Joint Transgender and Gender Non-Binary (TGNB) Health Statement
Counseling Center
University Health Services
Women’s Center
Campus Life’s Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Centers
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 The 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.
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
The latest issue of the eJournal of Public Affairs features an article co-authored by the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s Romy Hübler and David Hoffman. Tools for Living Democracy: Putting the CLDE Theory of Change into Practice tells the story of national innovations in civic learning and democratic engagement that have been informed and inspired by work at UMBC.
The practices described in the article “challenge the ideas that students are mere spectators and consumers of public life and that institutions are static. Instead, these alternative practices prepare students to be empowered contributors in all of their communities, including their higher education institutions, neighborhoods, and places of work.”
The article describes the unconventional approach to civic learning and democratic engagement Romy, David, and Craig Berger (former UMBC Coordinator for Campus and Civic Engagement) incubated at UMBC: “With support from UMBC’s senior administrative leadership, the three of them had worked with students, faculty, and staff colleagues to develop and lead BreakingGround, an initiative that used grants funded by the Provost’s Office to support the creation of innovative courses and community programs. The philosophy of civic engagement embodied in this approach located democracy and community in everyday settings, not only in government, elections, and off-campus service projects.”
Let’s be honest: computers,televisions, tablets, gaming devices, and cellphones are really cool. Just a few years ago, these devices couldn’t do half the things they do now.
These days there is a ton of information at our fingertips.
There are thousands of hours of cat videos on Youtube.
We can connect with friends and family on the other side of the world during a global pandemic.
We can work from home.
We can binge watch hours of our favorite shows.
In order to achieve all these things, however, we spend hundreds of hours looking at screens.
Research has shown that college students spend approximately 8-10 hours a day using their cellphones, which includes looking at screens.
That’s the same amount of hours recommended for a healthy night’s sleep.
That number doesn’t account for the amount of time also spent looking at computer screens or televisions.
Unfortunately, the increased amount of time we spend in front of screens has reduced the amount of time we spend engaging in physical activity and connecting with each other in person.
Excessive amounts of screen time can lead to:
reduced physical activity
irregular sleep patterns
overeating
repetitive-use injuries, such as carpal tunnel
neck, shoulder, and back pain
In the time of COVID-19, using technology and devices with screens has become the primary way that many of us can remain connected with others.
With many people working from home and students, including UMBC students, taking classes online, it's hard to not find ourselves in front of a screen for multiple hours a day.
However, we can reduce the impact of increased screen time by
setting a daily screen time limit;
making meals, including those with family, technology-free;
avoiding screen devices at least one hour before bed;
standing and stretching at least once an hour while working;
being mindful of your posture while sitting;
finding an activity that doesn’t include a screen, like reading a book or completing a puzzle;
connecting with family and friends without the use of technology, such as writing and mailing a letter; and
getting outside and taking a walk (please practice safe physical distancing).
If you feel like your screen time and/or use of social media is negatively impacting your quality of life or your relationships, please call the Counseling Center at 410-455-2472 for help.
What do the words relaxation, zen, stress relief, center, reflection, and healing all have in common?
All of these terms have been associated with meditation.
Meditation is a practice that focuses on the interactions between the mind, the body, and the behavior.
Meditation has a long history and is practiced in many different cultures around the world. Here are the basics to meditation:
A quiet space with as few distractions as possible
Comfortable posture
A focus for your attention
An open mind
Relaxed breathing
While the practice of meditation should contain these basics, the practice of meditation is unique to all of us.
From the space we choose to the comfortable posture we select, it’s up to us.
The biggest key to a successful meditation practice that we all must remember is to stay present in the moment.
While we meditate, our thoughts may drift or we may become momentarily distracted, that’s okay.
Just bring your thoughts back to your focus when you notice. It’s natural for the mind to drift. Meditation is an ongoing practice.
Some of the emotional benefits of practicing meditation include
building skills to manage stress
focusing on the present
reducing negative emotions
While meditation is not a replacement for seeking care from a healthcare provider or a therapist, it has been linked to improving the treatment of
depression
anxiety
sleep problems
Here are a few ways to practice meditation:
deep breathing
scan your body
repeat a positive mantra
read and reflect
focus on gratitude
engage in a spiritual reflection or prayer
Looking for more on meditation? Check out these apps and resources to help you craft your own meditation practice:
Resources available from UMBC:
Let’s Meditate - sessions offered by the Counseling Center weekdays at noon and 4:30 p.m.
Yoga - Offered by UMBC Recreation every day at 10 a.m. (except Tuesday and Saturday)
Free phone apps are also available.
]]>Connecting with others is a vital part of the human experience. Healthy social connections can improve one’s ability to cope with stress and improve overall well-being.
Some other benefits of healthy social connections include:
Reduced rates of depression and anxiety
Better emotional regulation
Faster recovery times from health impacts
Surprisingly, to reap the benefits of social connection, a person doesn't need to have lots of connections. It is all about the quality of the connections you have. A few healthy and meaningful connections can go a long way.
In a time of physical distancing, it may seem difficult to maintain social connections and social support. Some of us aren’t seeing our roommates every day, we aren’t passing by friends when walking down Academic Row, or grabbing lunch in The Commons with our fellow organization members, but we are still together.
To start, connect with people in these four areas of your life:
Yourself
Your family/relatives/loved ones
Your friends
Your partner (or a different person of your choosing)
To help you maintain connections with others during social distancing, try a few of these options:
Sending a text
Calling them on the phone
Using an online platform to talk face-to-face (e.g., Google Hangouts; Whatsapp; houseparty)
Hosting a movie night (e.g., kast, netflixparty)
Writing a thoughtful email or sending a letter in the mail
Challenging a friend to a game of Connect 4, or another online game
Scheduling a virtual lunch or coffee meet-up
Checking on your neighbors (if you are able to, pick up items for neighbors who might not be able to go to the store)
Making new virtual connections (e.g., bumbleBFF, meetup, Huddle)
However you choose to connect during these times of social distancing, make it meaningful!
UMBC is hosting online events to help students stay connected to each other and their favorite departments and organizations. Visit myUMBC to learn about all of the upcoming online events, including events sponsored by