By Lauren Brown and Amber Mateer
Over 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills focused specifically on education have been introduced into state legislatures in the first half of this year alone.
June is a month to both celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and for us to try to better understand the current struggles being faced across the country by our members and the communities and individual students who NIRSA members serve.
A record number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in legislation proposed across the country this year. “We have seen the scope and scale of these attacks increase over the last few years, starting around 2020–2021,” says communications strategist for the ACLU Gillian Branstetter in a recent interview with CNN’s Annette Choi. This year, there have been more bills introduced than ever before and the extremity of the proposals bills has also gotten worse.
Representation matters
The struggles are real, and they continue to pile-up for too many across our intersections with society. However, the people and forces who would like to see us suppressed and erased do not go about their work unopposed. While the community remains under attack politically, media representation has made it possible to see our stories displayed in American culture.
GLAAD—who has tracked LGBTQ characters for nearly three decades—suggests that there has been an uptick in media representation for members of the LGBTQ+ community over recent years. In their 18th Where We Are on TV (WWATV) report, GLAAD President and CEO asserts: “The power of narrative change and inclusive storytelling is more crucial than ever at this moment. The full report presents key findings around the ways in which LGBTQ characters intersect with racial, ethnic, ability, familial, and other identities on screen.
According to the most recent Gallop survey of 2022, the number of adults who identify as LGBTQ+ is double what it was ten years ago. In covering the poll for USA Today, editor Susan Miller suggests that “One of the key takeaways from the annual poll in recent years has been the growing presence of Generation Z in embracing new identities.”
Courtesy of Gallup
Susan Miller goes on to interview Cathy Renna, communications director for the National LGBTQ Task Force. Renna says that the poll results reflect reality as LGBTQ young people continue to blaze trails: “Who we are is rooted deeply in us and is something young people—growing up in a culture that has finally been able to tell them that they aren’t alone, that they are beautiful and perfect exactly as they are—will never turn back from now.”
A legislative tidal wave
Over the last few years, the NIRSA Government Affairs Committee has included anti-trans legislation as one of their core watch points. In 2021, the NIRSA Board of Directors released a statement on transgender sport participation that critically highlighted our Association’s views on inclusion.
As the Government Affairs Committee tracks the waves of newly proposed policies being considered across the country, there has unfortunately been an overwhelming number of anti-trans legislation. According to the Track Trans Legislation website, “45 states have proposed anti-trans bills in 2023.”
Some states have had policies presented and passed that specifically name “intramurals” and other sectors of campus recreation, and some that call for the sex assigned to an individual at birth to be used in the classification of any sports participation. The Track Trans Legislation website is a great resource for keeping up to date with recent legislation regarding anti-trans policies in your area and across the country. Unless you live in Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, or Wisconsin, you might be surprised to find what legislation is being considered by your state.
Supporting your LGBTQ+ community
There is some light in our conversation, however. First, let’s tackle the leading question of: “What can I do to support the community?” Here are some suggestions to help provide a more inclusive campus recreation community at your own institution:
Policies, handbook, and marketing review
Take time to review your facility guidelines for gendered language, including policies in forms, locker rooms, hiring applications, dress codes, club sports, or intramural participation.
Consider whether your department’s marketing materials reflect the diversity of the student population. Are concepts of equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice reflected in the mission, vision, and strategic plan of the department or program area?
Pronouns
Want to put your pronouns in your email signature, business cards, or nametag? Explore the Pronouns Matter resource at mypronouns.org to see why this gesture is important. The practice is under threat in many state school districts and even in higher education in some states.
Student & professional development
Seek out training and development opportunities on diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice on your campus, through NIRSA, or from other trusted entities.
Provide resources to your students and employees. Facilitate discussions by utilizing the case studies in the NIRSA EDI (Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion) Guide. And don’t forget to encourage LGBTQ+ folks who are on your staff to participate in NIRSA LGBTQ+ Community Caucuses.
Amplifying newer voices
Beyond what you can do as an individual, it is vital for our organizations to amplify newer voices and explicitly welcome them into the LGBTQ+ community. As mentioned in our 2022 Pride article, more people are identifying within the LGBTQ+ community than ever before in recorded history.
It is vital that we continue to share out the positive stories happening in our professional community. If we don’t share them out with our colleagues, friends, and fellow members, our stories get lost amongst the happenings of the world.
If you were able to attend the 2023 NIRSA Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania you might have seen the drag performance showcased at the LGBTQ & Allies Social! Crystal Rosé graced the stage with a delightful and energetic performance.
The drag artist, Crystal Rosé, was portrayed by JP, a student at Florida Gulf Coast University. JP (he/him/his) works within University Recreation at FGCU.
With the current political landscape, especially given anti-drag performance bills, it was a welcomed showcase at our Association’s Annual Conference that brought joy and hope to our community. If that was your first drag performance or if you’re looking to give back to your local drag queens, make sure to read up on social expectations as an audience member. Trixie Mattel—a former RuPaul’s Drag Race Queen—provides some historical context for Drag culture, and for specific attendee guidelines you can look at Illinois State University’s recommendations and an article from Matador Travel. If all else fails, remember: Always tip your queens!
Thank you. We hope you continue to find ways to support, advocate and uplift the LGBTQ+ community all year long.
Lauren Brown, [she/they], is the director of the Student Recreation Center at Red Rocks Community College; reach Lauren at [email protected]. Amber Mateer, [they/them], is the associate director of campus recreation at Plymouth State University; reach them via email at [email protected].
