ACIS: Supporting LGBTQIA+ Students

A lesson on the core elements of the community, and how you can help ensure campus is inclusive and welcoming to all.

SAGA: Sexuality and Gender Alliance

Who we are…

Rhobi Elias (they/them) - President

Logan Bowman (they/she) - Vice President

Grace Balsmeier (she/her) - Secretary

Liberty Madsen (she/her) - Treasurer

What we do…

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Provide a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community on campus, for people to come together, make meaningful connections, and enact change in our local community.

What is LGBTQIA+?

LESBIAN - Women or nonbinary people that are attracted to exclusively other women or nonbinary people.

GAY - Men or nonbinary people that are attracted to exclusively other men or nonbinary people.

BISEXUAL - People who are attracted to two or more genders.

TRANSGENDER - Anyone who identifies as a gender differing from the one they were assigned at birth. This also includes identities under the Nonbinary umbrella.

QUEER/QUESTIONING - An umbrella term that describes anyone who is not straight or cisgender.

INTERSEX - A person that is born with both male and female anatomy or biological traits.

ASEXUAL - People who experience little to no sexual attraction. This part of the acronym also includes Aromantic and Agender.

+ - All the other identities that are included in the community.

Our History

Major Moments in LGBTQIA+ History:

• 1950s- Lavender Scare: around 4,380 homosexual women and men discharged from military service & 500 fired from government jobs.
• 1958- Inc V. Olesen: 1st time SCOTUS ruled in favor of LGB.
• 1962- Illinois decriminalizes homosexuality: previously punishable by death…
• June 28, 1969- The Stonewall Riots: catalyst for LGBT liberation movements.
• 1973- APA “removed” homosexuality from the DSM.
• 1993- Don’t Ask Don’t Tell: prohibited military from barring applicants based on sexuality.
• May 18, 2004- Massachussets becomes the first state to legalize gay marriage.
• 2010- US Senate repeals “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”
• 2015- same-sex marriage legalized in all 50 states.

Current LGBTQIA+ Struggles:

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Idaho Legislation:

- Ban on gender affirming care for youth.

- Requiring students use bathrooms for their assigned sex (challenged by courts).

- Lack of housing/employment protection.

- Requiring teachers to out students to their parents.

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The Basics of Our Community

Gender

Some well known gender identities include…

• Cisgender (cis) - When someone’s gender identity aligns with their sex assigned at birth.
• Transgender (trans) - When someone’s gender identity differs from their sex assigned from birth.
• Nonbinary - Someone whose gender identity is neither man or woman. They exist outside the gender binary.
• Agender - Someone who does not have a gender, or lacks one.
• Gender-fluid - Someone whose gender identity has fluidity. Their gender can change over time.

Biology - Sex does not always equal gender.

Sociology - Socially constructed characteristics that remain within the boundaries of perceived biological differences. These norms include "acceptable” behaviors, attitudes, and even styles.

Psychology - Gender is bound to a person's psychological sense of themselves.

Gender According To…

Pronouns

Pronouns are used as a way to refer to a person.

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If you mess up on someone’s pronouns, it’s okay! Simply correct yourself, or accept correction, and move on.

Advice From LGBTQIA+ Students

What NOT to do!

• Don’t undermine anyone’s identity.
• Refrain from engage in homophobic or transphobic jokes.
• Don’t get defensive if you are informed that your behavior is harmful, even if your intent wasn’t.
• If someone comes out to you, or is already out but only to a chosen few, do not out them to others. Especially parents! Coming out is a privilege not everyone can afford.
• Refuse to believe stereotypes
• Please don’t gossip

What you should do instead!

• Acknowledge any biases you may have.
• Call out any homophobia or transphobia you witness in classroom, campus settings, and especially when it comes from people close to you.
• If someone tells you that you are engaging in harmful jokes or behavior, take it to heart.
• Affirm your student's identities.
• You don’t have to understand everything about someone to accept them.
• Make your own judgements based on who people are individually

How You Can Support LGBTQIA+ Students!

• Use inclusive language (use “they” instead of “he or she”)
• Support intersectionality.
• Know that people can be more than one thing
• Incorporate LGBTQ+ people into your curriculum when possible!
• Use different pronouns in word problems.
• Include same sex or polyamourous relationships when relationships are relevant.
• Make sure that people know that you are a safe space
• Put up posters
• Don’t avoid LGBTQIA+ topics
• Include resources that offer support to LGBTQIA+ students
• This includes counseling services, but also sources specifically catered for LGBTQIA+ students… SAGA, Diversity Resource Center.
• Share your pronouns!

Sharing Pronouns

Encourage sharing pronouns within a classroom setting, however, don’t force it as this could potentially out students who are not ready to come out.

Example: “I’m *name* and my pronouns are…”

Include your pronouns in email signatures, profiles, etc.

Your guide to pronouns

What it means to be a part of the LGBTQIA+ community:

Our Perspectives On…

Questions?