LGBTQ* and Higher Education

LGBTQ* students are at the highest risk for experiencing conduct that interferes with their

ability to live, learn, and be successful on campus

• The threat of violence in relation to their identities; greater risk for sexual assaults accompanied by violence; transgender men and women are at the greatest risk

• 3-4 times more likely to attempt suicide• 23% of LGB students, staff, and faculty

experience harassment on a college campus; rate increases to 39% if a person is trans

LGBTQ* and Higher Education

LGBTQ* staff and faculty also face difficulties in higher education

• Derogatory comments related to their sexual identity, gender expression or gender identity

• LGBTQ professionals do their research on whether or not an institution is a safe place for them to be true to their identities

• 43% of staff and faculty hide their sexual identity out of fear of retaliation

LGBTQ* and Higher Education

• ALL students need to be affirmed in their identities in order to be successful• When they are not, they leave• When they leave, UK loses more than

money• We lose the potential of that student

to change the world

LGBTQ* and Higher Education

• Talented staff and faculty need to be affirmed in their identities in order to be successful• When they are not they leave• Or they never come to UK out of fear• We lose the potential of that staff

person or faculty member to change the world

Title IX Implications• Title IX protects all students from sex

discrimination, including sexual violence; this includes students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender

• Sex discrimination prohibition extends to claims of discrimination based on gender identity or failure to conform to stereotypical notions of masculinity or femininity (gender expression)

• The actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity of the parties does not change a school’s obligations.

Title IX Training ImplicationsThe expectation is that counselors and other staff who

are responsible for receiving and responding to complaints of sexual violence, including investigators and

hearing board members, receive appropriate training about working with LGBT and gender-nonconforming

students and same-sex sexual violence.• UK OUTsource, GSA, Shades of Pride and others are

working on a Queer 101 training that would give people the basics about LGBTQ; will be available this academic year

• Safe Zone Training and Certification program to start Fall 2015

• With assistance from VIP, Dean of Students Office, and others this could be expanded to fulfill Title IX training requirements

LGBTQ* at UK• Working on an multi-year plan to staff

OUTSource, as the LGBTQ resource center of UK with support and guidance from Dr. Jackson, Dr. Mock, Dr. Bolin, VIP and a host of others

• This year there will be 10 hours of professional staff time devoted to supporting LGBTQ students, staff, and faculty

• Staff time will increase over time as funding is available

• We have access to a limited amount of funding to support the LGBTQ community at UK; first year this has happened

LGBTQ* at UK• Building ongoing and sustainable partnerships

between the LGBTQ student organizations in order to create a sense of community

• Nurturing stronger ties between LGBTQ community partners such as Lexington Fairness, PFLAG, GLSEN, GLSO, and Bluegrass Black Pride

• Access to national networks of resources through Camp Pride and the Consortium for LGBTQ Professionals in Higher Education

• Opportunity to participate in the public launch of the Campus Pride Index 2.0