UC San Diego LGBT Resource Center models Intergenerational Dialogues

Who are the elders in our communities that have challenged gender and sexual normativity?  What are the experiences of our queer youth?  What does it mean to be in the middle age and part of the LGBT community?

UC San Diego's LGBT Resource Center launched a new program to encourage mentoring across generations. Histories, stories, and common experiences are shared over lunch, with such conversation starters as:

• What is the most meaningful queer/LGBT moment for you in history to date?
• Who was the first person you shared your gender identity and /or sexual orientation with
• What has been the biggest difference you have seen since starting to understand queer and LGBT issues?
• What do you think the future of the queer/LGBT movement is?
• How did you understand queerness/difference in your early years?
• What words and phrases were most commonly used to support the community?  To disparage the community?

The program includes pre- and post-experience assessments. Learning outcomes are that at the end of the dialogues, participants will be able to:

1. Identify mutual areas of shared experiences around queer and LGBT identity across generations
2. Understand unique experiences of differing generations of queer and LGBT identified people
3. Name key practices and politics relating to a specific generation of queer and LGBT people
4. Recognize definitions of variant genders and sexualities across generational years

Learn more details about this program on the LGBTQArchitect website, under "Intergenerational Dialogues." UCSD plans to report back data from the program this summer, and invites other campuses to adopt and modify the model to meet the needs of their community.

San Diego State University continues 9 years of the Queer People of Color Conference

Download the QPOC Conference 2014 flyer.

The 9th Annual Queer People of Color Conference will be hosted by San Diego State University this May 2-3, 2014. The theme is "(In)Visible: Our Story, Life, and Future."

Visit the web site at http://qpocc.sdsu.edu/

This is a FREE conference. However, you must register online because space is limited. The Call for Programs is also open online, with a deadline to submit a proposal by March 9, 2014.

Here's more about the history of QPOCC, which began as a leadership summit hosted by UC Berkeley:

9th Annual Queer People of Color Conference
San Diego State University, 2014
"(In)Visible: Our Story, Life, and Future."

8th Annual Queer People of Color Conference
CSU Fullerton, 2013
“To Exist is to Resist: Empowering our Roots through Activism, Community, and Intersectionality"

7th Annual Queer People of Color Conference
CSU Northridge, 2012
“Fourway: Intersections of Race, Class, Gender and Sex[uality]”

6th Annual Queer People of Color Conference
UC Riverside, 2011
“Decolonize Your Mind”

5th Annual Queer People of Color Conference
San Diego State University, 2010
“Building Visibility through our Traditions, Active Leadership, and Pride”

4th Annual Queer People of Color Conference
UC Davis, 2009
“Building Communities Through Art, Action, and Resistance”

1st - 3rd Annual Queer People of Color Conferences

The 1st - 3rd Annual Queer People of Color Conferences all took place at UC Berkeley. Each year it was hosted by different organizations with the theme of the conference changing as well.

The 1st Annual QPOC Conference focused on "Exposing Our Institutionalizations and Challenging Tokenisms." The 2nd Annual QPOC Conference's theme was "At the Crossroads of Age, Race, and Sexuality." Lastly, the 3rd Annual QPOC Conference's theme was "(re)Generations of Solidarity: Shifting Lenses and Igniting Hearts."

Why was the Queer People of Color Summit started?

To honor the advances made by queer people of color amid various geopolitical, sociological, and institutional pressures that have informed our individual consciousnesses and the structures of our supporting organizations.

The Queer People of Color Leadership Summit aspired to provide an arena for QPOC, our organizations, and those invested in our development and proliferation to reignite the dialogues of what a QPOC identity means, what Queer People of Color represent, and how Queer People of Color can strategize more effectively.

What can QPOC gain from coming to the summits and conferences?

By contesting notions of a singular QPOC identity, participants can expect to explore new methods of negotiating challenges that relate to our varied experiences. While the organizing committee of the past and current summits/conference has extended welcome to all, it hopes participants approach the summit as an opportunity—not only for those who can rely on their privileges (as varied as they are) as assurance of their agency.

Who were/are responsible for creating the summit?

The first QPOC Leadership Summit, which took place on April 29, 2006, sprung out of the collaborative efforts and initial conversations between QPOC at SFSU and YQUE at UCB.  La Familia at UCD would also become involved in the planning process and sponsorship of the summit. SFSU had hoped to host the summit. However  they  were unable to secure a location on campus so UCB offered to host.

The overall goal was to unite the local queer of color orgs/leaders--which is why it was structured in the form of a summit, as opposed to a conference.

What did the agenda look like in terms of guest speakers, entertainment, and workshops?

Celia Herrera Rodriguez (keynote), Dalit Baum (keynote), Coral Lopez (unable to attend), and performances by Chueh Jun-Fung & other local artists.

What was discussed in the past workshops?

Identity Politics, Institutions and Institutionalizations, Strategic Networking and Organizing and much more.

~Q&A from UC Berkeley Contacts

BlaqOUT Conference now accepting applications & workshop proposals

Sy Simms & Toi Thibodeaux serve on the BlaqOUR planning committee.

The UCR LGBT Resource Center announces the Inaugural BlaqOUT Conference on April 18-19, 2014 @ University of California, Riverside.

We cordially invite all folks who self identify as Black/African American or of African Descent and as Same Gender Loving, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning or somewhere on the LGBT Spectrum to apply to attend.

If you are an ally to our communities, we encourage you to attend the QPOC Conference on May 2-3, 2014 at San Diego State University. The QPOC Conference is open to all individuals. (qpocc.sdsu.edu)

Through the BlaqOUT Conference, we hope to create safe and courageous spaces that foster the discussion of issues relevant to those who self identify as Black/African American or of African Communities on the LGBTQ Spectrum. Various Workshops, keynotes, and activities will be designed to unite our community and equip us with the resources necessary to face issues that affect us as marginalized individuals.

To submit a program proposal, click here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TYN7S9W

All Program Proposals must be in by Friday, February 28, 2014. You will be notified by email if your program has been accepted by March 14, 2014. Your registration payment will be due by April 4, 2014. All presenters, including co-presenters, must also apply to attend BlaqOUT and self identify as Black/African American or of African Decent and on the LGBT Spectrum.

The application is now open; click here to apply by April 1^st, 2014:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TY69YD3

Once you have been selected for the BlaqOUT Conference you have until April 4, 2014 to pay registration fees or your spot will be given to another individual. Registration is $20 with a T-Shirt included in the registration fee. If you do not want a T-Shirt, Reduced Registration is $10.

Questions? Email blaqoutucr@gmail.com or LGBT Resource Center Program Coordinator Toi Thibodeaux at toi.thibodeaux@ucr.edu or 951-827-2267.

Visit http://blaqoutucr.blogspot.com/

UC Santa Cruz Trans* Community Voices and Advocacy

City On a Hill Press spotlights the UCSC campus community, including current advocacy for gender-inclusive resources and policies, with the article "Transitions: Voices of the Trans Community." [by Joel Escobedo 1/31/14] Projects include the Free to Pee Campaign and access to health care.

Illustration by Marin Slobody

UC Davis updates center name to LGBTQIA Resource Center

Interim Director Elizabeth Coté stands outside the center now sporting new signage.

This academic year, UC Davis updated the center's name to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual Resource Center. 

"While some similar centers have chosen to take on a name that serves as an umbrella (i.e. Pride Center, Equity Center)," says center interim director Elizabeth Coté, "our new name provides the opportunity to educate around each of these historically underrepresented groups every time the Center’s name is introduced."

The 2011 Consortium Directors Survey documents the following center names* (N=136):

9 = GLBT in office/dept. name

3 = GLBTA in office/dept. name

1 = GLBTI in office/dept. name

3 = GLBTQ in office/dept. name

11 = Gender & Sexuality in office/dept. name

3 = LBGT in office/dept. name

48 = LGBT in office/dept. name

1 = LGBTA in office/dept. name

19 = LGBTQ in office/dept. name

4 = LGBTQA in office/dept. name

5 = LGBTQIA in office/dept. name

4 = Pride in office/dept. name

3 = Queer Resource Center

1 = Q Center

1 = Rainbow Center

1 = Spectrum Center

1 = Stonewall Center

2 = part of Student Life or Student Engagement office/dept.
16 = part of Diversity/Equity/Intercultural/Multicultural/Social Justice office/dept.

*The Q may mean "queer" or "questioning"

*The A may mean "allies" or "asexual"

Whittier College provides multi-stall gender neutral restroom

Whittier College opened a multi-stall gender neutral restroom over a year ago… and the world did not end. Below is the campus-wide message regarding the facility.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Dear College Community,

You may have noticed that two additional gender-neutral bathrooms have been added on campus. One is behind Club 88 and the other is in the Science building.

This is the result of an important discussion last summer aimed at supporting individuals on campus (and guests) who identify as transgender and/or gender non-conforming. In addition, we want to accommodate people who have families or require assistance due to a temporary or permanent disability.

The big question: Why is this necessary?

Transgender people often experience significant anxiety and are subject to harassment and violence when using male- or female-specific campus restrooms. “Gender-neutral” bathrooms—typically single-stall, lockable restrooms available to people of all genders—provide a safe facility for transgender people by not requiring individuals to “choose” a gender based on how they identify or physical presentation. These restrooms also help families with children (such as mothers bringing sons, or fathers bringing daughters, to a restroom) and people with disabilities who need the assistance of an attendant of a different gender. Single-stall restrooms also more easily meet the accessibility regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).1

Context

Up until now, the only gender-neutral bathroom available was in Mendenhall. This means that parents with small children, people requiring assistance, and transgender and/or gender non-conforming individuals had few restroom options.

We understand that most gender-neutral bathrooms are single-stall, as described previously. Therefore, the facility by Club 88 is not a “traditional” gender-neutral bathroom because it includes more than one stall. However, it became more important to accommodate our community members than worry about whether or not we had a traditional facility. As with all gender-neutral bathrooms, they can be locked for privacy.

Adding gender-neutral facilities to our campus not only provides safety for our community; it honors the diversity of community members and promotes an inclusive environment.

For those who wish to use gender-specific restrooms, there are plenty on campus. In the campus center alone, there are three: downstairs by the Cultural Center and LEAP, upstairs by The Spot, and in Villalobos Hall. While it may feel inconvenient to walk to these facilities if you are accustomed to using the women’s restroom in Club 88, please consider that before now, we had individuals on campus who had to walk all the way over to Mendenhall. Now they have options too.

In addition, the gender-neutral bathroom is not suddenly unavailable to women. If you are comfortable using it, knowing that various individuals may use it as well, go for it! No one will stop you from doing your business. If you want/need privacy, simply lock the door. However, if you would rather use a gender-specific bathroom, they are available in other campus center locations.

If you have further questions, please contact me directly.

Thank you.

1 University of Chicago QueerAction, “Gender-Neutral Bathrooms Campaign: A QueerSafeCampus Initiative”: http://queeraction.uchicago.edu/statement.html

Joy L. Hoffman, Ed.D.

__________________________________________

Director of the Cultural Center

Whittier College  ¡ Campus Center, 7214 Painter Avenue, Whittier, CA  90602

Phone:  (562) 907-4963

Cal State L.A. publishes "LGBTQIPA+ Life on Campus" Guide

Check out CSULA's guide, available as a downloadable PDF.