Gender and Sexuality Center for Queer and Trans Life statement regarding LGBTQIA protections

Originally sent on July 1, 2020

Dear University community,

As we close out LGBTQIA Pride month, the visibility of social conditions for Black, transgender, and immigrant communities permeates our nation’s social consciousness. This year marks 61 years since the uprising at Coopers Do-Nuts and 51 years since the Stonewall Riots. These two historical events prompted the LGBTQIA movement as we know it today, and were led predominantly by transgender women of color. 

We write today to emphasize the University’s support for transgender and nonbinary community members, and to provide information about how recent decisions at the federal level impact our University community. In November 2018, we issued a statement of support, and since that time we have worked effectively as a University community to pass and implement the Gender Equity and Access Policy, a landmark achievement in higher education’s history of transgender-affirming policymaking. 

Regarding decisions at the federal level, we have seen three recent announcements that significantly impact LGBTQIA communities. 

Healthcare
First, the federal government recently announced that sex would be narrowly defined as biological sex for the purpose of sex nondiscrimination protections in healthcare. This directly affects transgender and nonbinary community members, and may have a particularly negative impact on Black trans individuals, as articulated in this NPR article. 

LGBTQIA Employment
Second, the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that federal law prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.

DACA
Third, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which provides some reprieve to the thousands of people, who can continue to live and work in the United States without fear of deportation. According to the UCLA Williams Institute, “There are 81,000 LGBT Dreamers and 39,000 of them have participated in DACA.”

We echo President Gabel’s message sent on June 18 regarding the Supreme Court’s decision. She writes:

“As we consider today’s ruling, let me affirm our University’s strong and ongoing commitment to support all DACA recipients, including our students, faculty, staff, and community members, along with their families. I also want to note that the Minnesota Dream Act does not change in any way as a result of this ruling or any potential future efforts to terminate DACA at the federal level. Eligible Minnesota high school graduates continue to qualify for resident tuition and both state-funded and privately raised financial aid. We invite them to apply to study at any of the University of Minnesota’s campuses.”

Protections for Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Individuals Under University Policy and Minnesota Law 
The University of Minnesota prohibits discrimination and harassment based on gender identity and expression in its Board of Regents Policy: Equity, Diversity, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action. This policy protection will not change as a result of implementation of the federal government policy change. Individuals who believe they have experienced discrimination or harassment based on their gender identity or expression can contact EOAA, which is available to address these concerns through informal problem-solving or through formal investigation to determine whether the University’s anti-discrimination policy has been violated.

Also, the Minnesota Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on gender identity in healthcare, education, employment and other areas. University community members can report concerns of discrimination based on gender identity to the Minnesota Department for Human Rights. 

A Call to Action
Let us remember to center one another’s humanity in our day-to-day actions. Let’s renew our commitment to recognizing the complexities and address them together with integrity, humanity, and care. . Let’s work together to create a University community where each of us feels a sense of respect, validation, and belonging.

Sharing LGBTQIA Pride Resources
As we close out another LGBTQIA pride month, take a moment to engage in celebrating our past and present accomplishments, with a special sense of commitment to intersectional movement-building as we face our collective future. 

Here are some resources that elevate awareness of LGBTQIA Black, Indigenous, and communities of color:

• “Five Trailblazers You Should Know - Pride Edition”, National Museum of African American History & Culture

• Webinar, “Research & Data on Violence Against Two Spirit & Native LGBTQ People” by the Sovereign Bodies Institute

• Research Brief, “LGBT ‘Dreamers’ and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)”

Thank you,

dr. Saby Labor, Director
Gender and Sexuality Center for Queer and Trans Life