Trans History at American University A Brief Sketch

By Matt Ferguson, Stephen Masson, Perry Zurn Spring 2019

2019 (Spring): Inclusive Bathroom Mapping Project is organized. Membership includes students (Jay Ensor, Charlie Everett, Abigail Morris), staff (Bridget Cooney and Andie Row from HR, Nicole Schoeb from ASAC, Kameron Winters from CDI), faculty (Perry Zurn from CAS), and administration (Amanda Taylor from PCDI). ● February 13, 2019: Inclusive Bathroom Mapping Project Planning Meeting ● February 23, 2019: Inclusive Bathroom Mapping Project ● April 3, 2019: Map recommendations submitted to Planning and Project Management ● April 10, 2019: “Accessibility and Inclusive Bathrooms,” presentation by Jay Ensor, Abigail Morris, and Perry Zurn at AU’s Disability, Access, and Teaching Symposium.

2018 (October): Thinking Trans // Trans Thinking Conference, October 5-6, 2018, co-organized by AU faculty member Perry Zurn and UNC Charlotte faculty member Andrea Pitts. The two keynotes were: Mel Chen (University of , Berkeley) and Che Gossett (Rutgers University).

2018 (October): Eli Clare, trans and disabled activist and author, is awarded the Richard L. Schlegel National Legion of Honor Award, under the category of Visionary Leader. The award is presented at AU’s Thinking Trans // Trans Thinking Conference.

2018 (September): On September 27, 2018, in the Katzen Recital Hall and hosted by SPA, AU SPA alumna Sarah McBride (‘13) did a talk on her book, Tomorrow Will Be Different (2018).

2018: Chris Moody, Sara Bendoraitis, Matt Bruno, and Ryan Anderson publish “Supporting All Students with Gender Housing Options” in Trans Policies and Experience in Housing and Residence Life, eds. Jason C. Garvey et al. (Stylus Publishing, 2018), 134-150.

2017 (Spring): First full length “ Studies” course taught by then WGSS Director and term faculty member Lauren Weiss (3 credit, WGS 350).

2016 (December): Cass Bliss, genderqueer alumn of the AU WGSS program (’15), publishes The Adventures of Toni the Tampon; A Period Coloring Book. The book aims to introduce kids of all genders to menstruation. https://www.tonithetampon.com/about.

2016 (November): Queers and Allies, Student Government, Unitarian Universalists, the Lions Club, and the GLBTA Resource Center’s programming for Trans Awareness Week includes: ● “The Impact of Trans Bullying,” November 14, 2016: “Join American University professors Leap and Edelman for a discussion about gay privilege versus trans vulnerability as well as the language of bullying and harassment and how that applies to transgender individuals.”

1 ● “Transgender Day of Remembrance: Awareness on the Quad,” November 18, 2016: “The Transgender Advocacy Project along with other members of the AU Community will be tabling on the quad to talk about transgender hate crimes and why we participate in Transgender Day of Remembrance. We will have information about gender identity and the importance of fighting transphobia, and answer any questions you have about transgender issues. We will be selling bookstore items to raise money for the Aiden Rivera Schaeff fund.” ● “A Capella Against Bullying,” November 18, 2016: “Join AU’s a capella group for a combined concert to spread awareness about transgender bullying and to support the Aiden Rivera Schaeff Fund in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance.” ● “Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil,” November 20, 2016: “The Unitarian Universalist congregation will host a non-denominational vigil in honor of those who have lost their lives to transgender hate crimes. There will be a names reading of those who have died this past year, and it is an opportunity to remember others who continue to struggle.”

2016 (Spring): The first, non-full-length “Transgender Studies” course is taught by WGSS adjunct Rory P. O’Brien (1 credit, WGS 496).

2016 (Spring): Protests against the Milo Yiannopoulous visit to campus are led by Noah Leibowitz.

2015 (November): AU SPA alumna Sarah McBride writes, “This I Know,” perspectives piece for American University Magazine. https://www.american.edu/magazine/article/Sarah-McBride.cfm.

2015 (April): Aaron Theodore Samuel submits “Performing Thirunangai: Activism, Development, and Normative Citizenship in Tamil Transgender Performance,” a Doctoral Dissertation in Anthropology, on April 14, 2015. Bill Leap is the chair of the committee.

2015 (April): Janet Mock speaks at AU on April 1, 2015. The event was organized by the AUSG’s Women’s Initiative.

2014 (November): Queers and Allies, GLBTA Resource Center, and Trans Advocacy Project’s programming for Transgender Advocacy Month includes: ● “Trans 101,” November 12, 2014: “Explore the diversity of identities within the transgender community and learn how to be inclusive and respectful of transgender people.” ● “Trans Advocacy for Campus Organizers,” November 18, 2014: “Learn about the Trans Advocacy Project’s goals for this year and how you can help make American a more inclusive university.” ● “Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil,” November 20, 2014: “Eat dinner with Queers and Allies, and then join the DC community in remembering victims of anti-transgender hate crimes.” ● “Volunteer Opportunity: National Center for Transgender Equality,” December 2, 2014: “Volunteer at a fundraising gala for the fifth anniversary of the founding of the National Center for Transgender Equality. NCTE is a social justice organization dedicated to advancing the equality of transgender people through advocacy, collaboration, and empowerment.”

2 2014 (April): Queers and Allies organizes “TransWorks: Transsexual Images,” a lecture and slide presentation by photographer Loren Cameron on April 2, 2014. The event is sponsored by Queer and Allies, Women’s Initiative, American Studies, Anthropology, GLBTA Resource Center, Student Government Arts Council, Student Government Diversity Action Team, and WGS.

2014 (February): Laverne Cox speaks at American University; see report by Gregg Sangillo, February 14, 2014, https://www.american.edu/media/news/20140214-transgender-trailblazers.cfm.

2014: Loro Lox and Emmett Patterson, students in the AU WGSS program, found Not Your Average Sex Talk, a peer-to-peer, trans-affirming health advocacy network. https://nyast.wordpress.com/about-nyast/.

2013 (November): 8th Annual GLBT Studies Colloquium, November 16, 2013, includes: ● “Equal Access, Equal Care: Creating a Trans* Inclusive Healthcare Culture,” by Emmett Patterson (American University). “This presentation will focus on the health status of trans* communities, the disparities they face, and how medical providers can become more culturally competent in treating them. The discussion will include: primary, preventive, and transition- related care; access to healthcare; health vulnerabilities; and how medical providers can be effective trans* allies.” ● “Gendered Instruction & Gender Deconstruction: Trans* Students at Religiously Affiliated Institutions,” by Chelsea Fullerton (NYU School of Medicine). “In this qualitative exploratory study, the researcher aimed to investigate the needs and experiences of transgender persons at religiously affiliated institutions through the perspective of eight transgender students who represented a variety of identities and attended six four-year institutions as well as two schools of theology located across the US. Through semi-structured interviews, participants reflected on their college experiences and the role that these played in their identity development, discussing both obstacles and resiliency factors. These findings will be presented as well as their implications for transgender campus inclusion.”

2013 (April): At the Center for Diversity and Inclusion’s 16th Annual LGBTQ Awards Ceremony, on April 24, 2013, AU SPA alumna (‘13) Sarah McBride received an award for “Campus Excellence.” This award “goes to an individual, organization, or campus office that is committed to improving the campus climate by effectively incorporating LGBTQ issues into their work.”

2013 (April): Queers and Allies programming for Ally Week includes “Trans Healthcare: Voices Against Violence” event on April 18, 2013: “We will explore disparities in the healthcare system that effect the Trans* community.”

2012 (November): 7th Annual GLBT Studies Colloquium, November 13, 2012, includes: ● Kevin Ballie (School of International Service, American University), “TransYouth and YouTube” Panel: “The Internet has provided transgender individuals with an astounding amount of resources on transgender identity, transgender advocacy, community and discussion. Many transgender individuals, especially transgender youth, have taken to documenting their lives on popular video sharing sites such as YouTube. This has led to a dynamic new introduction to being transgender for thousands of transgender teens around the world.”

3 ● Derek Siegel (American University), “Examining Cis-Gender Privilege.” Siegel expanded this poster presentation into a 60 minute interactive workshop “Unpacking Cis-Gender Privilege: Becoming an Ally to Trans Communities” for AU’s first Diversity Week. Siegel, who held a 4.0 GPA, wrote a bi-monthly column for the Eagle student newspaper and served as co-director of AU Queers and Allies Transgender Advocacy Project. This spring, he organized and led a number of panels and dialogues aimed at promoting visibility and awareness of trans issues on campus. Siegel received the Outstanding 2nd Year Student award at the Center for Diversity and Inclusion’s 2013 LGBTQ Awards Ceremony. He went on to a doctoral program in sociology at University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

2012 (November): F TO eMbody: Workshop & Performance, focusing on trans-visibility, education, and art, took place on November 9th, 2012, in Letts Formal Lounge. The event was co-sponsored by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Queers and Allies, and American University Student Government.

2012 (April): AU SPA alumna (‘13) Sarah McBride comes out as transgender on April 30th, 2012, in an op-ed for the Eagle, AU’s student newspaper.

2012: Trans Advocacy Project starts (lasts until about 2016).

2011 (December): Tonei Glavinic submits their Honors Project on December 11, 2011, entitled “TONIProject: Transgender On-campus Nondiscrimination Information; An Initiative of the National Center for Transgender Equality.”

2011 (November): 6th Annual DC Metro Area GLBT Studies Symposium, hosted by American University, on November 19, 2011. Includes: ● Keynote by Mara Keisling, Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. ● Session by Devin Beltzer (George Washington University), “Transgender Policies in Athletics.” ● Session by Rodrigo Aguayo Romero and Felicia Gonzales, “Health Risks for Trans Individuals in Columbia.” ● Poster by Tonei Glavinic (American University), “TONI Project.”

2011 (October): The GLBTA Resource Center’s GLBT History Month programming includes “Trans 101” event on October 20, 2011. The event is described as follows: “The Trans 101 training will provide faculty, staff, and students with information and tools to work with transgender people including a review of gender/gender identity/gender expression, an overview of current issues facing the trans community, and effective ally behaviors.”

2011 (April): Tonei Glavinic is awarded the Richard Schlegel National Legion of Honor Award, in the category of “Emerging Activist;” the National Center for Transgender Equality is awarded the Richard Schlegel National Legion of Honor Award, under the category of “Visionary Leader.” The awards are presented on April 12, 2011, at the 14th Annual Awards Ceremony, run by the GLBTA Resource Center.

4 2011 (February): Kate Bornstein gives a talk entitled, “I Am a Queer and Pleasant Danger, and My Time is Coming.” Talk is sponsored by Queer and Allies, WGSS, Women’s Initiative, GLBTA Resource Center, and Student Activities.

2010 (November): 5th Annual DC Metro Area GLBT Studies Colloquium, hosted by American University, on November 13, 2010. Includes: ● Session by Samuel Pearson-Moore, Tami Martin, Richael Faithful (American University), “Transgender Parents Fight for Custody.” ● Session by Rachael Faithful, “(Law) Breaking Gender: Talking About Trans-Criminalization.”

2010 (November): The GLBTA Resource Center programming for Transgender Advocacy Week includes: ● DC Trans Coalition, November 15, 2010: “Find out about the rights and struggles of transgender and gender non-conforming people in the District of Columbia and learn how you can get involved with our local community.” ● T is for Trans, November 16, 2010: “Join GLBTA Resource Center staff to explore the diversity of identities within the transgender community and learn how to be inclusive and respectful of transgender people.” ● Film Screening of Two Spirit (2009) documentary, November 18, 2010, in the Weschler Theatre. The event, which includes a discussion of the film by Marion Fixico from the Two Spirit Society of Washington DC, was co-sponsored by the Center for Social Media; Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Program; GLBTA Resource Center; School of Communication; Queers and Allies; Office of University Chaplain; Student Advocates for Native Communities; and Multicultural Affairs. ● Transgender Day of Remembrance, November 19, 2010: “Look for our installation on the quad in remembrance of those who have been killed around the world through anti-transgender hate crimes.”

2009 (April): At the GLBTA Resource Center’s 12th Annual Awards Ceremony, April 13, 2009, the Richard Schlegel National Legion of Honor Award, in the “Visionary Leader” category, was awarded to: ● Trans-academics.org, which “is the flagship project of the Association for Gender Research, Education, Academia & Action (AGREAA) and is designed to provide educational and community resources for those with an academic or personal interest in the spectrum of gender identities. This is a trans-friendly space and is open to people of all gender identities. Trans- academics.org is especially interested in supporting people who are considering or currently are working with trans related topics via research, writing, teaching, and other academic venues.” ● Luke Jude: “Luke is the Director of Communication and Innovation at YES Institute in Miami, Florida. He is becoming recognized as a leading educator on gender, working to create new understanding that includes gender ‘transitioning’ in a supportive context. His proven success in opening productive conversations on this topic has established him as a resource for professionals in academic, business, and healthcare communities.”

5 2009 (Spring): WGST-350, “Interpreting Gender in Culture” course is offered. Course aims to “provide students with a broad knowledge of contemporary and historical gay, , bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) issues.”

2009 (October): Danna Galan presents, “Celebrating the Transgender Movement in Bolivia,” on October 20, 2009, in the Batelle Atrium. Event is co-sponsored by the Department of Anthropology, the Council on Latin America, and the GLBTA Resource Center.

2008 (April): At the GLBTA Resource Center’s 11th Annual Awards Ceremony, on April 15, 2008, Cullyn Foxlee is awarded the Richard Schlegel National Legion of Honor Award, in the category of “Emerging Activist.” The program reads: ● “Cullyn Foxlee is a junior at Port Angeles High School in Port Angeles, Washington. Xie serves as a member of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). Cullyn belongs to a national network of LGBT and ally students working to end bullying and harassment for all students. Cullyn has worked with several student leaders on organizing a summit for Port Angeles High School and Clallam County students on how to develop and sustain Gay Straight Alliances. The event was so successful that xie was asked to organize the summit again for the local junior college and for staff and teachers in the community. Cullyn took hir local organizing to a state level when xie lobbied Washington State Representatives on passing safe schools legislation in support of LGBT students.”

2008 (November): Transgender Advocacy Month is observed.

2008 (November): 3rd Annual GLBT Studies Colloquium, November 11, 2008, includes: ● Queer Studies Panel with Professors Helen Langa, Salvador Vidal-Ortiz, Bill Leap, & Sara Bendoraitis: “The panel will discuss the changing academic focus regarding GLBT identity as it changes from the 1980s and 1990s gender specific terminology to more inclusive ‘queer’ terminology. ‘Gender transgressive’ is now often seen as a more inclusive positioning, but what do we gain or lose from claiming the new (non-specific) vocabulary?” ● Student Panel with Professor Arin Mason, Steve Sondheimer, Emily Willard, and Laura Gibson: “Professor Arin Mason leads a student panel discussing work in the broader sense of GLBT Studies. Professor Mason will share her research process and her paper ‘Trans as Trope.’ Students Steven, Emily, and Laura speak on their own individual research of queer material.”

2007 (October): Nicholas S. Sakurai and Sara Bendoraitis present, “Removing Transgender Exclusions from AU’s Employee Health Insurance,” on October 25, 2007.

2007: Aaron Raz Link is nominated for the Richard Schlegel National Legion of Honor Award, under the category of “Emerging Activist Award, Theme: Anti-Violence,” for his work as co-creator of the Trans/Identity Resource Center at Outside In (then the only service center in the Northwest for transgender people), founder of the Men’s Group at Outside In, founder of the Identity Project, creator/director of the Outremer Project, and author of What Becomes You, among other things.

2006 (October): Memo issued regarding removing transgender exclusions from AU health insurance.

6 2006 (October): Queers and Allies’ National Coming Out Week programming includes “Trans Author/Performer--Kate Bornstein” gender workshop, on October 16, 2006.

2006 (October): First DC Metro Area GLBT Studies Symposium, hosted by American University.

2006 (January): Allison Hoffman, Nikki (Nicole) Kowell, Dean Spade, and Gunner Scott are all nominated for the Richard Schlegel National Legion of Honor Award. ● Allison Hoffman for work at Urban Peak (Denver) to institute the “Transgender Youth Procedure.” ● Nikki (Nicole) Kowell for work at Antioch College supporting “queer and trans rights.” The nomination mentions she was “recently interviewed and featured in the Advocate magazine as a future trans hero.” In her acceptance of the nomination, Nikki writes: “At Antioch, I have worked for trans rights. I have succeeded in having gender identity and expression added to the anti- discrimination statement, gotten gender neutral bathrooms, trained the campus resident assistants on transgender issues, and had trans advocates come and consult with all the campus offices.” ● Gunner Scott for work as head of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition. Gunner receives the award. ● Dean Spade for his life and work, particularly founding the Sylvia Rivera Law Project in 2002, sitting on the board of Queers for Economic Justice, and teaching the first Transgender Law Seminar at Harvard Law School.

2004: GLBTA Resource Center “Event Planning Schedule” includes November 19, 2004, as Transgender Day of Remembrance; a flyer announces a “city-wide vigil.”

2003: Richard Schlegel National Legion of Honor Award founded.

2003 (March): Mindy Michels, of the GLBTA Resource Center, in collaboration with CETLALIC, leads Queer Spring Break Trip to Mexico. While the “GLBT Guide to Study Abroad” does not include reference to trans students, the material about Mexico includes mention of murders of travesti.

2002 (September?): Dylan Scholinski came to speak about his memoir, The Last Time I Wore A Dress (1997). The event, which took place on Monday, September 9, 2002, was hosted by the GLBTA Resource Center.

2002 (April): Washington College of Law hosts a conference on transgender legal issues.

2002 (Spring): GLBTA Resource Center newsletter has full page introduction to transgender issues with definitions of key terms and community resources.

2002 (March): SMYAL holds a presentation and discussion on campus about how to build a more accommodating campus community for trans people.

7 2002 (February): Vice President of Student Services issues signed letter declaring all new and renovated facilities must have gender neutral single-stall bathrooms.

2002 (February): Faculty and staff brown bag lunch discussion, “Transgender Issues on Campus.”

2001 (June): Mindy Michels and Caeden Dempsey send a report to Gail Hanson and Gary Wright dated June 12, 2001, and titled, “Administrative Support of Transgender Students, Faculty, and Staff at American University.” The report includes: ● A chart of issues faced by trans people at AU and suggested steps to address them. ○ Non-discrimination policy: Add gender identity and expression to the non-discrimination policy. ○ Administrative support: Designate at least two trained and supportive staff members to work with transgender students, staff, and faculty. ○ Bathroom facilities: In all future construction, construct single occupancy bathrooms in the same location as multiple occupancy bathrooms; AU should make available a list of the locations of all single occupancy/gender neutral restrooms on campus; People are encouraged to use the bathroom appropriate for their gender identity; People are encouraged to use the bathroom in which they feel safest. ○ Housing: Talk with trans students to determine housing preferences; Carefully decide appropriate roommate possibilities; Room trans students with people who are educated, understanding, and supportive of and around trans issues; Provide RAs with educational material and resources. ○ ID cards: Provide new ID cards, with new picture, and either first initials or new name of the individual. ○ Classroom: Educate staff and faculty around trans issues; Facilitate trans educational panel; In classrooms where issues of gender may come up, the Professor should be educated around issues of gender nonconformity and supportive of the fact that trans students may be in the class; Students should be referred to as the name and gender with which they identify. ○ Gym/Locker Room: Policy that protects and supports the individuals’ choice of which room to use; Provide a safe area in which an individual can change (single occupancy shower/changing area). ● A proposed university promise to support transgender students, staff, and faculty: ○ “American University, in accordance with our non-discrimination policy, is committed to working with members of the AU community whose gender identity and/or gender expression is not congruent with their assigned sex, in an educational and supportive manner. We do this to ensure the safety, privacy, and dignity of these individuals while maintaining equal access to all university opportunities.” ● Definitions of common terms. These include: ○ “Transgender: Those who transgress societal gender norms; often used as an umbrella term to mean those who defy rigid, bipolar gender constructions, and who express or present a breaking and/or blurring of cultural/stereotypical gender roles.” ○ “Transsexual: A person who, through experiencing an intense long-term discomfort resulting from feeling the inappropriateness of their assigned gender at birth and

8 discomfort of their body, adapts their gender role and body in order to reflect and be congruent with their gender identity. This may include cross-living, synthesized sex hormones, surgery and other body modification, which may or may not lead to the feeling of harmony between a person’s body and gender identity.” ● Other college models for trans-affirming policies: ○ E.g. Harvard-Radcliffe, Oberlin University, Ohio University, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Iowa, University of Minnesota, and Rutgers University. ● Documentation on DC protections for gender non-conforming people.

2001 (April): Susan Rankine (Pennsylvania State University) submits the American University Climate Survey Report, a 76 page document.

2001 (circa): GLBTA Resource Center use various resources for trans and intersex education. These include a piece by Elizabeth R. Green and Eric N. Peterson, of the University of California Riverside’s Trans Allies Program, entitled “Ideas for Allies of the Transgender and Intersex Communities,” as well as Emi Koyama’s “Guide to Intersex & Trans Terminologies.” Koyama’s guide offers these definitions: ● “Intersex people naturally develop primary or secondary sex characteristics that do not fit neatly into society’s definition of male or female.” ● “Transsexual people perceive themselves as members of a gender or sex that is different from the one they were assigned at birth.” ● “Transgender: Some people use this term as the umbrella term encompassing everything from cross-dressing to transsexualism. However, enough transsexual people expressed unease with this term due to its anti-transsexual historical roots that we stopped using it as an umbrella term. We recommend using ‘trans’ as the umbrella term.”

2001 (circa): GLBTA Resource Center, Safe Space Program” provides “Definitions” handout, which includes: ● “Transgender: an umbrella term used to describe people who do not fit easily into traditional gender roles.” ● “Transsexual: A person who pursues gender reassignment through use of hormones, surgery, and/ or a change in identity, to live in a gender other than the one assigned at birth.” ● “Intersex: A general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that differs from the cultural norms of male and female.” ● “Two-Spirit: A third-gender term common to many Native American cultures that implies a masculine spirit and feminine spirit residing in the same body. Two-spirit individuals may fulfill the roles assigned to both sexes or other roles reserved for two-spirit people. Some people consider two-spirit a term that can refer to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, while others think it is best used only for transgender people.”

2000 (November): GLBTA Resource Center brings Shannon Minter, Esq. to campus for a presentation on transgender plaintiffs and gay rights litigation.

9 2000 (November): Benjamin Ladner issues a Memorandum to the Campus Community on November 6, 2000, indicating that “American University has agreed to participate in a national study to assess the climate for diversity on campuses,” directed by Dr. Susan Rankin (Pennsylvania State University).

2000 (circa): TRANARCHY poster (hand drawn), includes key definitions, advice on respecting trans people, and trans resources, such as: ● Kate Bornstein, Gender Outlaw (1994) and My Gender Workbook (1997). ● Loren Cameron, Body Alchemy (1996). ● Leslie Feinberg, Transgender Warriors (1996) and Transliberation (1999). ● Daphne Scholinski, The Last Time I Wore A Dress (1997). ● Rikki Anne Wilchins, Read My Lips (1997).

1999 (April): At Least 10% and the GLBTA Resource Center bring transgender activist Jessica Xavier to campus on April 12, 1999, for a discussion of transgender communities and transgender activism.

1999 (February): At Least 10% meeting, on February 17, 1999, discusses wrongful death of Black trans woman Tyra Hunter in DC as well as identifies problems with the AU administration in relation to trans issues.

1998 (September): Creation of Lambda Graduate Group, a student group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender graduate students.

1998 (April): Riki Anne Wilchins, cofounder of Transsexual Menace, visits AU on April 1, 1998, to “speak about Sexual Subversion and the End of Gender as we know it.” The talk is entitled, “Ever Wonder What It’s Like to Change Your Sex?” The event is co-sponsored by At Least 10%, Lambda Grads, and GLBTA.

1998: Informal survey of students on the GLBTA Resource Center listserv is conducted. The report states, “While it is heartening that none of the students who responded reported a physical confrontation (although the resource center is aware of at least one incident), the prevalence of students who experience anti-gay incidents is troubling. Students regularly hear anti-gay jokes or slurs and see anti-gay graffiti. Over half of the respondents had either experienced or witnessed pressure to remain silent about their sexual orientation; an equal number had experienced peers refusing to associate with GLBT students. Further, 30% of students had faced verbal harassment or the threat of being outed on campus. And 15% had experienced or witnessed students being pressured to leave housing because of sexual orientation. Even more troubling is how rarely students report these incidents.”

1998 (January): Sexual Minority Resource Center (SMRC) officially changes its name to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Allies (GLBTA) Resource Center.

1997 (April): Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Graduate Student Conference of the Greater Washington DC Area occurs.

10 1997: The At Least 10% group forms, “a student-run, University-recognized organization dedicated to improving the campus climate and creating opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people at American University.”

1997 (September): On September 17, 1997, in compliance with the Solomon Amendment, AU’s Washington College of Law issued a Faculty Resolution that “reaffirms its existing nondiscrimination policy” but “suspends enforcement of that policy with respect to the military.”

1997 (Spring): “Sexual Minority Resource Center, American University, Annual Report, 1996-1997” indicates “Recommendations for 1997-1998” which include “Create a Task Force to design and conduct research concerning the experiences and needs of LGBT students, faculty, and staff at American University.”

1996 (Summer): “SMRC Guide to LGAPs [Lesbian and Gay Awareness Program] Presenters’ Copy,” Revised Summer 1996, by Jessica E. Ellis, provides three pages of “Basic Definitions,” including: ● “Transsexual: A person who is physically one gender, but feels like/believes him- or herself to be emotionally and spiritually of the other gender (i.e., they feel like a person of one gender trapped in a body of the wrong gender). Transsexuals are not necessarily gay, lesbian, or bisexual.” ● “Transgender: A transsexual who has undergone gender reassignment (that is, their body has been surgically altered to reflect the other gender).”

1996 (Spring): “Sexual Minority Resource Center, American University, Annual Report, 1995-1996” includes an introduction: “We still face many challenges in making the SMRC an effective part of Student Services and in creating an atmosphere on campus of acceptance for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals.”

1995 (October): AU participates in second LGBTQ history month and includes events focused on trans identities.

1995 (September): Tom Goodale, Vice President of Student Services, declared October “Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual History Month.” The declaration does not include transgender history.

1995 (June): “Sexual Minority Resource Center Mission Statement,” revision dated June 1, 1995, includes reference to “transgender communities,” “transgender-positive policies,” and “the and heterosexism faced by , gays, and bisexual and transgender individuals every day.”

1995 (February): “A Plan for the Management of the SMRC,” dated February 1, 1995, does not include reference to transgender people.

1994 (April): Lesbian and Gay Faculty and Staff Committee send a memorandum to the Dean of Students expressing support of the proposed Lesbian and Gay student center. Transgender students are mentioned in the memorandum but not in the name of the center.

1993: 1st Annual AU Lavender Languages and Linguistics Conference, organized by Bill Leap.

11 1989: AU’s Human Diversity League: A Union of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Supportive Students exists. It states four main goals: 1) provide a feeling of unity, 2) provide information (including Aids information), 3) support social life, and 4) instill a sense of pride, self-worth, and self-understanding among members.

1980: American University Gay Community (AUGC) established “to provide a sense of community, friendship, and openness among the Gay and Lesbian students, faculty, and staff.”

1971: Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA) was founded in DC. It is the oldest continuously active gay and lesbian civil rights organization in the .

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