The new UW System policy on gender identity and expression

Greetings,

Katie Van Roosenbeek asked about implementing the gender identity and expression policy.

We began with a discussion by the joint steering and advisory committees of the Inclusivity Initiative on February 11, the day the Regents passed the resolution that changed UW System policy. We agreed that we should start our work by asking to be included on agendas of system-wide constituent groups, beginning with Student Affairs. UW System Senior Academic Planner Evan Norris will share copies of the documents from the Board of Regents meeting with the Chief Student Affairs Officers this week when they meet in Green Bay. He will also provide copies of a handout that UW-Madison LGBT Campus Center Director Eric Trekell gave us. It provides a nice discussion of some very practical steps where we can begin to make campuses more welcoming to transgender students and employees. Participants at the joint meeting found the document very helpful and recommended that we pass it along. It is attached. Here is the link to Board of Regent meeting materials. http://www.uwsa.edu/bor/agenda/full.pdf I am attaching Word copies of pertinent parts of these documents are also attached. BOR gender resolution summary.doc; BOR gender resolution.doc; Trans Issues on Campus.doc.

Other steps:
- I will speak with UW System Associate Vice President Ron Singer tomorrow about how a formal notice to institutions usually is made when new policy is developed.

- One of the Inclusivity Initiative workgroups is compiling a resource list on transgender issues which we will link to the web site.
- At the System Admin offices we had a terrific presentation and discussion by an area speaker who presented "Transgender 101." Institutions might consider tapping into local community speakers bureaus for a similar discussion with administrators and other groups.

I expect that, as the resource list comes together, the suggestions in Eric's list are accomplished, and we all learn more about how to promote a welcoming environment, we will have many other ideas to pass along.

Christine

The Daily Cardinal - News Issue: 2/8/05

Doyle calls partner benefits 'critical'
By Anne Flavin/The Daily Cardinal

In an attempt to bring UW-Madison up to par with other Big Ten schools, Gov. Jim Doyle will present a controversial proposal to the state Legislature Tuesday to fund domestic partner benefits for all University of Wisconsin employees.

"We at UW offer all the rights and privileges to domestic partners that are under our control, use of facilities for example, but we are not able to offer health benefits. That's the key to this," UW-Madison Provost Peter Spear said.

Same-sex couples and unmarried heterosexual partners would also be covered under the proposal, which would help UW-Madison in retaining and recruiting faculty and staff.

"It makes it more challenging to attract quality LGBT faculty, staff and graduate students without available benefits," LGBT Dean of Students Eric Trekell said. "I have heard a number of faculty and staff question, myself included, do I really want to stay here at UW, it's a wonderful place, but quite honestly it's an issue of financial parity."

LGBT individuals do not always receive the same financial compensation for their work because benefits are part of the financial compensation package when all is calculated, Trekell said.

"It's not just an issue of what your take-home pay is," he explained.

Doyle's proposal calls for $500,000 each year over the next two years for domestic partner benefits for all UW-System employees, according to Gov. Doyle's Press Secretary Melanie Fonder.

"Unfortunately this is a case of us catching up. It really puts us behind, at a competitive disadvantage with other universities," she said. "We don't want the top nuclear physicist in the world to be considering coming to Wisconsin, [and] have them decide not to because of this."

The proposal, which according to state officials, is estimated to cost 1 percent of the $642 million the state spent on domestic-partner insurance coverage in 2004, amounting to approximately $6 million.

Although there is support for the proposal, there is question of whether or not the Legislature will pass it due to its provisions for same-sex as well as heterosexual partners.

With some state legislators now pushing for a constitutional amendment that will redefine marriage, Trekell expressed doubt on whether the amendment would be passed.

"I think on campus there will be widespread support for it and in fact, most people, certainly in the Madison community and possibly in the state are in favor of this, but I think it will be a very contentious issue in the state Legislature," Spear said.

Fonder said the governor's office felt the proposal was something critical to the university, as well as the long-term economic benefit of the state as a whole.

"It's important to do both to keep UW-Madison competitive and because it's the right thing to do," Spear said.  

In case anyone is interested, there's a new virtual community for "Coulee Region" progressives at http://www.ezboard.com (you must register (free) and pass through some ads (look for "no thanks" in lower right) and then seek the community called Coulee Progressives.

It's just up and needs work but it would be a good place for people new to the area and others looking to connect with the many great groups in our area to start out. It would also be a good place to post links, events, listservs; plan meetings and activities (there's online chat, too) and just connect in general with others.

Here is an article from the Wisconsin Stat Journal talking about UW-Madison/System being the only top 10 school to not acknowledge same-sex couples. Wisconsin State Journal UW-DP article.doc

National Center for Transgender Equality
Alert
For Immediate Release
December 13, 2004
Contact: Mara Keisling
Phone: (202) 639-6332

NCTE Releases New Document

Air Travel Tips for Transgender People should improve holiday travel. (See attached document.)

Washington, DC, December 13, 2004 -- The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) has released its latest publication, Air Travel Tips for Transgender People, just in time for the holiday travel season. NCTE hopes to aid in lessening travel anxiety for holiday travelers by providing tips on such topics as identification issues, security measures, and reporting mistreatment.

NCTE was motivated to provide travel guidelines following the implementation of a new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) policy directing agents at security checkpoints to pat-down passengers wearing bulky clothing items. TSA policy regarding pat-downs is included in the guide, as well as instructions on how to report misconduct by a TSA agent. “Although TSA’s heightened security measures are not trans-specific, transgender travelers may experience increased scrutiny, harassment, and discrimination. Transgender travelers need to prepare for any obstacles they might face during their holiday travels,” said Mara Keisling, NCTE Executive Director.

Transgender people who feel their rights have been violated by airport or security personnel, should report the incident to TSA immediately as well as to NCTE by filling out the Discrimination Incident Report on our website at http://nctequality.org/Discrimination.asp.

Air Travel Tips for Transgender People is available for download on NCTE’s website at http://www.nctequality.org/airtravel.asp.

# # #

The National Center for Transgender Equality is a national social justice organization devoted to ending discrimination and violence against transgender people through education and advocacy on national issues of importance to transgender people.

By empowering transgender people and our allies to educate and influence policymakers and others, NCTE facilitates a strong and clear voice for transgender equality in our nation’s capital and around the country.

Founded in 2003, NCTE is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization headquartered in Washington, DC.

Gin Schaffer generously created a map of all campus LGBT centers that are professionally staffed at least 50% time.
It's on the web as a PDF document at: http://out.ucr.edu/MapCampusCenters04.pdf

From UW-L Human Resources:

We are putting an announcement in the campus connection about a special enrollment for life insurance for our employees” domestic partners and their dependents. http://www.uwlax.edu/hr/news.file/ind.fam.life.htm  has the information.  Any assistance in getting this information to interested parties would be appreciated.

Also from UW-L Human Resources:

I am pleased to inform you of a new benefit available to all UW-L employees and their family members including domestic partners and their dependents.  Elizabeth Hitch, Ron Lostetter and Jennifer Wilson worked as a team to explore, select and enter into an agreement with Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center for provision of Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services.  The services are available starting today April 1st, no joke!

The EAP offers assistance to employees and their immediate family members who may be struggling with personal issues, that may arise from marital problems, family concerns, child and elder care issues, divorce, death of a loved one, alcohol/drug dependency, and financial concerns.  The issues my not even be one’s own, but rather, those of a significant other or family member.  Nonetheless, such problems affect a person and may interfere with job performance.  The services are free to employees and their family members and are confidential.  Appointments can be scheduled within 24-48 hours of your call.  Service is available 24-7, 365 days a year.  Service sites include La Crosse, but also several other locations in the region for your convenience.
Because UW-L values each of you as an employee and appreciate the contributions which you make toward the success of our business, we want any of you who may need some outside help in solving personal difficulties to use the Employee Assistance Program.  The EAP has been established for your use, and we encourage you to make use of it if and when you feel the need.  If you wish to get more information or schedule an appointment for you or a family member you can make direct contact with the program by calling (608) 775-4780 or (800) 327-9991.  Supervisors had the opportunity to learn about the EAP during informational sessions yesterday.  In the next few weeks, HR will be establishing more information on our website for employees and supervisors on the EAP services and getting the word out on this benefit by a variety of means.  As we receive questions, we will create a “Frequently Asked Questions” for our EAP website.  Information is currently available at: 

http://www.uwlax.edu/HR/print.phspp/employee_assistance_program.htm. 

This site has a link to Gundersen Lutheran’s EAP webpage and resource links.  Supervisors may have EAP business cards and brochures available.  HR will also have brochures and business cards on the For Your Convenience racks outside our office.