring to policies on diversity, equity and inclusion and critical race theory, which teaches about structural racism. "We are committed to fully understanding the amount of public funding that is going toward such non-academic pursuits to best assess how to get our colleges and universities refocused on education and truth."

Redfern declined to provide evidence for his claim or comment on whether he thought fewer LGBTQ students would want to attend Florida's public colleges and universities as a result of state actions.

While research on how anti-LGBTQ legislation could affect college applications is limited, college counselors say families are increasingly raising the issue as a factor in their decisions on where to attend. Venkates Swaminathan, the chief executive of LifeLaunchr, a college admissions counseling firm, said between 20 and 30 of the few hundred students he works with each year express concerns about state legislation. Daniel Santos, CEO of Prepory college counseling, echoed the point, adding that one of his gay students struck every college in a red state from their list this year, deleting the University of Florida, the University of Texas at Austin, Washington and Lee University, and Washington University in St. Louis.

Eric Sherman, a counselor at IvyWise, a college admissions counseling company in New York, said between 10% and 15% of the students he works with flag campus climate for LGBTQ students as an issue of concern. LGBTQ students tended to "categorically exclude certain parts of the country," he said.

Brandon Wolf, press secretary for the LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Florida, said fear is driving the issue.

"Sending a kid out of the nest and into the world for the first time is already really scary when you've spent 18 years making sure that they eat three square meals a day and have clothes on their back and take a shower in the morning," Wolf said. "It's scary to send them off into the world for the first time, and that becomes infinitely more terrifying when you are concerned you're sending them to a state where simply the person they are may put them in grave danger because the most powerful leader in that state has placed a target on their back."

Instances of violence targeting LGBTQ people more than tripled in the last year, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. Renan Barker, a 17-year-old Ohio resident who uses they/he pronouns, said they wanted to attend school in California, where they wouldn't fear for their safety. But Barker couldn't afford the out-of-state tuition and will attend Kent State University instead. Barker expressed fear about leaving home, beyond the nervous excitement many students feel before starting college.

"If something were to happen to me, if I am hate-crimed or something like that, I can't just go home and be like, 'Mom, help me.' I don't have that comfort, that net," Barker said.

Stella Keating is refusing to go to school in a state where anti-trans bills have reached the legislative floor, indicating support among lawmakers. She added that politicians' rhetoric about LGBTQ people has adversely affected her mental health. "It excuses the behavior. It allows for transphobia everywhere," Keating said. "It makes it seem, 'Oh well, my senator can do this so so can I. And I can make fun of the trans kids at my school, that's okay.' That seeps into everyday life."

According to a 2021 survey by the Trevor Project, a LGBTQ youth suicide prevention group, 94% of LGBTQ young people said recent politics had negatively affected their mental health.

Parents of LGBTQ students also said that concerns over state politics are influencing how they approach school choices for their children.

Melissa McLaren, an Ohio resident with a transgender daughter, said she scoured college sites to see whether they had LGBTQ-specific housing as an option, health services for LGBTQ students, and mental health programs for LGBTQ young people.

Cindy Nobles researched campus crime rates and anti-LGBTQ violence for schools of interest to Cody.

"At this point there are so many things that we have to worry about, to be honest I don't even know where to start," Nobles said. "It just made what should be a fun time of his life very scary for me as a parent."

Some colleges in conservative states have taken action to counter the potential influence of anti-LGBTQ legislation, emphasizing their openness to LGBTQ students, said Ellen Kahn, senior director of programs and partnerships at the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group. Anti-LGBTQ legislation has been a "clarion call" for higher education leaders, and some colleges and universities have begun to compete to be a school of choice for LGBTQ students, she added.

Duke University, for example, added an option to its application form to allow LGBTQ students to write about their identity and how it affects them, Santos said. Sherman added that students seem more receptive to applying to schools with websites that emphasize an LGBTQ student center and other support mechanisms.

Shane Windmeyer, founder and executive director of Campus Pride, which helps students identify LGBTQ-friendly campuses, said sympathetic policies are crucial for students who for financial reasons must attend a public university in their state. Some colleges in red states, like the University of North Florida and the University of Texas at Austin, are serving as a "safe haven" for LGBTQ students, Windmeyer said.

Wolf, of Equality Florida, said that Florida's higher education system loses out on talented students because of the state's legislation, a point that Kahn mirrored, saying she worries about "brain drain."

Cindy Nobles, meanwhile, said she's considering sending Cody to school in Michigan, where his sisters live and she feels he'd be safer. "It has definitely been put on the table," Cindy Nobles said. "As much as I don't want to see him move across the country, for his safety I might have to."

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Students switch up college plans as states pass anti-LGBTQ laws

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Students, parents and college counselors say some LGBTQ youth are choosing not to attend colleges in states that have passed legislation targeting their rights.

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OUT MetroWest is a phenomenal nonprofit organization with multiple support groups serving pre-K through 12th grade.

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Home | Building communities where LGBTQ+ youth thrive.

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OUT MetroWest is having our annual Spring Auction! We have 98 amazing items that are just a click away. Your bid supports our FREE programs for LGBTQ+ youth across MetroWest. Bid on everything from Kung Fu and art classes to Tibetan Rugs or your own Drag Storytime!

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OUT MetroWest is a phenomenal nonprofit organization with multiple support groups serving pre-K through 12th grade.

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Home | Building communities where LGBTQ+ youth thrive.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
OUT MetroWest is having our annual Spring Auction! We have 98 amazing items that are just a click away. Your bid supports our FREE programs for LGBTQ+ youth across MetroWest. Bid on everything from Kung Fu and art classes to Tibetan Rugs or your own Drag Storytime!

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“DeSantis asked to see a breakdown of the medical data of students who received gender-affirming care from public entities. This includes anyone in the general public who sought gender-affirming care at the hospitals located at these public universities. In addition, he wants their ages and the dates they received gender-affirming care… Insider has confirmed that University of Florida , Florida State University , University of Central Florida, Florida A&M University , Florida International University, and the University of North Florida have complied with the request. ”

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Ron DeSantis told all public universities in Florida to hand over medical data on services performed related to gender dysphoria.

Insider has confirmed six of the 12 universities have complied with the request.

Now, college students across the state are planning a walkout to protest the governor's request.

Students across Florida are planning a statewide walkout after Gov. Ron DeSantis requested all public universities comply in delivering data from student health services on transgender students who sought gender-affirming care at the institutions.

DeSantis asked to see a breakdown of the medical data of students who received gender-affirming care from public entities. This includes anyone in the general public who sought gender-affirming care at the hospitals located at these public universities. In addition, he wants their ages and the dates they received gender-affirming care. The deadline to submit those records was February 10.

Insider has confirmed that University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, Florida A&M University, Florida International University, and the University of North Florida have complied with the request, but has yet to hear back from the rest.

Students at these universities are now planning rallies for next week along with the statewide walkout on February 23. Ben Braver, a junior at the University of South Florida and the outreach officer for the school's College Democrats chapter, is leading the initiative, known as the Stand for Freedom Florida Walkout.

"Hate is spread when it's innocuous, when it seems silly, and when it seems like taking a stand is an overreaction," Braver told Insider. "We, just like any generation, need to stand for the civil rights that have already been fought for, the ones that have been won, and those which are at stake right now."

Andy Pham, a senior and long-standing member of the University of South Florida's Trans+ Student Union, said he sees the state's move as a direct attack on trans rights.

"They want to legislate us out of existence," Pham said. "That starts with attacking our healthcare, attacking our right to exist in public spaces, attempting surveillance - all of that."

In January, 20 students at the University of South Florida held a rally protesting DeSantis' request. They then started an online petition asking the school's administration not to submit the medical information. The petition received over 2,600 signatures, but officials at the school said they plan to send over the records anyway. Insider hasn't been able to confirm whether the University of South Florida sent over the data.

"As a state university, USF has an obligation to be responsive to requests from our elected officials," the university said in a statement, according to WUSF. "However, the university will not provide information that identifies an individual patient or violates patient privacy laws."

Among those signing on to support the walkout are the Dream Defenders, Florida College Democrats, state lawmaker Anna Eskamani, and 26-year-old Congressman Maxwell Frost.

"The governor's abusing his power," Frost told Insider. "He's targeting folks that disagree with him - people who might not see eye to eye with him, marginalized communities."

When Insider asked why the state has requested the health data of transgender college students from public universities, the state's deputy press secretary, Jeremy Redfern, said: "We are committed to fully understanding the amount of public funding that is going toward such nonacademic pursuits to best assess how to get our colleges and universities refocused on education and truth."

The American Civil Liberties Union reports that during this legislative session, Florida lawmakers have introduced 85 bills restricting gender-affirming healthcare, up from 43 bills last year.

Eskamani said DeSantis should prepare for student backlash.

"When students see the visual representation of their peers around them standing up and walking out, they're going to get plugged in and help us fight back," she said. "That will happen."
Correction: February 16, 2023 - This story has been updated to reflect what DeSantis' office requested from colleges. They asked for data from public entities and not medical records. We've also corrected the attribution to the quote from the Governor's office to come from his press secretary and not the governor himself.

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Ron DeSantis requested the information of trans students who sought care at Florida's public universities. Now students are planning a statewide walkout.

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Ron DeSantis told all public universities in Florida to hand over medical data on services performed related to gender dysphoria. Insider has confirmed six of the 12 universities have complied with the request. Now, college students across the state are planning a walkout to protest the governor's request.

# data[].attributes.body
“DeSantis asked to see a breakdown of the medical data of students who received gender-affirming care from public entities. This includes anyone in the general public who sought gender-affirming care at the hospitals located at these public universities. In addition, he wants their ages and the dates they received gender-affirming care… Insider has confirmed that University of Florida , Florida State University , University of Central Florida, Florida A&M University , Florida International University, and the University of North Florida have complied with the request. ”

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Ron DeSantis told all public universities in Florida to hand over medical data on services performed related to gender dysphoria.

Insider has confirmed six of the 12 universities have complied with the request.

Now, college students across the state are planning a walkout to protest the governor's request.

Students across Florida are planning a statewide walkout after Gov. Ron DeSantis requested all public universities comply in delivering data from student health services on transgender students who sought gender-affirming care at the institutions.

DeSantis asked to see a breakdown of the medical data of students who received gender-affirming care from public entities. This includes anyone in the general public who sought gender-affirming care at the hospitals located at these public universities. In addition, he wants their ages and the dates they received gender-affirming care. The deadline to submit those records was February 10.

Insider has confirmed that University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, Florida A&M University, Florida International University, and the University of North Florida have complied with the request, but has yet to hear back from the rest.

Students at these universities are now planning rallies for next week along with the statewide walkout on February 23. Ben Braver, a junior at the University of South Florida and the outreach officer for the school's College Democrats chapter, is leading the initiative, known as the Stand for Freedom Florida Walkout.

"Hate is spread when it's innocuous, when it seems silly, and when it seems like taking a stand is an overreaction," Braver told Insider. "We, just like any generation, need to stand for the civil rights that have already been fought for, the ones that have been won, and those which are at stake right now."

Andy Pham, a senior and long-standing member of the University of South Florida's Trans+ Student Union, said he sees the state's move as a direct attack on trans rights.

"They want to legislate us out of existence," Pham said. "That starts with attacking our healthcare, attacking our right to exist in public spaces, attempting surveillance - all of that."

In January, 20 students at the University of South Florida held a rally protesting DeSantis' request. They then started an online petition asking the school's administration not to submit the medical information. The petition received over 2,600 signatures, but officials at the school said they plan to send over the records anyway. Insider hasn't been able to confirm whether the University of South Florida sent over the data.

"As a state university, USF has an obligation to be responsive to requests from our elected officials," the university said in a statement, according to WUSF. "However, the university will not provide information that identifies an individual patient or violates patient privacy laws."

Among those signing on to support the walkout are the Dream Defenders, Florida College Democrats, state lawmaker Anna Eskamani, and 26-year-old Congressman Maxwell Frost.

"The governor's abusing his power," Frost told Insider. "He's targeting folks that disagree with him - people who might not see eye to eye with him, marginalized communities."

When Insider asked why the state has requested the health data of transgender college students from public universities, the state's deputy press secretary, Jeremy Redfern, said: "We are committed to fully understanding the amount of public funding that is going toward such nonacademic pursuits to best assess how to get our colleges and universities refocused on education and truth."

The American Civil Liberties Union reports that during this legislative session, Florida lawmakers have introduced 85 bills restricting gender-affirming healthcare, up from 43 bills last year.

Eskamani said DeSantis should prepare for student backlash.

"When students see the visual representation of their peers around them standing up and walking out, they're going to get plugged in and help us fight back," she said. "That will happen."
Correction: February 16, 2023 - This story has been updated to reflect what DeSantis' office requested from colleges. They asked for data from public entities and not medical records. We've also corrected the attribution to the quote from the Governor's office to come from his press secretary and not the governor himself.

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Ron DeSantis requested the information of trans students who sought care at Florida's public universities. Now students are planning a statewide walkout.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ron DeSantis told all public universities in Florida to hand over medical data on services performed related to gender dysphoria. Insider has confirmed six of the 12 universities have complied with the request. Now, college students across the state are planning a walkout to protest the governor's request.

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Very helpful map to share with students so they know the state laws.

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Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, TLC employs a variety of community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation.

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National Equality Map - Transgender Law Center

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Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, TLC employs a variety of community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation.

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Very helpful map to share with students so they know the state laws.

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Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, TLC employs a variety of community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation.

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National Equality Map - Transgender Law Center

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Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, TLC employs a variety of community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation.

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Trans Student Educational Resources is a youth-led organization dedicated to transforming the educational environment for trans and gender nonconforming students through advocacy and empowerment. [Further], our mission is to educate the public and teach trans activists how to be effective organizers. We believe that justice for trans and gender nonconforming youth is contingent on an intersectional framework of activism. Ending oppression is a long-term process that can only be achieved through collaborative action.

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Trans Student Educational Resources is a youth-led organization dedicated to transforming the educational environment for trans and gender non-conforming students through advocacy and empowerment. Founded in 2011, it is the only national organization led by trans youth. Click here to learn more about what we do. Sign up for email updates: We're Hiring!

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Sports remains one of the greatest socialization mechanisms in the world — it communicates values without relying on any one language, and its most successful participants are known and respected globally. And yet, an entire community of people remain systematically excluded from sport.

Athlete Ally believes that everyone should have equal access, opportunity, and experience in sports — regardless of your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Our mission is to end the rampant homophobia and transphobia in sport and to activate the athletic community to exercise their leadership to champion LGBTQI+ equality.

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Stand with Trans Powerlifters
Take Action

Call on the NFL to Protect LGBTQ Fans
Take Action

Demand NYC YMCA Stand With and Support Trans Members
Take Action

Join Global Sports Community in Demanding IAAF Rescind Discriminatory Policy
Take Action

Demand NCAA Athletic Departments Adopt Trans-Inclusive Policies
Take Action

Thank you LGBTQ Olympians
Take Action

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Learn more about Athlete Ally's work to champion LGBTQI+ inclusion in and through sport.

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https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6884200/

Loving parents of a four-year-old must come to terms with their child being transgender.

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To me, this movie portrayed parents so worried about their child being a victim of gender "expansion", that they missed the point that he was exhibiting aggressive behavior and stubbornness issues. Also, I love and adore Jim Parsons, but it was painful watching him attempt to portray a straight man....just as it is painful to watch the straight Eric McCormack attempt to portray a gay man. It just doesn't work.

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To me, this movie portrayed parents so worried about their child being a victim of gender "expansion", that they missed the point that he was exhibiting aggressive behavior and stubbornness issues. Also, I love and adore Jim Parsons, but it was painful watching him attempt to portray a straight man....just as it is painful to watch the straight Eric McCormack attempt to portray a gay man.

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Read the historic January 2017 Special Issue of National Geographic magazine on the shifting landscape of gender and download our discussion guide for teachers and parents.

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Read the historic January 2017 Special Issue of National Geographic magazine on the shifting landscape of gender and download our discussion guide for teachers and parents.

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Read the historic January 2017 Special Issue of National Geographic magazine on the shifting landscape of gender and download our discussion guide for teachers and parents.

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GENDER REVOLUTION: A JOURNEY WITH KATIE COURIC

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GENDER REVOLUTION: A JOURNEY WITH KATIE COURIC

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In this two-hour documentary, Katie Couric sets out to explore the rapidly evolving complexities of gender identity.

Gender and sexuality are fluid. In 2016, transgender issues are altering the nature of day-to-day interactions. What do you do when your 7-year-old son announces that he wants to be a girl? Or your husband of 30 years announces that he wants to be a woman? How do college students at All Girl colleges react when "he" becomes a "she."

Newscasting legend Katie Couric takes us on a unique journey - from birth to death - to discover the dynamics of gender in 2016.

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National Geographic - Videos, TV Shows & Photos - Canada

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In this two-hour documentary, Katie Couric sets out to explore the rapidly evolving complexities of gender identity.

Gender and sexuality are fluid. In 2016, transgender issues are altering the nature of day-to-day interactions. What do you do when your 7-year-old son announces that he wants to be a girl? Or your husband of 30 years announces that he wants to be a woman? How do college students at All Girl colleges react when "he" becomes a "she."

Newscasting legend Katie Couric takes us on a unique journey - from birth to death - to discover the dynamics of gender in 2016.

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Gender Revolution: A Journey With Katie Couric

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In this two-hour documentary, Katie Couric sets out to explore the rapidly evolving complexities of gender identity. Gender and sexuality are fluid. In 2016, transgender issues are altering the nature of day-to-day interactions. What do you do when your 7-year-old son announces that he wants to be a girl?

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https://genderspectrum.org/articles/educator-resources

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General Resources
Rethinking Schools - It's OK to be Neither Rethinking Schools - When the Gender Boxes Don't Fit Teaching Tolerance - The Gender Spectrum Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education (Summer 2019): Connections Quarterly: Gender
Working with Transgender Students, Journal of LGBT Youth (2014).

Young Adult Books by Transgender Authors from YA Pride.

School Policies and Safety

A model policy on gender-inclusion from GLSEN.

Harsh Realities - The Experiences of Transgender Youth in Our Nation's Schools. A 2009 report from GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network).

California Safe Schools Coalition. Documenting Safety Needs for Gender Nonconforming Students and Understanding School Safety for Transgender Students.

School Victimization of Gender-Nonconforming LGBT Youth. A 2010 research report from the journal "Developmental Psychology."

University of Texas, " Using Chosen Names Reduces Odds of Depression and Suicide in Transgender Youths." Also see our video with the author of the study.

School Bathrooms
Saint Paul (MN) Public Schools-Inclusive Restrooms
Media Matters (2016), " A Comprehensive Guide To The Debunked "Bathroom Predator" Myth."

Puberty and Health Education

Scarleteen, an independent, feminist, grassroots sexuality and relationships education media and support organization.

Guttmacher Institute (2019), "Promiscuity Propaganda: Access to Information and Services Does Not Lead to Increases in Sexual Activity."

InterAct, a nonprofit advocating for the human rights ofchildren born with intersex traits.

Massive Science (2019), " Sex isn't binary, and we should stop acting like it is."

Teaching Sexuality to Disabled Youth Comprehensive Sex Education for Youth with Disabilities (SIECUS)

Cripping Up Sex with Eva, sex and disability resources.

Sports Leagues and Gender

Transathlete.com. See their list of policies for K-12 schools and the policies of major sport organizations.

Model Policy for Transgender Athletes in High School from the LGBT Sports Foundation.

Guidelines for Creating Policies for Transgender Children in Recreational Sports (2009). From the Transgender Law and Policy Institute.

On The Team: Equal Opportunity for Transgender Athletes (2010). A report from the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Women's Sports Foundation, and It Takes a Team.

Sports Project of the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
U.S. Soccer Federation (2013): Inclusion Policy
" The Transgender Athlete." Inside Higher Education (2010).

Developing Policies for Transgender Students on High School Teams, National Federation of State High School Associations.

Resources from Schuyler Bailar, the first openly transgender athlete to compete in any sport on an NCAA Division 1 men's team.
Sex Verification of Athletes.
Also see our resources on youth development and sports.

Legal Concerns

Legal Guidance on Transgender Students' Rights, National Education Association (2016).

Model School District Policy Regarding Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students, California Safe Schools Coalition (2016).

Examples of Policies and Emerging Practices for Supporting Transgender Students, U.S. Department of Education (2016).

Map of Safe Schools Laws, Movement Advancement Project.

FAQ on the Withdrawal of Federal Guidance on Transgender Students, National Center for Transgender Equality (2016).

Guidance on Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students, California School Board Association (2014).
Legal Issues in Schools: an overview
Learn More
Raising My Rainbow: Adventures in Raising a Fabulous, Gender Creative Son The Riddle of Gender: Science, Activism, and Transgender Rights Evolution's Rainbow: Diversity, Gender, and Sexuality in Nature and People Transgender History Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation Transgender Children - More than a Theoretical Challenge

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General Resources Rethinking Schools - It's OK to be Neither Rethinking Schools - When the Gender Boxes Don't Fit Teaching Tolerance - The Gender Spectrum Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education (Summer 2019): Connections Quarterly: Gender Working with Transgender Students, Journal of LGBT Youth (2014). Young Adult Books by Transgender Authors from YA Pride.

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https://www.hachettebooks.com/titles/laura-jane-grace/tranny/9780316264389/

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"Laura Jane Grace has pulled off the near impossible. With her first book, Tranny, she has added a new perspective to a vastly over populated genre of music-based literature.

In doing so, she has also managed to tell her own deeply personal, at times heartbreaking, story of her struggle with gender identity in a society still content to ascribe gender using an archaic binary system that drives so many transgender people to despair.

This book is a mandatory read for anyone interested in gender identity, intellectual punk rock, or an engrossing account of a great rock and roll band, subjects that may sound mutually exclusive but here are inextricably linked."-Shirley Manson, lead singer of Garbage

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"Laura Jane Grace has pulled off the near impossible. With her first book, Tranny, she has added a new perspective to a vastly over populated genre of music-based literature.

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Support for Families of Trans and Nonbinary youth in Texas

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Support for Families of Trans and Nonbinary youth in Texas

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https://www.outyouth.org/support-for-families?utm_source=Central+Texas+Transgender+Health+Coalition&utm_campaign=7197bd3298-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_03_20_10_31_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_34918afd4d-7197bd3298-711068725&mc_cid=7197bd3298&mc_eid=7d38dd30a4

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We know recent political actions in Texas have caused distress for our families with trans and non-binary youth. The following are some resources to help during this time:

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ARTICLE: The Path of LGBTQ+ Community in Portugal

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ARTICLE: The Path of LGBTQ+ Community in Portugal

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The celebration of Pride month began in New York after an episode of police violence in 1969. On 28 June, police forces brutally entered a gay bar and began assaulting everyone present. The situation triggered demonstrations, at a time when it was forbidden for a gay couple to dance side by side in a nightclub. The Stonewall riots sparked various movements around the world and Portugal was no exception.

Portugal is currently considered one of the safest countries for the LGBTQ+ community to live and walk around, among other activities. However, ILGA Europe states that Portugal should have better legislation to protect the community.

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The celebration of Pride month began in New York after an episode of police violence in 1969. On 28 June, police forces brutally entered a gay bar and began assaulting everyone present. The situation triggered demonstrations, at a time when it was forbidden for a gay couple to dance side by side in a nightclub. The Stonewall riots sparked various movements around the world and Portugal was no exception.

Portugal is currently considered one of the safest countries for the LGBTQ+ community to live and walk around, among other activities. However, ILGA Europe states that Portugal should have better legislation to protect the community.

Portugal took centuries to become a welcoming country for the LGBTQ+ community. Throughout history, there has always been a strong prejudice against homosexuals, especially in couples of two men, who were more recurrently talked about and judged.
Discoveries
About the Discoveries, it is common to talk about voyages and discoveries, the wealth brought by Portuguese navigators and how maritime paths were discovered through seas that had never been navigated before. History tends to eliminate negative parts like slavery and, in this case, homophobia. For sea voyages, only men sailed in the caravels, as homosexuality always existed, there was the possibility of gay men being on trips on boats and, eventually, getting involved with other sailors. If discovered, a sentence would be applied. Either the sailors would be left at the nearest port, or they end up being sentenced to death in the caravel.
Holy Inquisition
The period of the Holy Inquisition was probably the darkest in Portugal. The Catholic Church held practically all the judicial power and judged citizens who would commit crimes that were not acceptable in the eyes of God. In this case, the ones who suffered the most were gay men, who were tried with the death penalty, since sodomy was considered heresy. In the case of homosexual women, the crime was not considered so serious, having even been decriminalized in the 17th century. The men accused of the crime of sodomy were usually young boys who lived in extreme poverty and resorted to prostitution for money. However, there were cases of young people who, knowing they were homosexuals, started their sex life with other men before being forced to marry a woman. The Inquisition in Portugal received 4,000 complaints of sodomy, arrested 500 people and 30 were sentenced to death at the stake, apart from all those who were paraded in a humiliating way in the public square while being tortured.
XIX century
In the 19th century, there was a small change. Homosexuality was no longer seen as a crime in 1852. However, Egas Moniz, a physician and neurosurgeon, in one of his published works defined homosexuality as a mental illness and it was recognised as such until the 1980s. In 1886, homosexuality was once again criminalized.
Estado Novo
The Estado Novo, ruled by António Salazar, was based on the triad "God, Fatherland, Family", so Christian values were the pillars of government. As such, sexuality had only one purpose: reproduction. In this sense, it was only legal for heterosexual couples to exist, so that the human race could continue. During the Estado Novo, the government-controlled all journalistic and cultural content before being published, censoring whatever was an attack on the values of the 1933 Constitution. Thus, every cultural product that mentioned homosexuality was censored and prevented from being published. Nevertheless, there was excessive persecution of homosexuals. The police arranged meetings with alleged homosexuals, pretending to be part of the community, to find a reason to arrest the man they were talking to. The same happened in public bathhouses, where the police would monitor the behaviour of men, to understand if they were escaping the laws of nature.
Post 25 April 1974
With fascism out of power in Portugal, it was expected that there would be an improvement and greater access to all kinds of freedoms, including sexual freedom. Although General Galvão de Melo had stated that the revolution was not made for homosexuals, in 1982 homosexuality was decriminalised. At this time, HIV emerged in Portugal, which was known at the time as a disease that only attacked homosexuals, justifying several episodes of homophobia. In this context, several cultural figures came out as homosexuals to support those who could not get help. In the 1990s, associations to support the LGBTQ+ community began to emerge, such as ILGA Portugal and events such as the Gay Pride Parade. In 1999, the possibility for gay or bisexual men to join the army was approved, excluding the possibility of transsexuals joining the armed forces. This measure still applies today.
Present
Currently, the topic of sexual orientation is discussed more openly and publicly. There is LGBTQ+ representation in culture, even though sometimes considered stereotypical. However, there has been an evolution in terms of acceptance of the theme. In 2009, the topic of sexual orientation was included in the sex education program in schools, and the following year, same-gender marriage was legalised. After several attempts, in 2015, adoption by homosexual couples was approved, although, in some cases, it is pointed out that priority is given to heterosexual couples during the adoption process.

There is still a long way to go. Homophobia is still a reality, but nothing compared to what existed in earlier times. During the next few days, in several cities of the country, there will be LGBT marches so that everyone can support and fight for a cause, which is related to Human Rights.

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The path of LGBTQ+ community in Portugal

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The celebration of Pride month began in New York after an episode of police violence in 1969. On 28 June, police forces brutally entered a gay bar and began assaulting everyone present. The situation triggered demonstrations, at a time when it was forbidden for a gay couple to dance side by side in a nightclub.

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University of Missouri DEI Reading List: Gender

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University of Missouri DEI Reading List: Gender

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This reading list has been developed to assist faculty, staff, and students in gaining understanding and appreciation of DEI issues in our society.

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Skip to Main Content

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Sex, Gender, Gender Identity, and Gender Discrimination

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LibGuides: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Reading List and Resources: Sex, Gender, Gender Identity, and Gender Discrimination

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Skip to Main Content It looks like you're using Internet Explorer 11 or older. This website works best with modern browsers such as the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. If you continue with this browser, you may see unexpected results.

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Fostering Inclusive Classrooms

We provide LGBTQ-inclusive books to Pre-K through 3rd grade classrooms to help students and teachers “Read out loud, read out proud!”

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"Thank you to Miley Cyrus and Happy Hippie Foundation for generously donating to our organization! We are grateful for your support and your donation will help us send LGBTQ-inclusive books to elementary school classrooms across the US and Canada!"

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At Pride and Less Prejudice (PLP), our mission is to foster inclusive classrooms by providing age-appropriate LGBTQ-inclusive books to preschool - third grade classrooms.

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Fostering Inclusive Classrooms

We provide LGBTQ-inclusive books to Pre-K through 3rd grade classrooms to help students and teachers “Read out loud, read out proud!”

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"Thank you to Miley Cyrus and Happy Hippie Foundation for generously donating to our organization! We are grateful for your support and your donation will help us send LGBTQ-inclusive books to elementary school classrooms across the US and Canada!"

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At Pride and Less Prejudice (PLP), our mission is to foster inclusive classrooms by providing age-appropriate LGBTQ-inclusive books to preschool - third grade classrooms.

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ARTICLE: Love Temple TX: Nonprofit raises funds to fight hateful speech, send a positive message

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ARTICLE: Love Temple TX: Nonprofit raises funds to fight hateful speech, send a positive message

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TEMPLE, Texas (KWTX) - A Temple group is choosing to fight hateful speech aimed towards its community with a simple phrase: you are loved.

The newly founded non-profit, Love Temple TX, acted when a local newspaper ran a full-page ad, “America’s LGBT pride vs. The bible,” condemning those who identify as LGBT and those who stand in solidarity with the community.

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TEMPLE, Texas (KWTX) - A Temple group is choosing to fight hateful speech aimed towards its community with a simple phrase: you are loved.

The newly founded non-profit, Love Temple TX, acted when a local newspaper ran a full-page ad, "America's LGBT pride vs. The bible," condemning those who identify as LGBT and those who stand in solidarity with the community.

"My first reaction was just really sad, that we're having the same stupid conversation that I felt as a teenager," said Anna Kauppila Morris with Love Temple TX.

While on vacation, Morris checked her phone only to see the full-page ad that ran on July 29.

Immediately knowing something had to be done, Morris and various community members banded together, raising a little under $13,000 in one week for a billboard.

Compared to the full-page ad, the billboard only has three words: you are loved.

"There's a very different message to here. That you are loved and that you are accepted. That there are businesses here that are forming that are fully supportive of all lifestyles and all backgrounds," said Morris.

Shortly after coming together, the non-profit was born.

Love Temple TX strives to bring awareness to the struggles marginalized communities are facing while also providing support and resources to those communities.

"We all made a conscious decision that we were not okay with anyone feeling unincluded in this community," said Love Temple TX President Jordan Valentin.

Valentin says growing up, she didn't always feel welcome in certain settings causing her to leave her hometown.

Now, she's hoping the non-profit can turn things around.

When asked if she knew how members of the community gained support she said, "before this happened, I would probably say I didn't know. I grew up here and left as soon as I could."

The ad in the local paper featured headings like "abominations," "worst kind of pride," and "fear god," to name a few.

Since the ad ran, multiple people have written a letter to the editor expressing their concern for the ad's content.

The ad's original poster even wrote a letter two weeks after calling out those who wrote in and doubled down with more scripture.

Love Temple TX Secretary William Plaster says he's grateful for the opportunity to spread inclusivity and love through the non-profits work.

While the nonprofit is still pretty new, you can keep up with them on Instagram @lovetempletx and if you want to see the billboard for yourself, it's along I-35 in Temple near exit 303.
Copyright 2022 KWTX. All rights reserved.

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Love Temple TX: Nonprofit raises funds to fight hateful speech, send a positive message

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TEMPLE, Texas ( KWTX ) - A Temple group is choosing to fight hateful speech aimed towards its community with a simple phrase: you are loved. The newly founded non-profit, Love Temple TX, acted when a local newspaper ran a full-page ad, "America's LGBT pride vs.

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INITIATIVE: Lafayette College Queer Archives Project

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INITIATIVE: Lafayette College Queer Archives Project

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The Queer Archives Project at Lafayette College is a collaborative, interdisciplinary initiative designed to illuminate Lafayette’s Queer history, advance teaching, learning and research in the area of Queer Studies, and promote positive institutional transformation.

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A quarter of a century later, the Lafayette QAP oral history project offers LGBTQ+ identified alumni, faculty and staff an opportunity to share their experiences and reflect on their time on campus-in their own words and in their own terms. The QAP oral history project is also collecting related memorabilia, photographs, and materials.

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Where do we start, when it comes to learning about something that's everywhere, infused into everything, and is often one of the primary lenses through which we see ourselves and others? When it comes to understanding gender, it's best to begin with deep breath, then with section one of this book by social justice advocate Sam Killermann, who uses clear language, helpful examples, and a bit of humor to help the medicine go down.

This book is not overwhelming, it's not overly complicated, and it's not exhausting to read. It is a few hundred pages of gender exploration, social justice how-tos, practical resources, and fun graphics & comics. Sam dissects gender using a comprehensive, non-binary toolkit, with a focus on making this subject accessible and enjoyable. All this to help you understand something that is so commonly misunderstood, but something we all think we get: gender.

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A Guide to Gender (2nd Edition): The Social Justice Advocate’s Handbook

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Amazon.com: A Guide to Gender (2nd Edition): The Social Justice Advocate’s Handbook: 9780989760249: Killermann, Sam: Books

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BOOK: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Trans

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BOOK: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Trans

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Leading activist and essayist Brynn Tannehill tells you everything you ever wanted to know about transgender issues but were afraid to ask. The book aims to break down deeply held misconceptions about trans people across all aspects of life, from politics, law and culture, through to science, religion and mental health, to provide readers with a deeper understanding of what it means to be trans.

The book walks the reader through transgender issues, starting with What does transgender mean? before moving on to more complex topics including growing up trans, dating and sex, medical and mental health, and debates around gender and feminism. Brynn also challenges deliberately deceptive information about transgender people being put out into the public sphere. Transphobic myths are debunked and biased research, bad statistics and bad science are carefully and clearly refuted.This important and engaging book enables any reader to become informed the most critical public conversations around transgender people, and become a better ally as a result.

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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Trans (But Were Afraid to Ask) a book by Brynn Tannehill

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Leading activist and essayist Brynn Tannehill tells you everything you ever wanted to know about transgender issues but were afraid to ask. The book aims to break down deeply held misconceptions about trans people across all aspects of life, from politics, law and culture, through to science, religi…

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RESOURCE: 5 Signs That a College is LGBTQ-Friendly

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RESOURCE: 5 Signs That a College is LGBTQ-Friendly

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This resource was created by Eric Endlich for Top College Consultants. Thank you for sharing, Eric!

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So you're starting to think about college. Of course, it can help to look at factors such as a school's available majors, size, and location. But you may also want to know which colleges are most inclusive for LGBTQ students.

Good news: lots of colleges are LGBTQ-friendly. Still, when touring schools, it pays to dig below the surface to see which colleges and universities are the most welcoming. Here are some tips.

1. Look at the course schedule and list of majors. Do you see any courses - or better yet, majors or minors - in queer studies, gender studies, or the history of gay rights? Are there a number of openly gay or trans faculty?

2. Check out the clubs and organizations. Are there at least one or more LGBTQ clubs? Browse their social media pages or ask college representatives how often the clubs meet, how well attended they are, and how many events were scheduled in the past year.

3. Note the housing situation. Are there gender-neutral bathrooms? Some colleges even devote a whole floor or residence to the LGBTQ community, which is a good indicator that they are inclusive.

4. Find out about school policies. An inclusive school will have specific policies protecting and promoting the welfare of the LGBTQ community.

5. Talk to the students, whether on campus or online. Ask them how LGBTQ-friendly the school is, and see if they can provide specific examples.

These steps may take a little more time, but they'll help ensure that your college experience is welcoming and accepting. And while you're at it, remember that there are a number of scholarships designated for LGBTQ students. You might qualify!

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LGBTQ+ Friendly Colleges and Universities | College Consultants

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So you're starting to think about college. Of course, it can help to look at factors such as a school's available majors, size, and location. But you may also want to know which colleges are most inclusive for LGBTQ students. Good news: lots of colleges are LGBTQ-friendly.

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“DeSantis asked to see a breakdown of the medical data of students who received gender-affirming care from public entities. This includes anyone in the general public who sought gender-affirming care at the hospitals located at these public universities. In addition, he wants their ages and the dates they received gender-affirming care… Insider has confirmed that University of Florida , Florida State University , University of Central Florida, Florida A&M University , Florida International University, and the University of North Florida have complied with the request. ”

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Ron DeSantis told all public universities in Florida to hand over medical data on services performed related to gender dysphoria.

Insider has confirmed six of the 12 universities have complied with the request.

Now, college students across the state are planning a walkout to protest the governor's request.

Students across Florida are planning a statewide walkout after Gov. Ron DeSantis requested all public universities comply in delivering data from student health services on transgender students who sought gender-affirming care at the institutions.

DeSantis asked to see a breakdown of the medical data of students who received gender-affirming care from public entities. This includes anyone in the general public who sought gender-affirming care at the hospitals located at these public universities. In addition, he wants their ages and the dates they received gender-affirming care. The deadline to submit those records was February 10.

Insider has confirmed that University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, Florida A&M University, Florida International University, and the University of North Florida have complied with the request, but has yet to hear back from the rest.

Students at these universities are now planning rallies for next week along with the statewide walkout on February 23. Ben Braver, a junior at the University of South Florida and the outreach officer for the school's College Democrats chapter, is leading the initiative, known as the Stand for Freedom Florida Walkout.

"Hate is spread when it's innocuous, when it seems silly, and when it seems like taking a stand is an overreaction," Braver told Insider. "We, just like any generation, need to stand for the civil rights that have already been fought for, the ones that have been won, and those which are at stake right now."

Andy Pham, a senior and long-standing member of the University of South Florida's Trans+ Student Union, said he sees the state's move as a direct attack on trans rights.

"They want to legislate us out of existence," Pham said. "That starts with attacking our healthcare, attacking our right to exist in public spaces, attempting surveillance - all of that."

In January, 20 students at the University of South Florida held a rally protesting DeSantis' request. They then started an online petition asking the school's administration not to submit the medical information. The petition received over 2,600 signatures, but officials at the school said they plan to send over the records anyway. Insider hasn't been able to confirm whether the University of South Florida sent over the data.

"As a state university, USF has an obligation to be responsive to requests from our elected officials," the university said in a statement, according to WUSF. "However, the university will not provide information that identifies an individual patient or violates patient privacy laws."

Among those signing on to support the walkout are the Dream Defenders, Florida College Democrats, state lawmaker Anna Eskamani, and 26-year-old Congressman Maxwell Frost.

"The governor's abusing his power," Frost told Insider. "He's targeting folks that disagree with him - people who might not see eye to eye with him, marginalized communities."

When Insider asked why the state has requested the health data of transgender college students from public universities, the state's deputy press secretary, Jeremy Redfern, said: "We are committed to fully understanding the amount of public funding that is going toward such nonacademic pursuits to best assess how to get our colleges and universities refocused on education and truth."

The American Civil Liberties Union reports that during this legislative session, Florida lawmakers have introduced 85 bills restricting gender-affirming healthcare, up from 43 bills last year.

Eskamani said DeSantis should prepare for student backlash.

"When students see the visual representation of their peers around them standing up and walking out, they're going to get plugged in and help us fight back," she said. "That will happen."
Correction: February 16, 2023 - This story has been updated to reflect what DeSantis' office requested from colleges. They asked for data from public entities and not medical records. We've also corrected the attribution to the quote from the Governor's office to come from his press secretary and not the governor himself.

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Ron DeSantis requested the information of trans students who sought care at Florida's public universities. Now students are planning a statewide walkout.

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Ron DeSantis told all public universities in Florida to hand over medical data on services performed related to gender dysphoria. Insider has confirmed six of the 12 universities have complied with the request. Now, college students across the state are planning a walkout to protest the governor's request.

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In order to select schools for this list, we considered several evaluative criteria. What we have listed here are our top choices with the most robust and comprehensive supports according to our ranking scale. We created three categories for displaying the colleges and universities that best support LGBTQ students. For each of the three categories: Highest, Higher and High Ranking, we have shared a few of the specific  support services offered by the listed college. Colleges continue to add more services going forward. We also recognize that the acronym continues expanding to include additional groups. There are many more colleges that support LDND students who identify as LGBTQ.

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LGBTQ Friendly Campuses | LDND-Foundation

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In order to select schools for this list, we considered several evaluative criteria. What we have listed here are our top choices with the most robust and comprehensive supports according to our ranking scale. We created three categories for displaying the colleges and universities that best support LGBTQ students. For each of the three categories: Highest, Higher and High Ranking, we have shared a few of the specific  support services offered by the listed college. Colleges continue to add more services going forward. We also recognize that the acronym continues expanding to include additional groups. There are many more colleges that support LDND students who identify as LGBTQ.

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LGBTQ Friendly Campuses | LDND-Foundation

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The Other Side of Silence (TOSOS) is NYC's oldest and longest-producing LGBTQIA+ theatre company. At TOSOS, we both recognize and celebrate all different kinds of gender expressions, identities, and sexual orientations. In recent years, more and more classifications of these orientations and identities are coming to light. For those who may be wondering exactly how they fit into the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, we wanted to take a moment and offer a little help and clarification. While new classifications and identities are being discovered, this is by no means a complete and comprehensive list, but we do hope that it helps to bring members of our community and our allies a bit more understanding.

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At TOSOS, we both recognize and celebrate all different kinds of gender expressions, identities, and sexual orientations. In recent years, more and more classifications of these orientations and identities are coming to light. For those who may be wondering exactly how they fit into the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, we wanted to take a moment and offer a little help and clarification. While new classifications and identities are being discovered, this is by no means a complete and comprehensive list, but we do hope that it helps to bring members of our community and our allies a bit more understanding.

T ransgender T ranssexual

T wo-Spirit
Q ueer
Q uestioning
I ntersex
A sexual
A lly

We invite you to use the glo ssary to the right to better define and understand these terms. Please note that this initialism and the various terms are always evolving.

Pronouns may not seem like that big a deal, but they become a bigger deal when you try to live without them. And for some people, pronouns are a big deal because other folks don't always use the correct pronouns to describe them. Some people use gender-neutral or gender- inclusive pronouns when talking to or about them.

Some commonly used pronouns are:

However, just like sexual orientation, a person's gender identity can be a very personal and private thing. No one should ever feel pressured to share how they identify. We should also remember that the idea of pronouns and gender-neutral or gender-inclusive language will be a new concept to a lot of folks and that mistakes will happen. If this should happen to you, apologize, correct your mistake, and make a sincere effort to remember next time.

LESBIAN : A female homosexual: a female who experiences romantic love or sexual attraction to other females.

GAY : A term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term gay is often used to describe homosexual males but lesbians may also be referred to as gay.

BISEXUAL : A romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior toward both males and females, or romantic sexual attraction to people of any sex or gender identity; this latter aspect is sometimes termed "pansexuality".

TRANSGENDER : An umbrella term for people whose gender identity differs from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. It is sometimes abbreviated to "trans".

TRANSSEXUAL : A person whose bodily characteristics differ from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth having been altered through surgery or hormone treatment to bring them into alignment with their gender identity.

TWO-SPIRIT : A modern umbrella term used by some indigenous North Americans to describe gender-variant individuals in their communities, specifically people within indigenous communities who are seen as having both male and female spirits within them.

QUEER : An umbrella term for sexual and gender minorities that are not heterosexual or cisgender. Queer was originally used pejoratively against those with same-sex desires but, beginning in the late-1980s, queer scholars and activists began to reclaim the word.

QUESTIONING : The questioning of one's gender, sexual identity, sexual orientation, or all three is a process of exploration by people who may be unsure, still exploring, and concerned about applying a social label to themselves for various reasons.

INTERSEX : A variation in sex characteristics including chromosomes, gonads, or genitals that do not allow an individual to be distinctly identified as male or female.

ASEXUAL : Asexuality (or nonsexuality) is the lack of sexual attraction to anyone, or low or absent interest in sexual activity. It may be considered the lack of a sexual orientation, or one of the variations thereof, alongside heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality.

ALLY : A person who considers themselves a friend to the LGBTQ+ community.

PANSEXUAL : Pansexuality (or omnisexuality) is sexual attraction, romantic love, or emotional attraction toward people of any sex or gender identity. Pansexual people may refer to themselves as gender blind, asserting that gender and sex are insignificant or irrelevant in determining whether they will be sexually attracted to others.

AGENDER : Agender people (also called genderless, genderfree, non-gendered, or ungendered people) are those who identify as having no gender or being without any gender identity. This category includes a very broad range of identities which do not conform to traditional gender norms.

GENDER QUEER : An umbrella term for gender identities that are not exclusively masculine or feminine; identities which are just outside of their gender binary and cisnormativity.

BIGENDER : A gender identity where the person moves between feminine and masculine gender identities and behaviors, possibly depending on context. Some bigender individuals expressed two distinct "female" and "male" personas, feminine and masculine respectively; others find that they identify as to genders simultaneously.

GENDER VARIANT : Gender variance (or gender nonconformity) is behavior or gender expression by an individual that does not match masculine and feminine gender norms. People who exhibit gender variance may be called gender variant, gender non-conforming, gender diverse, or gender atypical, and may be transgender, or otherwise variant in their gender expression. Some intersex people may also exhibit gender variance.

PANGENDER : Those who feel they identify as all genders. The term has a great deal of overlap with "gender queer". Because of its all-encompassing nature, presentation and pronoun usage varies between different people who identify as pangender.

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WHAT IS LGBTQIA+? | TOSOS NYC | New York City's Oldest LGBTQIA+ Theater Company

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At TOSOS, we both recognize and celebrate all different kinds of gender expressions, identities, and sexual orientations. We've developed a resource to help bring members of our community and our allies a bit more understanding when it comes to exactly how they fit into the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.

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In partnership with our friends at SAGE–and with a foreword by Dear Abby–SUPPORTING YOUR LGBTQ+ GRANDCHILD offers support for grandparents about what to do when a grandchild comes out. Full of useful knowledge, answers to common questions, and helpful tips, this is a must-read for any grandparent looking to learn more about how to support LGBTQ grandkids…or looking for support for themselves. Available for free download below in English and Spanish! Coming soon for order in our bookstore, too.

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Supporting Your LGBTQ+ Grandchild - PFLAG

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Factors to Consider in Choosing a University

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Factors to Consider in Choosing a University

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Finding a college or university that supports LGBTQ students can be exceedingly difficult–even for a potential student who has been openly gay in high school.  Closeted students even have a greater issue due to the fact that they are often fearful of asking such questions or being identified as LGBTQ.

Nevertheless, more colleges and universities are coming forward to create safer learning environments and are finding innovative ways to extend a rainbow welcome for LGBT students.  The choice for college can be quite queer if you know how to look and what questions to ask.

The following are key factors to determining the inclusiveness of a college or university to LGBTQ issues.  Use these key factors and suggested questions to  help determine the queer choice for you.

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by Shane L. Windmeyer

Now is your time. Your anxious to move on. You have been waiting a lifetime for the next momentous step. There are so many questions:

The time is here. You are leaving high school and looking for the right match of a college/university.

But, what your looking for is not quite as clear - rather it is quite queer. You want to find the perfect campus match that offers services surrounding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) issues. Things like queer studies classes, gay student groups, local gay hang-outs, gay support resources, gay supportive policies, or even a drag show. These are sadly not typically topics that come up on your official tour of campus... unless you ask!?

Finding a college or university that supports LGBTQ students can be exceedingly difficult-even for a potential student who has been openly gay in high school. Closeted students even have a greater issue due to the fact that they are often fearful of asking such questions or being identified as LGBTQ.

Nevertheless, more colleges and universities are coming forward to create safer learning environments and are finding innovative ways to extend a rainbow welcome for LGBT students. The choice for college can be quite queer if you know how to look and what questions to ask.

The following are key factors to determining the inclusiveness of a college or university to LGBTQ issues. Use these key factors and suggested questions to help determine the queer choice for you.
1. LGBTQ Policy Inclusion
Quite simply, if the college or university does not have policies that prohibit discrimination toward LGBT students, then leave quickly. Such lack of inclusion in policy is your first warning sign.
Questions to ask: 2. LGBTQ Support & Institutional Commitment
A big opportunity to gain major points on your gaydar scale to the perfect queer campus will be the level of LGBTQ support and institutional commitment. You have to look a listen closely and ask more involved questions to find out truly how where the campus falls. Do they get an A+ grade or a solid F grade?
Questions to ask: 3. LGBTQ Student Life
Are the next four to five years of your life going to be fabulous or a slow, tedious bore? Well, answers to questions on LGBTQ student life and what the campus to offer is essential to a high gay point average.
Questions to ask:

Does your campus sponsor regular, on-going campus-wide activities and events to increase awareness of LGBTQ issues/concerns on campus?

Does your campus have regular, on-going social events specifically for LGBTQ students?

Does your campus have a college/university-recognized LGBTQ campus student organization for all LGBTQ students and allies?

Does your campus have any student organizations that primarily serve the social and, or recreational needs of LGBTQ students (e.g. Gay social fraternity, Lesbian Volleyball Recreational Club, Gay Coed Lacrosse Club, etc)?

Does your campus have any student organizations that primarily serve the needs of under-represented and, or multicultural LGBTQ populations (e.g. LGBTQ Latinos/Latinas, International LGBTQ students, LGBTQ Students with Disabilities, etc)?

Does your campus have any student organizations that primarily serve the religious/spiritual needs of LGBTQ students (e.g. Unity Fellowship for Students, Gays for Christ, LGBTQ Muslims, etc)?

4. LGBTQ Academic Life
Let's focus on the main reason for attending college or university. LGBTQ inclusion even extends to the classroom. A campus that truly supports LGBTQ issues will hopefully give honest answers to these challenging questions of the queer academia.
Questions to ask: 5. LGBTQ Housing
Many times financially it is advantageous to live on campus. Often times. It is even required of new students on campus. As an LGBTQ student, you must know the facts, your housing options and the ability to be who you are.
Questions to ask: 6. LGBTQ Campus Safety
It is seldom considered as an issue until something happens and by then it is too late. You should consider up-front the level of safety for LGBTQ students and whether the campus has clear procedures and services to address LGBTQ safety concerns.
Questions to ask: 7. LGBT Counseling & Health
Be wise. Don't put yourself into a campus community that does not have the necessary services to support your health emotionally, physically and mentally. You must have the options for help when dilemmas arise that you may uniquely face as an LGBTQ student. These are questions often overlooked or never confronted head on.
Questions to ask: 8. LGBTQ Recruitment & Retention Efforts
LGBTQ students are becoming an increasing population for colleges and universities to seek in increasing enrollment numbers. Some institutions attend LGBTQ-themed college admission fairs and have specific LGBTQ programs to increase retention.
Questions to ask:
Find out more >> LGBTQ and Ally Student Leader Checklist
Get involved >> Campus Pride Index

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Campus Pride's "Factors to Consider in Choosing a University"

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by Shane L. Windmeyer Now is your time. Your anxious to move on. You have been waiting a lifetime for the next momentous step. There are so many questions: What do you want to be? Do you move far away? Where ...Read More →

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Campus Pride National Scholarship Database

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Campus Pride National Scholarship Database

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The following is a list of scholarships, fellowships and grants for LGBTQ and ally students at both the undergraduate and graduate-level.

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Find your Scholarship

The following is a list of scholarships, fellowships and grants for LGBTQ and ally students at both the undergraduate and graduate-level.

Campus Pride is constantly adding new scholarships, so check this resource often. If you're aware of a scholarship not listed, let us know.

If the information about a scholarship is incorrect, please contact us.

Did you get some $$$ to go to college from a scholarship you found here? Tell us about it.

Still looking for a LGBTQ-friendly college or university? Plan to attend an upcoming Campus Pride LGBTQ-friendly College Fair. Search online hundreds of LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities on the Campus Pride Index.

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National Scholarship Database - Campus Pride

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The following is a list of scholarships, fellowships and grants for LGBTQ and ally students at both the undergraduate and graduate-level. Campus Pride is constantly adding new scholarships, so check this resource often. If you're aware of a scholarship not listed, let us know. If the information about a scholarship is incorrect, please contact us.

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RESOURCE: NACAC Ask the Admissions Office: Diversity on Campus

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RESOURCE: NACAC Ask the Admissions Office: Diversity on Campus

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One of the benefits of going to college is meeting students from different backgrounds. Diversity on a college campus can mean differences in race, religion, ethnicity, gender, geography, etc. When thinking about diversity, consider the following…

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National Center for Transgender Equality

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National Center for Transgender Equality

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The National Center for Transgender Equality advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people. In the nation’s capital and throughout the country, NCTE works to replace disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, opportunity, and justice.

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National Center for Transgender Equality

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| National Center for Transgender Equality

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The National Center for Transgender Equality is the nation's leading social justice advocacy organization winning life-saving change for transgender people.

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PRONOUNS.ORG: Resources on Personal Pronouns

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PRONOUNS.ORG: Resources on Personal Pronouns

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Pronouns.org is a practical resource dedicated to the empowering and inclusive use of personal pronouns in the English language. This website will help you understand why and how to use the pronouns someone goes by. In particular, we are focusing on pronouns used to refer to a singular human in the third person.

This website presents one set of perspectives on ways to use personal pronouns in an empowering and inclusive way. You may find that there are many other perspectives, resources, and tools, and we encourage you to seek those out, compare, and decide for yourself the best ways you can be more inclusive and empowering for all, and how that that can match to your own personality, ways of communicating, and cultural or organizational context.

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Pronouns.org Resources on Personal Pronouns

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International Pronouns Day seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace. Referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity. Being referred to by the wrong pronouns particularly affects transgender and gender nonconforming people. Together, we can transform society to celebrate people’s multiple, intersecting identities.

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Pronouns.org Resources on Personal Pronouns

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Third Wednesday of October

October 18, 2023
International Pronouns Day seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace. Referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity. Being referred to by the wrong pronouns particularly affects transgender and gender nonconforming people. Together, we can transform society to celebrate people's multiple, intersecting identities. What is International Pronouns Day?
International Pronouns Day began in 2018 and takes place on the 3rd Wednesday of October each year. Individuals and groups participate in grassroots activities that they determine at the local level. The campaign has no central body, although this is the only official website. Grassroots social justice advocates are empowered to generate their own resources/adaptations. Local organizers should seek to center the voices, needs, and interests of trans/nonbinary people/leaders, particularly those who face multiple marginalizations, in their planning efforts. Advocates are encouraged to consider the many possible layers of work from media to education to community resourcing to policies and practices that promote belonging and justice.
What is International Pronouns Day not meant to be?
International Pronouns Day is not meant to primarily serve as corporate marketing/sales or as a fundraiser. The International Pronouns Day founder suggests that instead large companies/organizations should focus on their internal practices and improvements before engaging externally, and if engaging externally to truly center the purposes of the campaign. While some small companies/organizations (e.g. that are led by trans/nonbinary/queer folks) may use the day to promote their company/organization, this should still not be the primary purpose! While some groups may choose to do some fundraising during the campaign for trans/nonbinary causes, when options are available in one's country/locality, please use these funds to support groups led by trans/nonbinary people, especially folks who are multiply marginalized, and please use these funds to support trans/nonbinary organizations when possible (rather than general LGBTQ+ organizations).
What is the primary hashtag?
#PronounsDay. You may, of course, also come up with your own hashtags, and there may be variations for different languages and focuses.
What about pronouns in languages other than English?
Some languages do not have gendered personal pronouns, and so this is not an issue or concern. Some languages have gendered terms that people use referring to themselves (not just in referring to others). Some languages gender more than just pronouns, including various nouns and adjectives describing people. International Pronouns Day is open to all who may find it useful to adapt or utilize in their context. We encourage content creators to make materials that are relevant to their languages and that center trans/nonbinary folks who are speakers of those languages.
Do I have to use the pronouns someone wants me to use when I refer to them?
It's common courtesy and basic to human dignity to do so, like calling someone by their name. Some jurisdictions and organizations have also made it clear that intentionally or repeatedly using the incorrect pronouns could be evidence of discriminatory harassment or a hostile environment.
Do people have to share their pronouns?
Some people only want to be referred to by their name, may not wish to share their pronouns, or may go by multiple sets of pronouns or only certain pronouns in certain contexts. Sharing your own pronouns, though, helps to let people know how you like to be referred to, and it also creates a culture where it's okay to share and by sharing you help to disrupt the idea that making assumptions is going to work. More important than sharing your own pronouns is respecting the pronouns others go by.
Will International Pronouns Day always be the same date each year?
International Pronouns Day will be on the 3rd Wednesday of October each year. Thus, these are the upcoming dates:

Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
What if we have a conflict on the date and want to organize activities on another date?
If a local group is better served by celebrating, educating, and advocating on a differing date, we encourage them to do so.
Could you send me materials or help fund my local event? Could you support my travel or sponsor my visa to another country?
This campaign is grassroots and at this time does not have a centralized organization, set of funds, or volunteers. You are encouraged to act locally and connect with local groups.
What if pronouns are not a priority issue in my community?
Intersecting forms of oppression can deeply impact our communities. Transgender people, especially those whose gender is or is perceived to be outside of a man/woman binary, are sometimes harassed and treated with hostility, which is often evidenced by intentional or repeated use of the wrong pronouns.

We seek to stop the violence that disproportionately affects transgender women and femmes of color, which often seeks to humiliate and obliterate, and which is rooted in the desire to exert power, to erase and control. Using the right pronouns is one of the most basic starting points to acknowledging the humanity of transgender and gender nonconforming people. While that may not in and of itself stop the violence, it is an entry point into conversation.

That said, we recognize that not all communities will find celebrating, educating, and advocating around pronouns to be among their top priorities. That's understandable. Thus, we encourage those who believe that this campaign will help them and work in their context to join the campaign. Those who have other priorities might choose other days of action to participate in instead, and we understand that.
What is the history of International Pronouns Day?
International Pronouns Day was founded in 2018 as an independent, grassroots project. What happens on International Pronouns Day is dependent on what folks decide to do at the local level in their own organizations and communities. The day historically had a steering committee and co-chairs who volunteered and made great strides for the campaign. The day currently does not have an organized committee or volunteer structure. The campaign does not belong to any particular organization at this time. A brief history of the campaign (written in 2019 and published in 2021) can be understood from this encyclopedia article written by the campaign's founder.

How can I learn more about pronouns?

This website provides much more explanation, examples, and information about pronouns and gender inclusive language. See the appropriate section for more:

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International Pronouns Day - Pronouns.org Resources on Personal Pronouns

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International Pronouns Day seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace. Referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity. Being referred to by the wrong pronouns particularly affects transgender and gender nonconforming people. Together, we can transform society to celebrate people's multiple, intersecting identities.

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2022 U.S. Transgender Survey results coming soon!

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2022 U.S. Transgender Survey results coming soon!

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THE U.S. TRANS SURVEY IS THE LARGEST SURVEY OF TRANS PEOPLE, BY TRANS PEOPLE, IN THE UNITED STATES. THE USTS DOCUMENTS THE LIVES AND EXPERIENCES OF TRANS AND NONBINARY PEOPLE AGES 16+ IN THE U.S. AND U.S. TERRITORIES.

USTS REPORTS HAVE BEEN A VITAL RESOURCE, INCLUDING THE REPORTS ON THE EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR AND REPORTS BY STATE. MORE THAN EVER, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT TRANS VOICES WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE.

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With almost 28,000 respondents, the U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS) is the largest survey ever devoted to the lives and experiences of trans people. The staff of the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and the rest of the USTS team are thrilled to share the results of the USTS with you.

Watch the report launch event below, including a presentation of key findings.

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With almost 28,000 respondents, the U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS) is the largest survey ever devoted to the lives and experiences of trans people. The staff of the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and the rest of the USTS team are thrilled to share the results of the USTS with you.

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Centers continue to build, unite, and empower the LGBT community by offering  services including; social services, mental health counseling, cultural programs, recreational activities, libraries, educational programs, support groups, youth support, elder support, computer access, and care and treatment (just to name a few).

Created by CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers, Center Awareness Day is an annual day of awareness promoting the vital services offered by community centers and the central role they play in local communities.

On October 19 (every year), CenterLink holds “LGBT Center Awareness Day”, a national day of action focused on awareness around the work of LGBT community centers everywhere. The day was planned to help bring national attention to the Community Center Movement within the LGBT movement, which serves over 40,000 people weekly, and highlight the ways that people can get involved or utilize their local centers.

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Sorry, like most modern sites, we'll need javascript enabled for the full experience of this website.

October 19, 2023

In 00 days 00 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds we begin our celebration day for LGBT Centers.

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Join CenterLink in celebrating LGBT Center Awareness Day. Every year, CenterLink celebrates the amazing and important work of LGBT Community Centers on LGBT Center Awareness Day. Learn more about this special day and how you can participate as well.

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Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals

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Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals

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The Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals is a member-based organization working towards the liberation of LGBTQ people in higher education. We support individuals who work on campuses to educate and support people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as advocate for more inclusive policies and practices through an intersectional and racial justice framework.

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We envision higher education environments where LGBTQ people, inclusive of all of our intersecting identities, are fully liberated.

Mission

The Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals is a member-based organization working towards the liberation of LGBTQ people in higher education. We support individuals who work on campuses to educate and support people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as advocate for more inclusive policies and practices through an intersectional and racial justice framework. To learn how the Consortium does this, please go to our Mission and Vision page.

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We envision higher education environments where LGBTQ people, inclusive of all of our intersecting identities, are fully liberated. The Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals is a member-based organization working towards the liberation of LGBTQ people in higher education.

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The Worst List identifies the “absolute worst, most unsafe campuses for LGBTQ youth” in the United States. The colleges & universities listed have chosen to openly discriminate against LGBTQ youth and/or have requested Title IX exemptions to perpetuate the harms of religion-based bigotry.  The criterion to be the “absolute worst” campus includes either of the following: 1) Received and/or applied for a Title IX exemption to discriminate against LGBTQ youth and/or 2) Demonstrated past history and track record of anti-LGBTQ actions, programs and practices.

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The Worst List identifies the "absolute worst, most unsafe campuses for LGBTQ youth" in the United States. The colleges & universities listed have chosen to openly discriminate against LGBTQ youth and/or have requested Title IX exemptions to perpetuate the harms of religion-based bigotry. The criterion to be the "absolute worst" campus includes either of the following: 1) Received and/or applied for a Title IX exemption to discriminate against LGBTQ youth and/or 2) Demonstrated past history and track record of anti-LGBTQ actions, programs and practices.

Find LGBTQ-friendly Colleges & Universities: Prospective students and families who are looking for LGBTQ-friendly campuses are encouraged to check out the Campus Pride Index for a free online search database.

Select a State Above optional filters below

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Worst List: The Absolute Worst Campuses for LGBTQ Youth - Campus Pride

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The Shame List identifies the "absolutely worst campuses for LGBTQ youth" in the United States. The colleges & universities listed have chosen to openly discriminate against LGBTQ youth and have requested Title IX exemptions to perpetuate the harms of religion-based bigotry.

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Gender Spectrum works to create gender sensitive and inclusive environments for all children and teens.

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Our online groups and events, and other resources for

gender expansive youth and families during the time of Covid-19.

Gender Spectrum has years of experience in creating safe, successful online spaces

for adults and young people. If your organization is doing more work online, we can help.
Online Consulting
Gender Spectrum hosts online groups for pre-teens,

teens, parents, caregivers, and other family members.
View All Groups

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Gender Spectrum Homepage - Gender Spectrum

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Our online groups and events, and other resources for gender expansive youth and families during the time of Covid-19. Gender Spectrum has years of experience in creating safe, successful online spaces for adults and young people. If your organization is doing more work online, we can help.

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ARTICLE: ‘They’ has been a singular pronoun for centuries. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s wrong.

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ARTICLE: ‘They’ has been a singular pronoun for centuries. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s wrong.

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Some of the most open-minded, inclusive people I know struggle with the singular pronoun “they.” And while it’s hard to unlearn what we were taught was grammatically “wrong,” it’s worth doing. To start, let’s clear away all the non-arguments that clutter the “they” debate to get to the heart of the matter.

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The word "they" is displayed on a computer screen in 2019 in New York. (Jenny Kane/AP)

Anne Curzan is the Geneva Smitherman collegiate professor of English and linguistics at the University of Michigan, where she is also dean of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.
Some of the most open-minded, inclusive people I know struggle with the singular pronoun "they." And while it's hard to unlearn what we were taught was grammatically "wrong," it's worth doing. To start, let's clear away all the non-arguments that clutter the "they" debate to get to the heart of the matter.
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Critics often start from the premise that "they" cannot be singular because a pronoun cannot be singular and plural at the same time. That argument is historically, socially and linguistically wrong. A pronoun most certainly can be singular and plural at the same time, as demonstrated by English's very own pronoun "you." And, when we look at the record, we discover the pronoun "they" has been used as a singular generic pronoun, alongside its plural uses, for hundreds of years. Shakespeare and Austen both used singular "they" this way, just as many English speakers do now. "But to expose the former faults of any person," noted Jane Bennet in "Pride and Prejudice," "without knowing what theirpresent feelings were, seemed unjustifiable."

In other words, the use of "they" as a singular pronoun, when the gender of the person is unknown or irrelevant, is nothing new. It's considered wrong only because 200-plus years of grammarians have told us it is wrong, without solidly justifying that judgment. And whatever ambiguity the singular generic "they" may cause, it is clearly something speakers and writers can manage, as I will explain.

Read a letter to the editor responding to this piece.

What is relatively new is the use of singular "they" to refer to specific people who identify as nonbinary. This leads to a construction such as, "Alex is spending their senior year in Alaska." I have heard critics describe this construction as unclear, ambiguous, silly, and/or unnecessary. None of these criticisms hold up well.

Let's start with the issue of clarity. This argument has been pulled out triumphantly against all uses of singular "they" for years, and it isn't convincing. First, in many instances, we employ singular "they" exactly because the gender of the antecedent noun (the person we are referring to) is unknown or irrelevant, as in: "A serious runner replaces their shoes every few months." The ambiguity about the runner's gender is intentional. And there is usually no ambiguity about number: In a sentence like "My neighbor washes their car every day," it is unambiguous that I am talking about one person, and that person is my neighbor.

Second, in the cases where there genuinely is ambiguity about the referent of singular "they" (e.g., "I was talking to my mother and her friend, and they said ..."), we should rewrite the sentence. That is simply solid writing advice about any potentially confusing sentence. And other pronouns are also susceptible to this kind of ambiguity.

Third, when "they" is a person's pronoun, the meaning of the pronoun is not ambiguous: It means the person does not identify within "he"/"she" binary and identifies as "they." And while, right now, it might be grammatically unfamiliar for many to refer back to Alex as "they" in "Alex is spending their senior year in Alaska," it is far from incomprehensible.

Opinion by Ian Ayres: Until I'm told otherwise, I prefer to call you 'they'

In response, some critics make the case that if there is going to be a nonbinary singular pronoun in English, it would be easier or "more natural" to use a made-up pronoun such as "ze" or "thon." The pronoun "they" already has enough on its grammatical plate. Fair enough: A pronoun like "ze" is distinctive, and it has seen some use. But it is no more natural to consciously insert a made-up pronoun into the language than it is to consciously expand the usage of an existing pronoun.

And at least right now, singular nonbinary "they" has gotten traction, perhaps because it is already established in grammar as a singular pronoun. Many people who identify as nonbinary identify as "they." That is not debatable.

So that leaves the question: If this use of singular "they" as a nonbinary singular pronoun is new for you, do you think it's worth working to adopt into your speech and writing?

Opinion by Robert Kagan: Our constitutional crisis is already here

The answer comes down to respect. When someone says to you that their pronoun is "they/them/their," it is respectful to use their pronoun, even if uncomfortable and even if you sometimes make a mistake. If someone says to you, "My name is Xavier, but I go by Jo," it would be weird at best, and in most cases downright rude, to say, "Well, I think that's silly and I'm going to call you Xavier," or to say, "Well, that's hard for me to remember, so I'm going to call you Andy."

Someone's name is part of their identity, and it is respectful to remember and use their name. Someone's pronouns are also part of their identity, and identities deserve to be honored.

Debates about singular "they" come from a place of deep caring about language and how it is used. The good news is that we can care about clarity, precision and inclusive pronouns all at the same time.

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Opinion | 'They' has been a singular pronoun for centuries. Don't let anyone tell you it's wrong.

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Anne Curzan is the Geneva Smitherman collegiate professor of English and linguistics at the University of Michigan, where she is also dean of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Some of the most open-minded, inclusive people I know struggle with the singular pronoun "they."

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The LGBTQ+ NACAC SIG (Special Interest Group) would like to use this page as a means for members to collaborate, share ideas, talk through issues, and connect on issues related to higher education and the college search for LGBTQ students.

Additionally, as the SIG works in conjunction with NACAC and Illinois ACAC on the LGBTQ Resources Guide, ideas and resources will be posted to the group.

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We are a bunch of parents of transgender adults who either came out as kids and are now grown ups or who came out as adults. We are inclusive and fun. We know that this journey we have taken with our kids (they will always be our babies) can be challenging at times and we want to provide support, education and entertainment for other parents who are on the same journey as us.

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Parents of transgender adults | Facebook

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We are a bunch of parents of transgender adults who either came out as kids and are now grown ups or who came out as adults. We are inclusive and fun. We know that this journey we have taken with our…

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A Queer Endeavor is a nationally recognized center for gender and sexual diversity in education. We build partnerships with districts and school communities to create safer, more humanizing spaces in which LGBTQ+ youth, families, and staff can thrive. The work of A Queer Endeavor is made possible through our school and district partnerships,  grants and gifts, and the generous support of our community.

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TLDEF's Name Change Project provides pro bono legal name change services to low-income transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary people through partnerships with some of the nation’s most prestigious law firms and corporate law departments.

For many transgender people, securing a legal name change is an important step toward making their legal identities match their lived experience.

A lack of appropriate identity documents can deter people from applying for jobs, school, and public benefits, and can lead to discrimination. But securing a legal name change can be a challenging experience, involving interaction with the court system and judges that is foreign to many people.

By providing transgender people with legal representation, we work to ensure that people successfully complete the process and move forward with their lives.

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Step 2: TLDEF determines whether you meet criteria for assistance.
We cannot help everyone who contacts us. Once we have evaluated your initial intake form, there are three possible responses:

Decline
Unfortunately, we are unable to help everyone who asks for our help. If we determine that you are not eligible, we will let you know via email.

Information Request
If information is missing from an intake form or we require additional information to determine eligibility, a staffer will reach out to you via email to gather more information so that we can determine eligibility.

Scheduling Intake
Eligible applicants must complete a phone intake. These phone intakes are conducted by TLDEF staffers, and are confidential.

Note that completion of the intake process does not guarantee representation.
Step 3: Referral to attorney.
If an applicant is deemed eligible for representation, the person will be placed on a waiting list for referral to an attorney for name change representation.

TLDEF does not directly represent transgender, gender nonconforming, and non-binary people seeking legal name changes. Rather, TLDEF partners with law firms and legal departments at corporations, who take on the representation of TLDEF-referred participants in the Name Change Project. Once a referral takes place, TLDEF's Name Change Project services are complete.

Please contact us at the Name Change Project with any questions.

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TLDEF - Name Change Project - Transgender Legal Defense And Education Fund, Inc.

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Step 2: TLDEF determines whether you meet criteria for assistance. We cannot help everyone who contacts us. Once we have evaluated your initial intake form, there are three possible responses: Decline Unfortunately, we are unable to help everyone who asks for our help.

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Fostering Inclusive Classrooms

We provide LGBTQ-inclusive books to Pre-K through 3rd grade classrooms to help students and teachers “Read out loud, read out proud!”

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"Thank you to Miley Cyrus and Happy Hippie Foundation for generously donating to our organization! We are grateful for your support and your donation will help us send LGBTQ-inclusive books to elementary school classrooms across the US and Canada!"

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At Pride and Less Prejudice (PLP), our mission is to foster inclusive classrooms by providing age-appropriate LGBTQ-inclusive books to preschool - third grade classrooms.

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National Center for Transgender Equality

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ALABAMA

Provides workshops and pro bono legal services for name and gender changes in Alabama.

Trans Queer Pueblo is a base-building racial and gender justice organization that is collectively governed by a growing membership of 400+ trans and queer undocumented and documented migrants and people of color in Phoenix who organize to transform our city toward fellowship, family, community autonomy, self-determination and liberation.

CALIFORNIA

Bay Area Legal Aid
1735 Telegraph Ave. Oakland, CA 94612
http://baylegal.org/
510.663.4755
Provides low-income clients with free civil legal assistance, effective referrals, and legal representation. ​

​ ​California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.
1111 I Street, Suite 310, Modesto, CA 95354
https://crla.org/programs/lgbtq
Mateo Mossey, LGBT Program Coordinator: ​209.577.3811 mmossey@crla.org
CRLA provides free legal aid to eligible low-income individuals through 16 field offices in the Central Valley, Central Coast, and other agricultural regions of the state. CRLA's LGBT legal assistance focus on immigration services, as well as legal name and gender change petitions, and employment and education discrimination cases.

East Bay Community Law Center
2921 Adeline Street Berkeley, CA 94703
http://www.ebclc.org
Daniel Faessler: 1.855.693.7285 dfaessler@ebclc.org
Provides low-income clients and those living with HIV with free civil legal assistance and representation. Assists clients in the followings counties: Alameda, Contra Costa Marin, Napa, Santa Clara, San Francisco, and Sonoma.

Law Foundation of Silicon Valley
4 North Second Street, Suite 1300
San Jose, California 95113
http://www.lawfoundation.org
Intake: 408.280.2420
Provides low-income clients in Santa Clara County with free civil legal assistance, effective referrals and legal representation and runs a name and gender marker change clinic.

LetsGo! Liberation Clinic at El Centro, UCLA Law School
Los Angeles, CA
https://law.ucla.edu/life-ucla-law/student-organizations/el-centro-legal...
323.960.9279 elcentro@lawnet.ucla.edu
Operates name and gender marker clinics with partner organizations.

Transgender and Non-Binary Name and Gender-Marker Change Legal Clinic
The San Diego LGBT Community Center, 3909 Centre Street, San Diego, CA 92103
Helen Lockett: 619.606.2692 transclinic.sandiego@gmail.com
The clinic is held on the first Tuesday of every month, 6:30pm-8:30pm, helping individuals complete court documents to change their name and/or gender-marker. Appointments highly encouraged. Sponsored by USD School of Law, Tom Homann LGBT Bar Association, and The Center.

COLORADO

The Colorado Name Change Project
1151 S Huron St, Denver, CO 80223
http://www.namechangeproject.org
Inquiries@namechangeproject.org
CNCP provides information & workshops on name and gender marker changes, instructions and forms on their website, and referrals to pro bono or low-cost legal assistance if individuals require additional help.

DC

1400 16th Street NW, Suite 450, Washington DC 20006 Correia & Puth, PLLC

https://www.correiaputh.com
Jonathan C. Puth: 202.602.6500 jputh@correiaputh.com
Represents transgender clients who have experienced discrimination due to their gender identity in the workplace, at schools or universities, in healthcare settings, or other places of public accommodation.

FLORIDA

122 E. Colonial Drive, Suite 200, Orlando, FL 32801 Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida (CLSMF)

www.clsmf.org
Laura Pichardo-Cruz: 800.405.1417 laurap@clsmf.org
Free civil legal assistance to no- and low-income residents in central Florida, including employment and housing discrimination, name and gender marker changes, and access to healthcare.

Arianna Lint, TransLatin@ Coalition, Florida Chapter
http://www.translatinacoalition.org
ariannau@translatinacoalition.org
Advocacy organization offering assistance with name and gender marker changes in Florida.

GEORGIA

706.538.3557 Emory University School of Law LGBTQ Legal Services
https://law.emory.edu/academics/clinics/ells-lgbtq-legal-services.html
ells@emory.edu
Insurance denials, health care advance directives, community resources

ILLINOIS

People's Law Office
1180 N. Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, IL 60642
http://peopleslawoffice.com/
Joey Mogul: 773.235.0070
Attorneys from People's Law Office in Chicago have been successfully fighting for the civil rights of victims of police brutality, wrongful convictions, false arrest and other abuses for over 40 years JoeyMogul@aol.com

Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois
4707 N. Broadway, Ste. 307 Chicago, IL 60640
https://www.tjlp.org/name-change-mobilization
Avi Rudnick, Volunteer Attorney: 773.272.1822 namechange@tjlp.org
​Holds a Name Change Mobilization last Friday of every month. Also offers free criminal legal services to low-income and homeless transgender and gender non-conforming people

TransLife Center, Chicago House
1925 N. Clybourn Chicago, IL 60614
https://www.chicagohouse.org/translegal/
Elizabeth Ricks, Legal Director and Staff Attorney: 773.248.5200 ericks@chicagohouse.org
​The TransLegal Program provides holistic and affirming legal services, self-help legal assistance, and legal education to transgender people.

INDIANA

Law Office of Barbara J. Baird
445 N. Pennsylvania St., Ste 401 Indianapolis, IN 46204
http://www.bjbairdlaw.com/
Barbara J. Baird: 317.637.2345 bjbaird@bjbairdlaw.com

The De Brota Law Firm LLC
1389 W. 86 th Street #261, Indianapolis, IN 46260
https://www.debrotalaw.com/gender-law
Amy Ficklin DeBrota: 317.848.5555 amy@debrotalaw.com
Amy DeBrota handles transgender discrimination claims and name and gender marker changes. She offers pro bono petitions for name and gender marker changes for individuals with a household income of $40,000 or less.

219-331-4665 Transgender Resource, Education and Enrichment Services
2043 South Bend Ave #255, South Bend, IN 46637
http://www.webetrees.org
info@webetrees.org

IOWA

KANSAS

University of Kansas School of Law Legal Aid Clinic
​1535 W 15 th St, Lawrence, KS 66045
​ https://law.ku.edu/academics/hands-on-learning/clinics/legal-aid
​Professor Meredith Schnug: 785.864.9291 mschnug@ku.edu
Name and gender marker changes

LOUISIANA

504.355.0836 Louisiana Trans Advocates
650 N 6th St, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
https://ltadraft2018.squarespace.com/
info@latransadvocates.org
Supports transgender communities across the state through social support, education, empowerment, and advocacy in order to promote self-determination of gender identity and gender expression for everyone.

MAINE

Portland Legal, LLC
P.O. Box 8585 Portland, ME 04101
https://www.ptla.org/introduction-4
Zack Paakkonen: 207.518.8663 zack@portlandmainelegal.com
Provides sliding scale and sometimes pro bono legal services for a variety of transgender legal issues.

MARYLAND

Trans Maryland Name Change Program
https://transmaryland.org/name-change-program
Lee Blinder: lee@transmaryland.org
Peer-to-peer guidance on name and gender marker changes (not legal services)

MASSACHUSETTS

MICHIGAN

Community Health Awareness Group
1300 W. Fort St. Detroit, MI 48226
http://www.chagdetroit.org/
313.963.3434
Offers help with the name change process along with a variety of programming to support the trans community.

MINNESOTA

Volunteer Lawyers Network Community Clinic
1619 Dayton Ave #205, St. Paul, MN 55104
https://www.vlnmn.org/clinics/community
CB Baga: 612-766-7819 Courtney.Baga@FaegreBD.com
A walk-in legal services clinic at the Minnesota Trans Health Coalition and Family Tree Clinic, specializing in gender marker and name change and insurance access.

MISSISSIPPI

727 W 5th Street, Laurel, MS 39440

MISSOURI

NEBRASKA

Legal Aid of Nebraska
209 S 19th St, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68102
www.legalaidofnebraska.org
Talia Hughes, Intake Paralegal: 402.348.1069
Provides civil legal aid to low income people in Nebraska including advice, referrals and representation. Provides walk-in assistance for name changes at Omaha and Lincoln offices. thughes@legalaidofnebraska.org

NEVADA

NEW JERSEY

NEW MEXICO

NEW YORK

Charlie Arrowood: 516.331.1317 Arrowood Law
PO Box 20511, South Huntington, NY 11746
https://www.arrowood.law/
charlie@arrowood.law
Sliding scale name and document change assistance across NY

Browde Law, P.C.
http://www.browdelaw.com
Kristin Prata Browde: 914.861.9119 info@browdelaw.com
Provides legal assistance in family law, divorce and civil litigation, and other areas. Provides free legal services for name changes.

Empire Justice Center Civil Rights Project
1 W Main St, #200 Rochester, NY 14614
https://empirejustice.org/issuesareas/civil-rights/
585.295.5721
Provides direct legal services to low-income LGBTQ individuals across Upstate New York and Long Island (outside of New York City), advocates for LGBTQ-related policies, and offers technical assistance and training for courts, service providers, and community members.

Gender Justice Clinic, Cornell Law School
https://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/academics/experiential-learning/clinic...
607.255.4196
Discrimination

Legal Services NYC
https://www.legalservicesnyc.org/what-we-do/practice-areas-and-projects/...
917.661.4500
Provide free legal services in a variety of civil legal matters impacting the trans community, including employment, housing, public benefits, family, name changes, gender marker changes, life planning, consumer and immigration.

Brett Figlewski, Legal Director: 212-353-9118 LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York
393 Central Avenue, Newark, NJ
https://www.lgbtbarny.org/clinics-information
bfiglewski@le-gal.org
Offers several pro bono legal clinics devoted to serving the LGBTQ community. The clinics are staffed by volunteer attorneys who provide general guidance and legal referrals, but not legal representation.

LGBTQ Law Project, New York Legal Assistance Group
7 Hanover Square, 18th Floor New York, NY 10004
https://nylag.org/lgbtq-rights/
Provides free legal services in a variety of civil legal matters impacting the trans community, including employment, housing, public benefits, shelter access, name changes, gender marker changes, family law and life planning.

Milo Primeaux, Esq.
P.O. Box 665, Dansville, NY 14437-0665
https://www.miloprimeaux.com
Milo Primeaux: 585.612.1071 miloprimeauxesq@gmail.com
Represents transgender clients with name changes, and LGBTQ+ clients who have experienced discrimination in employment, education institutions, healthcare and health insurance, housing, access to credit, and places of public accommodation. Sliding-scale fee available for clients who demonstrate financial need.

Law Office of Beth C. Thomas, PLLC
30 3 rd St, Troy, NY 12180
https://www.bcthomaslaw.com/lgbt-law
Beth Thomas: 518.805.9577 bethcthomas@bcthomaslaw.com
Name and gender marker changes, discrimination and harassment

NORTH CAROLINA

Freedom Center for Social Justice
4921 Albemarle Rd, Charlotte, NC 28205
http://fcsj.org/
980.729.8454
Provides support for trans communities across North Carolina.

NORTH DAKOTA

TriState Trans
https://www.facebook.com/TristateTrans/
Step by step guide to legally changing documents in North Dakota

OHIO

Equitas Health Name and Gender Change Legal Clinic
http://equitashealth.com/services/name-gender-change-legal-clinic/
614.299.2437 legalclinics@equitashealth.com
Attorneys will provide one-on-one counseling about the name and gender change process at regular free clinics.

OKLAHOMA

Oklahomans for Equality
621 E 4th St, Tulsa, OK 74120
http://www.okeq.org/
918. 743.4297
Provides legal services to the transgender community.

OREGON

Basic Rights Oregon
310 SW 4th Ave., Ste. 300 Portland, OR 97204
http://www.basicrights.org/
503.222.6151
Provides information and referrals for name and gender marker changes and other legal support.

PENNSYLVANIA

Legal Help Desk: Mazzoni Center
21 S. 12th St., 13th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19107
https://mazzonicenter.org/
Thomas W. Ude, Jr., Legal and Public Policy Director: 215.563.0657
tude@mazzonicenter.org
Provides legal services for elder issues, discrimination, harassment, family law, name change, wills, and youth, as part of the Center's mission to provide quality health and wellness services in an LGBT-focused environment. legalservices@mazzonicenter.org

PUERTO RICO

LGBT Law Clinic, University of Puerto Rico School of Law
PO Box 23349, UPR Station San Juan, PR 00931
https://derecho.uprrp.edu/clinica/
Nora Vargas Acosta: 787.999.9553 nvargasacosta@onelinkpr.net

SOUTH DAKOTA

605.681.6506 TransAction South Dakota
​​PO Box 91614, Sioux Falls, SD 57106
www.transactionsd.org
info@transactionsd.org
​Runs a name and gender change clinic throughout the state to assist with updating legal name and IDs.

TENNESSEE

TEXAS
​Trans Legal Aid Clinic Houston
https://www.facebook.com/TransLegalAidClinicHouston/
info@translegalaidtx.com
Trans Name and Gender Marker Project
https://law.utexas.edu/probono/for-the-public/pro-bono-program-clinics/g...
genderintegrity@law.utexas.edu
Student-run project of the Mithoff Pro Bono Program at Texas Law (University of Texas School of Law).

UTAH

801.297.7049 Rainbow Law Free Clinic
Utah Pride Center. 255 East and 400 South in Salt Lake City
https://utahpridecenter.org/resource-directory/44616/rainbow-law-clinic/
probono@utahbar.org
Provides free legal assistance for name and gender marker changes the 2nd Thursday of every month from 6:00 pm- 7:30 pm.

Transgender Education Advocates of Utah
P.O. Box 521928 Salt Lake City, UT 84152
http://www.teaofutah.org/
Candice Metzler candice@teaofutah.org
Provides information on the name and gender change process.​

VIRGINIA

University of Richmond School of Law Trans Law Collaborative
1010 N. Thompson St. Richmond, VA 23230
https://law.richmond.edu/public-service/pro-bono/programs.html#trans-law...
804.358.6343
Collaborates on semi-annual name and gender marker change clinic and provides advice and support.

Virginia Equality Bar Association
http://www.vaequalitybar.org
info@vaequalitybar.org
Operates recurring name and gender marker change clinics in Richmond and traveling clinics throughout the state

WASHINGTON

ct.org Lavender Rights Project
2425 6th Ave S, Seattle WA 98134
https://www.lavenderrightsproject.org/legal-clinics
Dusty LaMay: 206.639.7955 info@lavenderrightsproject.org
Direct legal services by and for trans and queer communities, including harassment, discrimination, all transgender related legal care, health access, family law, divorces, estate planning, employment discrimination and adoptions. Services are all cost free or sliding scale based on income.

Spencer Bergstedt: North Sound Law
http://www.northsoundlaw.com/
info@northsoundlaw.com

QLaw Association of Washington
https://www.qlawfoundation.org/
206.235.7235 clinic@qlawfoundation.org
Runs a legal clinic that offers services for any civil legal issue facing LGBTQ community members.

WEST VIRGINIA

WISCONSIN

Foley & Lardner, LLP
777 E. Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53202
https://www.foley.com/en/people/t/tilleman-morgan-j
Morgan J. Tilleman: 414.271.2400 MTilleman@foley.com

NORTHEAST

GLAD- Legal Advocates and Defenders for the LGBTQ Community
18 Tremont Street, Suite 950 Boston, MA 02108
617.426.1350 http://www.glad.org/
Jennifer Levi: jlevi@glad.org
J.D. Melendez: jmelendez@glad.org
Henry Thomas: hthomas@glad.org
Provides state-specific resources and referrals. Serves CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, and VT.

SOUTH

Southern Poverty Law Center
400 Washington Ave. Montgomery, AL 36104
https://www.splcenter.org/issues/lgbtq-rights
888.414.7752
Litigation on LGBT rights issues, including employment discrimination and on behalf of incarcerated individuals.
Serves AL, FL, GA, LA, and MS.

NATIONAL

Chase Strangio, Attorney: 212.549.2500 ACLU LGBT & HIV Project
125 Broad St., 18th Floor New York, NY 10004
https://www.aclu.org/other/about-aclu-lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-aids-project
cstrangio@aclu.org

Human Rights Campaign
1640 Rhode Island Ave. N.W. Washington, DC 20036
http://www.hrc.org/
202.628.4160

Lambda Legal
120 Wall St., 19th Floor New York, NY 10005
http://www.lambdalegal.org
212.809.8585

National Center for Lesbian Rights
870 Market Street, Suite 370 San Francisco, CA 94102
http://
www.nclrights.org Ming Wong, Helpline Attorney: 800.528.6257 mwong@nclrights.org

National Center for Transgender Equality
1400 16th Street NW, Suite 510 Washington, DC 20036
http://www.transequality.org
202.745.2314

National LGBTQ Task Force
1325 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington, DC 20005
http:// www.thetaskforce.org
202.393.5177

Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund
20 West 20th Street, Ste. 705 New York, NY 10011
http://www.transgenderlegal.org/
AC Dumlao, Name Change Project: 646.862.9396 adumlao@transgenderlegal.org

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ALABAMAMaynard Cooper & Gale, PC1901 Sixth Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203https://www.maynardcooper.com Cynthia Lamar-Hart: 205.254.1038 clamar@maynardcooper.comProvides workshops and pro bono legal services for name and gender changes in Alabama.ARIZONASouthern Arizona Gender AlliancePO Box 41863 Tucson, AZ 85717 http://sagatucson.org/wp/Abby Louise Jensen, Vice President: 520.477.7096 arizonaabby@gmail.comDoes support and advocacy for southern Arizona's trans community and offers assistance with ID changes.Trans Queer PuebloPhoenix, AZ https://www.facebook.com/transqueerpueblo/Contact: trans.que

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The Movement Advancement Project (MAP) tracks over 50 different LGBTQ-related laws and policies.  This map shows the overall policy tallies (as distinct from sexual orientation or gender identity tallies) for each state, the District of Columbia, and the five populated U.S. territories. A state’s policy tally scores the laws and policies within each state that shape LGBTQ people's lives, experiences, and equality. The major categories of laws covered by the policy tally include: Relationship & Parental Recognition, Nondiscrimination, Religious Exemptions, LGBTQ Youth, Health Care, Criminal Justice, and Identity Documents.

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Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, TLC employs a variety of community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation.

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National Equality Map - Transgender Law Center

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Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, TLC employs a variety of community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation.

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University of Oklahoma: LGBTQ+ Aspiring Ally

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University of Oklahoma: LGBTQ+ Aspiring Ally

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LGBTQ+ Ally Training started nearly 12 years ago. Our ally trainings were designed with the intent to change the culture on campus, one person at a time. To date, we have educated over 9000 people about LGBTQ+ identities, experiences, and ways to show support. Our Ally program has been received with open arms in a variety of ways and continues to grow! We are now a fundamental part of multiple degree programs, we offer Allly training to various Greek chapters, and even extend to our Health Science Center and Tulsa campuses.

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This resource was created by Jim Houser for EDUC8fit Consulting. Thanks for sharing, Jim!

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Students and their families might be interested in identifying schools and communities that welcome members of the LGBTQIA community when looking for best-fit colleges and universities. Welcoming schools should not just be identified based on lists on websites like the Campus Pride Index, they should also be identified based on contacts with the local LGBTQIA Center, the local PFLAG chapter, participation of the school in local pride events, the mission statement for the school, and inclusion of an LGBTQIA group funded by the school on the school's website. As almost always, it is important to visit the college or university in person to determine if it is a good fit for your situation.

Human Rights Campaign -- Multiple LGBTQIA Scholarships

Scholarship Database - Human Rights Campaign (hrc.org)

Multiple LGBTQIA scholarships -- LGBTQIA+, Parent LGBTQIA+ or LGBTQIA+ Ally Scholarships - Scholarships.com

Live Out Loud Scholarships

TSER Scholarships - Scholarships for Trans and Gender-Diverse Students

Ramblers Scholarship - For LGBTQI Athletes with Financial Need

Scholarship - NY RAMBLERS

Inclusion in Digital Marketing Scholarship - LGBT Marketing Majors

$3500 Digital Marketing Scholarship for Students in College (intuitivedigital.com)

National Gay Pilots Association Scholarships - must pay to join first

LGBTQIA Professional and Graduate Schools

Contact me for a free 30 minute consultation

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LGBTQ College Match Resources | educ8fit consulting

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Students and their families might be interested in identifying schools and communities that welcome members of the LGBTQIA community when looking for best-fit colleges and universities.

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RESOURCE: Applying to College as a Trans Student

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RESOURCE: Applying to College as a Trans Student

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This resource was created by Shannon Bergeron for corecollegeconsulting.com and admissionsmom.college. Thank you for sharing, Shannon!

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The LGBTQ+ NACAC SIG (Special Interest Group) would like to use this page as a means for members to collaborate, share ideas, talk through issues, and connect on issues related to higher education and the college search for LGBTQ students.

Additionally, as the SIG works in conjunction with NACAC and Illinois ACAC on the LGBTQ Resources Guide, ideas and resources will be posted to the group.

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The LGBTQ+ NACAC SIG (Special Interest Group) would like to use this page as a means for members to collaborate, share ideas, talk through issues, and connect on issues related to higher education and the college search for LGBTQ students.

Additionally, as the SIG works in conjunction with NACAC and Illinois ACAC on the LGBTQ Resources Guide, ideas and resources will be posted to the group.

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I Want to Be a Better Ally in my School Community

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I Want to Be a Better Ally in my School Community

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You can quickly leave this website by clicking the "X" in the top right or by pressing the Escape key twice. To browse this site safely, be sure to regularly clear your browser history.

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I Want to Be a Better Ally in my School Community

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I Want to Be a Better Ally in my School Community

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You can quickly leave this website by clicking the "X" in the top right or by pressing the Escape key twice. To browse this site safely, be sure to regularly clear your browser history.

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I Want to Be a Better Ally to the Transgender Community

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I Want to Be a Better Ally to the Transgender Community

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You can quickly leave this website by clicking the "X" in the top right or by pressing the Escape key twice. To browse this site safely, be sure to regularly clear your browser history.

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I Want to Be a Better Ally to my LGBTQ+ Loved Ones

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I Want to Be a Better Ally to my LGBTQ+ Loved Ones

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You can quickly leave this website by clicking the "X" in the top right or by pressing the Escape key twice. To browse this site safely, be sure to regularly clear your browser history.

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With growing opposition and resistance to the current political realities in the US there have been new, inspiring examples of the impact that allies can have when they’re visible, vocal, and present. And that has the Straight for Equality team thinking a lot about what it means to be an ally. To people who are LGBTQ. To women. To people of color. To individuals with disabilities. To anyone whose voice has been marginalized.

With that in mind, we wanted to share a few tips for being a better ally to marginalized communities.

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Better Allying in Challenging Times - PFLAG

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With growing opposition and resistance to the current political realities in the US there have been new, inspiring examples of the impact that allies can have when they're visible, vocal, and present. And that has the Straight for Equality team thinking a lot about what it means to be an ally.

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LGBTQ+ History Month takes place Oct. 1 – 31 of each year. Not sure where to start your learning? Check out great resources from PFLAG National and our partners!

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With just about two weeks until Thanksgiving, people are gearing up for holiday cooking, shopping, and, of course, visits with family. And while the “visits with family” can create anxiety for many people, for our LGBTQ friends and family, the anxiety jump is often significant. Whether people are not yet out, out but not accepted by family or friends, or concerned about how family may react to meeting a partner or spouse, the “what if” scenario can be stressful.

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With just about two weeks until Thanksgiving, people are gearing up for holiday cooking, shopping, and, of course, visits with family. And while the "visits with family" can create anxiety for many people, for our LGBTQ friends and family, the anxiety jump is often significant. Whether people are not yet out, out but not accepted by family or friends, or concerned about how family may react to meeting a partner or spouse, the "what if" scenario can be stressful.

And while there are countless great articles about how LGBTQ+ people can better handle holiday stress and conflict, there isn't a lot out there about how allies can be part of creating a supportive and inclusive space for their friends at this time of year.

As the largest ally organization in the U.S., we've got some great tips to try out and share for being a great ally to your LGBTQ+ friends at the holidays!

Listen to your friends. Seems obvious, right? But listening - without commenting right away - is a big skill to learn. Often, LGBTQ people who are experiencing anxiety about holiday visits just need someone who will listen to how they're feeling, center their LGBTQ+ friends' needs, and not minimize those experiences (e.g., "It can't be that bad, can it?"). Close your mouth, open your ears, and take it all in.

When people are ready to talk, help them focus on the present. When anyone has a bad experience, it's natural to go back to that time and expect that it will determine what will happen in the future. This can sometimes cause what's called a "self-fulfilling prophecy" - meaning, by trying to avoid something that happened in the past we end up creating the exact situation we're hoping to avoid. But this is not always the case. Sometimes, people change. Situations are different. Try to help your LGBTQ+ friend look at how they can prepare themselves for this experience, and not dwell exclusively in the past.

Remind people to take care of themselves. Pulling away from friends, not eating well, or even self-medicating are all common responses when people are under stress. Check in to find out how they're doing, ask about what they've been up to, and if you're seeing the signs that someone is not caring for themselves, make some suggestions about how they can. Even better, offer to be part of their self-care plans. ("Want to go to the gym with me?" "How about coming over for a good healthy dinner?").

Be willing to serve as the ally-on-call. Before your LGBTQ+ loved one heads out for the holidays, remind them that you're there and happy to talk/text/IM if they need you. Letting people know that it's ok to ask for help is important.

Extend an invitation. Some LGBTQ+ people don't have an option to be with their families of origin, but you can be part of their chosen family. Ask them to join you for holiday celebrations. And when they attend, don't make their personal story (e.g., "Janet is here because her family threw her out.") part of what you share with other guests. They're just a friend who is coming over to share a holiday meal.

Change the way you ask questions. Rather than asking LGBTQ" friends if they're going home for the holidays, or spending the holidays with family - which may make them feel forced to explain tough situations - ask open-ended questions like, "So do you have any plans for the holidays?"

Looking for more ways to demonstrate your allyship year-round? Don't forget to check out straightforequality.org for additional ideas and resources.

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With just about two weeks until Thanksgiving, people are gearing up for holiday cooking, shopping, and, of course, visits with family. And while the "visits with family" can create anxiety for many people, for our LGBTQ friends and family, the anxiety jump is often significant.

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Leveraging the nearly 50 years of experience that PFLAG has in helping people become more accepting—and sometimes even advocates—we’ve developed the following characteristics of what makes an effective ally.

Rather than developing a stiff set of requirements for someone to be an ally, we thought about the qualities people—regardless of where they are on their ally journey—possess.

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Resources to Being a Lifelong Ally - PFLAG

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Leveraging the nearly 50 years of experience that PFLAG has in helping people become more accepting-and sometimes even advocates-we've developed the following characteristics of what makes an effective ally.

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Register Now for Learning With Love: The 2023 PFLAG National Convention!

As PFLAG celebrates its 50th anniversary, there is no better time to gather for four days of connecting, networking, sharing, and--most of all--learning with love.

Through workshops, panels, and presentations from community leaders, we'll provide insight, expertise, training, strategies, and best practices so that PFLAG friends, families, members, supporters, and leaders can work together to fulfill our organizational mission to create a caring, just, and affirming world for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.

Whether you're a longtime PFLAGer or new to the PFLAG family, join us in Washington, DC, October 19-22, at Learning with Love: The 2023 PFLAG National Convention.

Learning with Love: The 2023 PFLAG National Convention

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PFLAG's LGBTQ+ Glossary can help you understand terms you may not know or get a refresher on ones you've heard of before.

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Language is an extremely powerful tool. It allows us to generate ideas, share stories, and learn and grow from others. Whether spoken, signed, or written, all languages are constantly evolving, and, despite their imperfections, can help us better understand our world and communicate our perspective with others.

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33 LGBTQIA+ Terms You Should Know | Grammarly

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Pride Month holds a special place in Grammarly's heart because it provides an opportunity to highlight understanding one another. We firmly believe language exists not to confuse, but to clarify, and that the education and understanding that language provides can bring us closer together and foster deeper empathy. We compiled a list of inclusive terms to help build that bridge.

Of course, while Grammarly and the queer colleagues who worked on this list are not the final word on the language of Pride (we recommend and for further resources), we wanted to provide a primer for anyone interested in understanding the complexity of identity and using inclusive language accordingly. Here are the terms we think are important to know if you're looking to know more about gender and sexuality this Pride Month and beyond.

This acronym, constantly being updated, refers to all of the identities commonly associated with gender and sexual identities that are outside of the heterosexual, cisgender norm. This iteration stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and more.

To some elders, this term harkens back to its time as a slur to refer to LGBTQIA+ individuals, while to others, it serves as a useful, reclaimed term to describe themselves or their community. Do not use this term to refer to anyone who does not use it to describe themselves.
>>READ MORE: The Language of Gender and Sexuality
Intersectionality

This term refers to the concept of interconnected areas of oppression, how they overlap and combine, and the idea that social justice doesn't exist in a vacuum. Read Merriam-Webster's entry to learn more about the term's history and usage.

Attraction

Sexual orientation

Your sexual orientation is how you describe the way you experience physical attraction. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, and asexual are all examples of these.

Romantic orientation

How you describe the way you experience emotional attraction. This may line up with your sexual orientation, but it may not. Panromantic and aromantic are examples of these terms.

This term refers to a woman who is sexually and/or romantically attracted to other women.

This term refers to a man sexually and/or romantically attracted to other men. It's also sometimes used as a blanket term to refer to any person who is interested in the same gender as their own.

This term refers to a person attracted to two or more genders. This could be a person attracted to men and women, a person attracted to men and nonbinary genders, or a person attracted to their own gender and a few others. While "bi" does refer to two, as the community's understanding of gender has grown, the term has expanded in its usage beyond the gender binary.

Similar to bisexual, a person attracted to many genders (usually more than two or any gender). Someone may consider themselves bisexual and pansexual, or just one or the other.

Questioning

A term used to refer to someone who is not sure what their gender identity or sexual orientation is, and who is in the process of figuring it out.

Straight/heterosexual

A man attracted to women, or a woman attracted to men. Cis and trans people can be heterosexual, as it's about the gender you identify as and the gender you're attracted to, not the one you were born with.

Asexual spectrum

Asexuality is the term for people who don't experience sexual attraction, and the spectrum refers to different ways in which people experience less sexual attraction than the norm. Some people may only experience sexual attraction after many months or years of knowing someone, and some may never experience it. Some may be willing to engage in sexual activity even if it doesn't interest them, and some may not.

Gender identity

Your sex is the biological combination of your bodily organs, hormones, and chromosomes. Sex and gender are associated, but not the same nor interchangeable.

Gender expression

Your gender expression is how you present yourself to the outside world, and how that links to the way you experience your own gender.

They/them/theirs

A set of gender-neutral pronouns used by some nonbinary or genderqueer people to identify themselves in the third person. See more about gender-neutral third-person pronouns in our blog on the subject.

Gender assigned at birth

This is the gender that gets assigned to you when you're born, based on your sex organs and chromosomes.

Your experienced gender aligns with the gender you were assigned at birth.

Transgender

Your experienced gender is different than the one you were assigned at birth.

Nonbinary (or non-binary)

Your experienced gender doesn't align with either traditionally assigned gender, only lines up with one of them sometimes, or aligns with both and more. The terms genderqueer and agender can have similar but more nuanced associations.

Gender nonconforming

Gender nonconforming is broader than nonbinary. It means your gender expression doesn't correspond to your biological sex. You may still identify as a woman, but you may dress only in men's clothes, for example, or you may present in a way that doesn't align with society's idea of male or female.

You experience no attachment to any gender.

Your sexual organs don't fall within the sexual binary. Read more about what it means to be intersex from the Intersex Society of North America .

The act of misgendering someone is the act of deliberately or accidentally referring to someone by the wrong gender assignation.

Transition

Transition, for a trans person, could start and end with coming out as a new gender-or it could mean a life of gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy and surgery. Transition is a process, and it's different for every trans person. No one needs to complete a specific set of steps to have transitioned.

Native American identity in which one person contains female and male spirits within them. Learn more about the history of two-spirit identity.

Gender expansive

The feeling of expanding in your gender experience beyond current notions of gender identity, and not wanting to limit your identity to one or another.

Gender dysphoria

The feeling of your appearance or outside perception of yourself not matching your gender identity. This can be treated through transition, but trans people could experience this in different ways for their whole lives.

Being LGBTQIA+

Coming out is a unique process for every LGBTQIA+ person. It's not a requirement for any person to come out in public. Coming out, like all things, is a process-often the first time you come out to is yourself-and you may come out multiple times in your life as you meet new people and learn more about yourself.

Living openly

Living openly is the choice to live as your authentic self-to live as an LGBTQIA+ person in spite of harassment and oppression.

The practice of revealing someone else's sexuality or gender identity without their consent.

A celebration of standing open in one's own identity against oppression, beginning with the Stonewall Riots of 1969 . From a time when gay and trans clubs were raided by police regularly to now, Pride Month is a celebration of how far we have come, a remembrance of where we came from, and a reminder of how far we have yet to go.

Someone who supports the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community through action. Find out more about how you can take action to support your LGBTQIA+ loved ones .

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Pride Month holds a special place in Grammarly's heart because it provides an opportunity to highlight understanding one another. We firmly believe language exists not to confuse, but to clarify, and that the education and understanding that language provides can bring us closer together and foster deeper empathy.

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From the Association of American Medical Colleges

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Video Length: 59 minutes
Presentation Materials: Slide Deck
Description:
An individual's preferred terminology should be elicited and treated respectfully, even if it differs from or conflicts with the terminology with which we are familiar.

Because the acronym "LGBT"-an umbrella term encompassing people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender-mixes up populations whose self-identities are based on sexual orientation (LGB) and individual gender histories (T), we have tried within this publication to be careful not to simply use "LGBT" when we are, in fact, not talking about all of those populations.

Therefore, within this publication, we refer to LGBT people as a kind of shorthand while encouraging medical professionals to elicit from all patients critical information about identity and life history. (We refer readers unfamiliar with terms like "questioning" and "genderqueer" to Appendix A: Glossary of Terms.)

Learning Objectives:
After viewing this video, the learner will be able to:

Describe terminology that may be used by LGBT patient communities.

Identify strategies for creating a welcoming space for LGBT patients, colleagues and co-workers.

Moderator:
Lavjay Butani, MD
Chief Pediatric Nephrology Professor, Department of Pediatrics
University of California, Davis, School of Medicine

Presenter:
Sana Loue, JD, PhD, MPH, MSSA, MA, LISW, CST, AV
Vice Dean, Faculty Development and Diversity
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Suggested Citation:
Association of American Medical Colleges. "Understanding the Alphabet: LGBT 101" (November, 2016). AAMC Videos and Resources. Washington, DC: Association of American Medical Colleges. Available online at:
/initiatives/diversity/473188/understandingthealphabet.html

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Video Length: 59 minutes Presentation Materials: Slide Deck Description: An individual's preferred terminology should be elicited and treated respectfully, even if it differs from or conflicts with the terminology with which we are familiar.

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Union Guide to Discussing LGBTQ People and Issues

As LGBTQ issues continue to be at the forefront of our national dialogue, it is important for
union members and leaders to be able to discuss these topics effectively and non-offensively.
This guide seeks to introduce the basic language and concepts inherent in any discussion of
the LGBTQ experience in the workplace.

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LGBTQ+ 101: Alliance for Full Acceptance

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LGBTQ+ 101: Alliance for Full Acceptance

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Our work with groups, employers and local leaders often begins with educating them on the terms heard most when discussing or working with those of us from the LGBTQ community.

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Our work with groups, employers and local leaders often begins with educating them on the terms heard most when discussing or working with those of us from the LGBTQ community.

Affirmed gender: The gender by which one wishes to be known. This term is often used to replace terms like new gender or chosen gender, which imply that an individual's gender was not always their gender or that the gender was chosen rather than simply in existence.​

Agender: Refers to a person who does not identify with any gender.​

Ally: A term used to describe someone who is supportive of LGBTQ individuals and the community, either personally or as an advocate. Whereas allies to the LGB community typically identify as straight, allies to the transgender community also come from the LGBTQ community. Transgender individuals who identify as straight can be allies to the LGB community as well.

Androgyne: An androgynous individual.​

Androgynous: Typically used to describe a person's appearances or clothing as having elements of both femininity and masculinity.​

Aromantic: Refers to an individual who does not experience romantic attraction. ​

Asexual: Refers to an individual who does not experience sexual attraction. There is considerable diversity among the asexual community; each asexual person experiences things like relationships, attraction, and arousal somewhat differently. Asexuality is distinct from celibacy or sexual abstinence, which are chosen behaviors, in that asexuality is a sexual orientation that does not necessarily entail either of those behaviors.​

Assigned sex: The sex that is assigned to an infant at birth based on the child's visible sex organs, including genitalia and other physical characteristics.​

Assigned gender: The gender that is assigned to an infant at birth which is meant to correspond to the child's assigned sex.​

Assumed gender: The gender others assume an individual to be based on the sex they are assigned at birth, as well as apparent gender markers such as physical build, voice, clothes, and hair.​

Biological sex: Refers to anatomical, physiological, genetic, or physical attributes that determine if a person is male, female, or intersex. These include genitalia, gonads, hormone levels, hormone receptors, chromosomes, genes, and secondary sex characteristics. Sex is often confused or interchanged with gender, which involves personal identity and social factors, and is not determined by biological sex.​

Bisexual: Refers to an individual who has the capacity for attraction-sexually, romantically, emotionally, or otherwise-to people with the same, and to people with a different, gender and/or gender identity as themselves. People who identify as bisexual need not have had equal experience- or equal levels of attraction- with people across genders, nor any experience at all: it is merely attraction and self-identification that determine orientation. Bisexuality, as it is frequently used today, can act as an umbrella term that encapsulates many identities such as pansexual. Sometimes referred to as bi or bi+.​

Cisgender: Refers to an individual whose gender identity aligns with the one typically associated with the sex assigned to them at birth.​

Closeted: Describes a person who is not open about their sexual orientation or gender identity.​

Coming out: For most people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer, the process of self-acceptance that continues throughout one's life, and the sharing of the information with others. Sometimes referred to as disclosing by the transgender community. Individuals often establish a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender/gender-expansive identity within themselves first, and then might choose to reveal it to others. Coming out can also apply to the family and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender youth or adults when they reveal to others their connection to an LGBTQ person or the community. There are many different degrees of being out: Some may be out to friends only, some may be out publicly, and some may be out only to themselves. It's important to remember that coming out is an incredibly personal and transformative experience. Not everyone is in the same place when it comes to being out, and it is critical to respect where each person is in that process of self-identification. It is up to each person, individually, to decide if and when to come out or disclose.​

Disclosure: A word that some people use to describe the act or process of revealing one's transgender or gender-expansive identity to another person in a specific instance. Some find the term offensive, implying the need to disclose something shameful, and prefer to use the term coming out, whereas others find coming out offensive, and prefer to use disclosure.​

Gay: The adjective used to describe people who are emotionally, romantically, and/or physically attracted to people of the same gender (e.g., gay man, gay people). In contemporary contexts, lesbian is often a preferred term for women, though many women use the term gay to describe themselves. People who are gay need not have had any sexual experience; it is the attraction and self-identification that determine orientation.​

Gender: A set of social, psychological, and/or emotional traits, often influenced by societal expectations, that classify an individual as man, woman, a mixture of both, or neither. ​

Gender-affirming surgery (GAS): Surgical procedures that can help people adjust their bodies to more closely match their innate or internal gender identity. Not every transgender person will desire or have resources for surgery. This term should be used in place of the older and often offensive term sex change. Also sometimes referred to as sexual reassignment surgery (or SRS), genital reconstruction surgery, or medical transition.​

Gender binary: The concept that there are only two genders, man and woman, and that everyone must be one or the other. Also implies the assumption that gender is biologically determined.​

Gender expansive: An umbrella term sometimes used to describe children and youth that expand notions of gender expression and identity beyond what is perceived as the expected gender norms for their society or context. Some gender-expansive individuals identify with being either a boy or a girl, some identify as neither, and others identify as a mix of both. Gender-expansive people feel that they exist psychologically between genders, as on a spectrum, or beyond the notion of the man/woman binary paradigm, and sometimes prefer using gender-neutral pronouns (see Preferred Gender Pronouns). They may or may not be comfortable with their bodies as they are, regardless of how they express their gender.​

Gender expression: The manner in which a person communicates about gender to others through external means such as clothing, appearance, or mannerisms. This communication may be conscious or subconscious and may or may not reflect their gender identity or sexual orientation. While most people's understandings of gender expressions relate to masculinity and femininity, there are countless combinations that may incorporate both masculine and feminine expressions-or neither-through androgynous expressions. The important thing to recognize is that an individual's gender expression does not automatically imply one's gender identity.​

Gender identity: One's deeply held core sense of being a girl/woman, boy/man, some of both, or neither. One's gender identity does not always correspond to biological sex. Awareness of gender identity is usually experienced as early as 18 months old.

Gender neutral: Not gendered. Can refer to language (including pronouns), spaces (like bathrooms), or identities (being genderqueer, for example).​

Gender nonconforming: A term (considered by some to be outdated) used to describe those who view their gender identity as one of many possible genders beyond strictly man or woman. More current terms include gender expansive, differently gendered, gender creative, gender variant, genderqueer, nonbinary, agender, gender fluid, gender neutral, bigender, androgynous, or gender diverse. PFLAG National uses the term gender expansive.​

Genderqueer: Refers to individuals who identify as a combination of man and woman, neither man or woman, or both man and woman. Is sometimes used as an umbrella term in much the same way that the term 'queer' is used, but only referring to gender, and thus should only be used when self-identifying or quoting someone who self-identifies as genderqueer.​

Gender socialization: The process by which individual on is taught how they should behave as a boy or as a girl. Parents, teachers, peers, media, and books are some of the many agents of gender socialization.​

Gender spectrum: The concept that gender exists beyond a simple man/woman binary model, but instead exists on a continuum. Some people fall towards more masculine or more feminine aspects, some people move fluidly along the spectrum, and some identify off the spectrum entirely.​

Gender variant: A term, often used by the medical community, to describe children, youth, and some individuals who dress, behave, or express themselves in a way that does not conform to dominant gender norms. (See gender nonconforming.) People outside the medical community tend to avoid this term because they feel it suggests these identities are abnormal, preferring terms such as gender expansive and gender creative.​

Homophobia: An aversion to lesbian or gay people that often manifests itself in the form of prejudice and bias. Similarly, biphobia is an aversion people who are bisexual, and transphobia is an aversion to people who are transgender. Homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic are the related adjectives. Collectively, these attitudes are referred to as anti- LGBTQ bias.​

Homosexual: An outdated clinical term often considered derogatory and offensive, as opposed to the generally preferred terms, gay, lesbian, or queer.​

Intersex/differences of sexual development (DSD): Refers to individuals born with ambiguous genitalia or bodies that appear neither typically male nor female, often arising from chromosomal anomalies or ambiguous genitalia. Medical professionals often assign a gender to the individual and proceeded to perform surgeries to 'align' their physical appearance with typical male or female sex characteristics beginning in infancy and often continuing into adolescence, before a child is able to give informed consent. The Intersex Society of North America (ISNA) opposes this practice of genital mutilation on infants and children; PFLAG supports the ISNA's stance, and we reflect this in our Intersex policy statement, found at pflag.org/policystatement. Formerly the medical terms hermaphrodite and pseudo-hermaphrodite were used; these terms are now considered neither acceptable nor scientifically accurate.​

Latinx: a gender-expansive term used to be more inclusive of all genders than the binary terms Latino or Latina permit, as these are terms of identity found in Spanish, a gendered language.​

Lesbian: Refers to a woman who is emotionally, romantically, and/or physically attracted to other women. People who are lesbians need not have had any sexual experience; it is the attraction that helps determine orientation.​

LGBTQ: An acronym that collectively refers to individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. It is sometimes stated as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender), GLBT (gay, lesbian, bi, and transgender). The addition of the Q is a more recently preferred version of the acronym as cultural opinions of the term queer focus increasingly on its positive, reclaimed definition, which recognizes more fluid identities; and as a move towards greater inclusivity for gender expansive people. The Q can also stand for questioning, referring to those who are still exploring their own sexuality and/or gender. Occasionally, the acronym is also stated as LGBTA to include people who are asexual, LGBTI, with the I representing intersex, or LGBTQ+ or LGBTQIA to represent all of the above.​

Lifestyle: A negative term often incorrectly used to describe the lives of people who are LGBTQ. The term is disliked because it implies that being LGBTQ is a choice.​

Misgender: To refer to someone, especially a transgender or gender-expansive person, using a word, especially a pronoun or form of address, which does not correctly reflect the gender with which they identify.​

Nonbinary: Refers to individuals who identify as neither man or woman, both man and woman, or a combination of man or woman. It is an identity term which some use exclusively, while others may use it interchangeably with terms like genderqueer, gender creative, gender noncomforming, gender diverse, or gender expansive. Individuals who identify as nonbinary may understand the identity as falling under the transgender umbrella, and may thus identify as transgender. Sometimes abbreviated as NB.​

Out: Generally describes people who openly self-identify as LGBTQ in their private, public, and/or professional lives. Sometimes, individuals are outed by others who they may have already come out to. Outing an LGBTQ person without their consent is disrespectful and potentially dangerous for the LGBTQ individual. Some people who are transgender prefer to use the term disclose (defined above).​

Pansexual: Refers to a person whose emotional, romantic, and/or physical attraction is to people of all genders and biological sexes. People who are pansexual need not have had any sexual experience; it is the attraction and self-identification that determines the orientation. Often included under the umbrella of bisexuality.​

Preferred Gender Pronouns: A preferred gender pronoun, or PGP-sometimes called proper gender pronoun-is the pronoun or set of pronouns that an individual personally uses and would like others to use when talking to or about that individual. In English, the singular pronouns that we use most frequently are gendered, so some individuals may prefer that you use gender neutral or gender-inclusive pronouns when talking to or about them. In English, individual use they and their as gender-neutral singular pronouns. Others use ze (sometimes spelled zie) and hir or the pronouns xe and xer.​

Queer: A term used by some people-particularly youth-to describe themselves and/or their community. Reclaimed from its earlier negative use, the term is valued by some for its defiance, by some because it can be inclusive of the entire community, and by others who find it to be an appropriate term to describe their more fluid identities. Traditionally a negative or pejorative term for people who are gay, queer is still sometimes disliked within the LGBTQ community. Due to its varying meanings, this word should only be used when self-identifying or quoting someone who self-identifies as queer (i.e. "My cousin identifies as queer").​

Questioning: Describes those who are in a process of discovery and exploration about their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or a combination thereof.​

Same-Gender Loving: A term sometimes used by some members of the African-American/Black community to express an alternative sexual orientation (gay/bisexual) without relying on terms and symbols of European descent.​

Sex: Refers to anatomical, physiological, genetic, or physical attributes that define if a person is male, female, or intersex. These include both primary and secondary sex characteristics, including genitalia, gonads, hormone levels, hormone receptors, chromosomes, and genes. Sex is often conflated or interchanged with gender, which is more social than biological, though there is some overlap.​

Sexual orientation: Emotional, romantic, or sexual feelings toward other people. While sexual behavior involves the choices one makes in acting on one's sexual orientation, sexual orientation is part of the human condition, One's sexual activity does not define one's sexual orientation; typically, it is the attraction that helps determine orientation.​

Stealth: A term used to describe transgender or gender-expansive individuals who do not disclose their transgender or gender-expansive status in their public or private lives (or certain aspects of their public and private lives). The term is increasingly considered offensive by some as it implies an element of deception. The phrase maintaining privacy is often used instead, though some individuals use both terms interchangeably.​

Transgender: Often shortened to trans. A term describing a person's gender identity that does not necessarily match their assigned sex at birth. Other terms commonly used are female to male (or FTM), male to female (or MTF), assigned male at birth(or AMAB), assigned female at birth (or AFAB), genderqueer, and gender expansive. Transgender people may or may not decide to alter their bodies hormonally and/or surgically to match their gender identity. This word is also used as a broad umbrella term to describe those who transcend conventional expectations of gender identity or expression. Like any umbrella term, many different groups of people with different histories and experiences are often included within the greater transgender community-such groups include, but are certainly not limited to, people who identify as transsexual, genderqueer, gender variant, gender diverse, and androgynous.​

Transition: A term sometimes used to refer to the process-social, legal, and/or medical-one goes through to discover and/or affirm one's gender identity. This may, but does not always, include taking hormones; having surgeries; and changing names, pronouns, identification documents, and more. Many individuals choose not to or are unable to transition for a wide range of reasons both within and beyond their control. The validity of an individual's gender identity does not depend on any social, legal, and/or medical transition; the self-identification itself is what validates the gender identity.​

Transsexual: A less frequently used-and sometimes misunderstood-term (considered by some to be outdated or possibly offensive, and others to be uniquely applicable to them) which refers to people who use (or consider using) medical interventions such as hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgeries (GAS), also called sex reassignment surgery (SRS) (or a combination of the two) or pursue medical interventions as part of the process of expressing their gender. Some people who identify as transsexual do not identify as transgender and vice versa.​

Two Spirit: A Native American term for LGBTQ individuals with dual or multiple genders. It can mean have both a masculine and feminine spirit. It has different meanings in different communities.
[Compiled from PFLAG National Resources]

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LGBTQ+ 101 : Alliance for Full Acceptance

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Our work with groups, employers and local leaders often begins with educating them on the terms heard most when discussing or working with those of us from the LGBTQ community. Affirmed gender: The gender by which one wishes to be known.

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When I came out as gay more than 10 years ago, there were only four letters commonly used to group various sexual and gender minorities: L, G, B and T.

These letters were an evolution toward inclusion — an expansion of the language used to represent a disparate group that had often just been called “the gay community.”

Despite their intent, the letters proved to be limiting.

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The ABCs of L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ (Published 2018)

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Words and abbreviations are changing with the need to address and respect people who do not feel represented.

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GLAAD works through entertainment, news, and digital media to share stories from the LGBTQ community that accelerate acceptance.

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GLAAD | GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance.

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GLAAD is a non-profit LGBTQ advocacy organization focused on cultural change to ensure fair, accurate, and inclusive representation to advance LGBTQ acceptance.

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GLSEN Safe Space Kit: Solidarity with LGBTQ+ Youth

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You can download the contents from the Documents section on this page. Please feel free to print your own copies and distribute them. We appreciate your commitment to creating safe spaces for LGBTQ youth in schools.

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We are a bunch of parents of transgender adults who either came out as kids and are now grown ups or who came out as adults. We are inclusive and fun. We know that this journey we have taken with our kids (they will always be our babies) can be challenging at times and we want to provide support, education and entertainment for other parents who are on the same journey as us.

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Parents of transgender adults | Facebook

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We are a bunch of parents of transgender adults who either came out as kids and are now grown ups or who came out as adults. We are inclusive and fun. We know that this journey we have taken with our…

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PFLAG is creating a caring, just, and affirming world for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.

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We're so glad you found us! PFLAG is the nation's largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.

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GLSEN: Creating a Better World for LGBTQ Students

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GLSEN: Creating a Better World for LGBTQ Students

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Every day GLSEN works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment. Together, we can transform our nation’s K-12 schools into the safe and affirming environment all youth deserve.

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In this statement, GLSEN's National Student Council condemns police brutality and calls for greater support for Black lives

Read the Statement

Get involved and join your community, local, or state GLSEN chapter

GLSEN Chapters create LGBTQ-inclusive schools. Community-led chapters offer teacher trainings, student support, community outreach, and more.

Recent Research

Research, Reports, and Briefs

Research, Reports, and Briefs

Research, Reports, and Briefs

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In this statement, GLSEN's National Student Council condemns police brutality and calls for greater support for Black lives Read the Statement GLSEN Chapters create LGBTQ-inclusive schools. Community-led chapters offer teacher trainings, student support, community outreach, and more. Research, Reports, and Briefs Research, Reports, and Briefs Research, Reports, and Briefs