Stana's Here? No Thank You

Stana, my personal heroine, does outreach regularly at different colleges.  I'd love to start doing that, but I wouldn't even know how to begin.

But if she's looking for new venues to visit, she should steer clear of the Top 10 Trans-Friendly Colleges and Universities, as outlined in this Advocate article (which relates back to the Campus Pride Index).

It's wonderful to see gay-oriented publications highlighting trans issues.  Mostly, I feel we're the "poor stepchild" in the LGBT quad.  Three sexual orientation + one gender identity.  Want to water us down more?  Try LGBTQ.  Now we're one-fifth of the equation.

But the article starts with an acknowledgment of this:

Transgender people within higher education continue to be an invisible, often forgotten community. Only about 10% of colleges and universities have trans-inclusive nondiscrimination statements. Research suggests that trans people face higher rates of harassment when compared to cisgender lesbian, gay, and bisexual people and are three times more likely to fear for their physical safety on campus.  In the last decade, however, a number of campuses have become stalwart leaders in creating trans-friendly policies, programs, and practices.

I am pleased and impressed and even if you're not going to college you might find a nearby campus to stroll amidst people educated in our issues.  Or something to keep bookmarked for when your children are looking for a school.

Or low-hanging fruit to avoid, if you have the honour of doing outreach.

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