The following statement was jointly crafted by UMBC's Counseling Center, University Health Services, Campus Life’s Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Centers, and Women’s Center
We celebrate the monumental ruling from the Supreme Court on June 15, 2020 that upholds protections for the LGBTQ+ community against discrimination in the workplace. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, discrimination on the basis of sex is prohibited and this ruling declares that this includes discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
At the same time, we are deeply troubled by new Federal guidelines that place limitations on non-discrimination protections in healthcare by removing the inclusion of transgender and gender non-binary (TGNB) individuals. We are troubled not only by the ruling, but also the fact that these decisions were made during Pride Month, on the fourth anniversary of the Pulse nightclub massacre, and in the midst of both a global pandemic and a movement to defend and affirm Black lives.
The erasure of these healthcare rights for TGNB people can significantly impact their access to health insurance, resources, and providers, making it more likely for them to experience inequities and unfair treatment in healthcare. Moreover, these guidelines do not align with UMBC’s commitment to inclusive excellence. We feel it is essential to reaffirm our support of the trans and non-binary communities at UMBC.
We want to assure our UMBC community that, regardless of this change at the federal level, Maryland state law protects healthcare access (including insurance coverage) for transgender and gender non-binary people. Other states may not have the same protections. UMBC students who have out-of-state health insurance that might not be as inclusive can select our student health insurance to be covered in Maryland.
The Counseling Center and University Health Services are available for questions, support, and guidance around getting your healthcare needs addressed in an inclusive and affirming manner. The Women's Center and Campus Life’s Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Centers will also continue to hold steadfast in our commitment to providing support services and educational programs, and will advocate for trans and non-binary community members' well-being and belonging.
Your identities are valid. Always. You are deserving of equitable and affirming care. Always.
We see you. We believe you. You matter. Always.
We also offer the following non-exhaustive list of local resources as options for affirming care in the areas of physical and mental health, legal support, housing and food security, and community advocacy:
Center for Black Equity (LGBTQ Focus)
On Campus Resources Include:
Counseling Center: The Trans Support Group is a group for transgender, non-binary, gender nonconforming, and gender questioning students. The group is discussion based with topics based on group consensus, with flexibility to explore current issues faced by group members. Look out for recorded webinars based on the Trans Support Group as well as news regarding Trans Support Group in the Fall semester.
LGBTQ Faculty and Staff Association
LGBTQ Student Union and the Queer and Trans People of Color (QPOC) Student Org
Office of Equity and Inclusion
The Mosaic, Interfaith and Pride Centers
Women’s Center: Spectrum is a discussion group for community members who identify as trans, genderqueer, gender fluid, outside of the gender binary, and/or those who are questioning their gender identity. Spectrum will begin meeting virtually again in the Fall. ]]>Sydney Fryer (GES)
Women of Color Collective (WOCC) provides a supportive space for women of color to come together for conversation, networking, and advocacy. WOCC will continue through the summer in holding a healing space and will center community support + solidarity and self-care for UMBC women of color.
WOCC will take place online on Tuesday June 30th, July 14th and July 28th at 4pm. The meeting link will be sent to the WoCC list-serv.If you are not on the list-serv and would like to attend this meeting, please email womenscenter@umbc.edu.
These programs follows the Women’s Center Brave Space model to provide a welcoming community and learning environment for women of color interested in cultivating visibility, advocacy, and engagement around the intersections of gender and race. The Women of Color Collective meets bi-weekly throughout the fall and spring semesters. ]]>
The following survey aims to examine the mental health needs of Queer and Trans students of color at UMBC. Any information shared will be confidential. Deidentified data (data that does not contain information about an individual’s names or email address) will be presented to selected UMBC campus staff members who have an active involvement in Queer/Trans People of Color (QTPOC)-specific support to ensure that the campus is working to provide the needed mental health services for students within this community.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jen Martinez (pronouns: they/them) at jenm@umbc.edu.
In this critical moment, the Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff affirms our solidarity with the Black community at UMBC and beyond. Your story matters. Your voice matters. Your life matters.
We mourn the Black Americans who have lost their lives to white supremacy and police brutality: George Floyd, David McAtee, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others whose names we know and whose names we don't.
Our society and its institutions continue to oppress people on the basis of their race, religion, class, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ability, and other aspects of their identities. Collectively, we have failed to embrace every person as fully human, morally equal, and entitled to full participation.
The Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff works with other members of the UMBC community to leverage all of our talents so we can build just, inclusive communities and a society in which everyone can thrive. Today we renew our commitment to challenging structural racism and white supremacy, and to advancing social justice in every facet of our work. This includes evaluating all of our programs to ensure that in addition to supporting students and colleagues in pursuing change through voting, advocacy, and strategic work in institutional settings, we are supporting them in directly challenging oppressive systems.
We also affirm our personal support for these strong statements about the moral imperatives of this moment in our national life by UMBC and University System of Maryland (USM) leaders:
Statement by UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski and Provost Philip Rous: This Time in America
Statement by USM Leadership on Structural Racism and the Killing of George Floyd
from the Dresher Center for the Humanities
from the Women’s Center
from the Counseling Center
By the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 members of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff:
David Hoffman
Romy Hübler
Ravi Bhatt
Dominique Henriques Melo
Tirzah Khan
Charis Lawson
Brandon Liu
Tess McRae
Pat Michael