Rutgers Center for SJE & LGBT Communities

Rutgers New Brunswick 17 Bartlett Street College Avenue Campus [email protected] | 848-445-4141

[rusjelgbt]

Are y'all coming?

[rusjelgbt]

Welcome to #Rutgers class of #RU2021. If you have questions about the LGBTQA community or resources on campus, stop by the gathering lounge in the Livi Student Center any time before 3!

[rusjelgbt]

We want RU to be an environment where all students are included. Share your voice. Impact our campus. bit.ly/sjedle #RVoices ———————————————————— Dear community, Rutgers students have a long legacy of diligently spending seemingly endless energy advocating for social change, both on campus and in the greater community. In the last few years of organized listening circles, programs, demonstrations, and community forums a recurring theme has become evident. You have asked for the opportunity to share your voice in regards to your campus experience surrounding diversity, bias, equity, access, and inclusion. You recently received a message from Chancellor Edwards answering this call. From February 7th to the 28th, Rutgers University-New Brunswick undergraduate students will be participating in the Diverse Learning Environments survey. This online tool is an opportunity to share your experiences with peers, faculty, staff, and the campus environment both in and outside of the classroom. In addition to helping to positively impact the campus, participants who complete the survey entirely will be entered into weekly drawings for prizes starting at $500. The earlier your complete the survey, the better your chances to win. The survey helps to capture common narratives on campus for all students, with a particular focus on race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, economic class, religion, and immigration status. Your responses will be used to help inform areas of growth, initiatives, and institutional practices meant to help ensure every student is able to call Rutgers University their home away from home. Your participation in this survey, while completely voluntary, is critical for our institutional future. Stop by the center any time if you have questions about the survey. Share your voice and impact our campus! After completing the survey, be sure to spread the word on social media by telling your friends why it’s important to share their story using #RVoice. In care and solidarity, Zaneta Rago-Craft (She/Her) Director of the Center for Social Justice Education and LGBT Communities

[rusjelgbt]

We want RU to be an environment where all students are included. Share your voice. Impact our campus. bit.ly/sjedle #RVoices ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear community, Rutgers students have a long legacy of diligently spending seemingly endless energy advocating for social change, both on campus and in the greater community. In the last few years of organized listening circles, programs, demonstrations, and community forums a recurring theme has become evident. You have asked for the opportunity to share your voice in regards to your campus experience surrounding diversity, bias, equity, access, and inclusion. You recently received a message from Chancellor Edwards answering this call. From February 7th to the 28th, Rutgers University-New Brunswick undergraduate students will be participating in the Diverse Learning Environments survey. This online tool is an opportunity to share your experiences with peers, faculty, staff, and the campus environment both in and outside of the classroom. In addition to helping to positively impact the campus, participants who complete the survey entirely will be entered into weekly drawings for prizes starting at $500. The earlier your complete the survey, the better your chances to win. The survey helps to capture common narratives on campus for all students, with a particular focus on race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, economic class, religion, and immigration status. Your responses will be used to help inform areas of growth, initiatives, and institutional practices meant to help ensure every student is able to call Rutgers University their home away from home. Your participation in this survey, while completely voluntary, is critical for our institutional future. Stop by the center any time if you have questions about the survey. Share your voice and impact our campus! After completing the survey, be sure to spread the word on social media by telling your friends why it's important to share their story using #RVoice. In care and solidarity, Zaneta Rago-Craft (She/Her) Director of the Center for Social Justice Education and LGBT Communities

[gaywrites]

Federal judge rules that existing civil rights laws do protect against sexual orientation discrimination

"There is no more obvious form of sex stereotyping than making a determination that a person should conform to heterosexuality," US District Court Judge Cathy Bissoon writes.

In Pittsburgh, a federal judge has ruled that existing civil rights laws do protect people from facing discrimination based on their sexual orientation.

It’s been a long-standing question in terms of nondiscrimination protections for workplaces, particularly in the context of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled in 2015 that Title VII’s ban on sex stereotyping also applied to sexual orientation. 

In this case, Judge Cathy Bissoon’s ruling means that the EEOC can continue its case against Scott Medical Health Center, which is accused of mistreating an employee for being gay. 

While Bissoon is not the first judge to reach the conclusion she did on Friday, the decision is significant for a few reasons. The opinion itself — as direct and forceful as it is — is important, because it can be cited to in lawyers’ briefs and in other judges’ decisions. More importantly, however, is the fact that it comes in a case brought by the EEOC itself — the agency in the federal government responsible for interpreting Title VII.

Finally, it is notable that the ruling comes a few weeks before the full federal appeals court in Chicago is due to reconsider a decision of a three-judge panel from the court rejecting the argument that sexual orientation claims are currently covered under Title VII. The three-judge panel of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals held that only the US Supreme Court or a change in law could provide those legal protections. The full court — with the urging of the EEOC and others — agreed to reconsider that decision, which it will do on Nov. 30.

It makes for sort of dense reading, but this is really important. 

[perksofbeingace]

Hello there, my name is Rebecca and I am a student at The University of Glasgow.

I’m currently writing my dissertation on asexuality and I’m very much in need of some very helpful participants who would be happy to share their story with me by answering a few questions for me via email.

Please get in touch to be a part of some research!

Email: [email protected]

[biresourcecenter]

Addressing the Most Forgotten Letter in LGBT

Bisexual people are struggling more than we ever knew, according to a new report from the Movement Advancement Project.

“Given that bisexual people make up more than half of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community, LGBT service providers, such as those providing youth programming, mental health services, and legal assistance, must be able to competently serve bisexual people or risk excluding over half of the people who deeply need their services.”

[projectqueer]

Is There Something Unique about the Transgender Brain?

Imaging studies and other research suggest that there is a biological basis for transgender identity.

[haveagaydayorg]

Have You Told Your Parents?

Not telling our parents absolutely everything is framed as a kind of dishonesty, but it doesn't have to be.

“ But the repeated asking of “Have you told your parents?” seems to suggest that an informal, quiet form of acceptance is actually not okay. The question seems to be more of a comment: “That’s well and good, but until you tell your parents and they approve, you aren’t officially out and your transness isn’t real.”” 

[rusjelgbt]

Happy reading days! Don't forget, SJE has free coffee and hot cocoa upstairs everyday! Not to mention wifi, and study space. If you need a break, or an alternative space to study, swing on over to 17 Bartlett Street on College Ave.

[sheisrecovering]

[ru-transmissions]

[all caps white text on a light pink background reading “self care is not selfish”]

[stay-home2020]

What if YOU Couldn’t Use the Bathroom? #OwnYourVoice 

[bi-trans-alliance]

More Than Half of the LGB Community Is Bisexual

Graph by GLAAD from their new guide for reporting on the bi community (made in partnership with BiNet USA, Bi Resource Center, and Bi Organizing Project.) Stats from a study by the Williams Institute.

Note: Trans people were included in the guide, though this graph is specifically about sexuality. Unfortunately, the study referenced for this graph didn’t include any other sexualities or non-binary people. The guide, however, does.

[binetusa]

Click Here to download FREE Copy of GLAAD’s 2016 Bisexual Media Resource Guide

[probablyslightlyodd]

so basically STOP ERASING US WE’RE HERE WE EXIST

[biresourcecenter]

GLAAD releases new guide for reporting on bisexual community

Take a look at GLAAD’s new bisexual community media guide, in partnership with the BRC and other bi+ orgs, which is a great resource you can share with others who may need more information about covering our community (and, sadly, they probably do…) Pass it on!

[recoveryisbeautiful]

You know what I just realized??

I’ve always had a really hard time asking for help… I like to do things on my own, I like that feeling of accomplishment, of earning things by working hard… of not needing to depend on anyone.

But asking for help IS taking matters into your own hands. It doesn’t mean you’re doing any less on your own… it means you’re doing everything YOU can to get what you need or to where you need to be.

[projectqueer]

Target Defies North Carolina Bathroom Law

Target is taking a stand against North Carolina’s transphobic bathroom bill, saying its customers and employees can use the bathroom that matches their gender identity. The company announced the policy on its corporate website today, saying, “Inclusivity is a core belief at Target. It’s something we celebrate.”

The department store chain even proclaimed its support for the Equality Act that is proposed in Congress.

“We believe that everyone — every team member, every guest, and every community —deserves to be protected from discrimination, and treated equally,” the company said in its statement. “Consistent with this belief, Target supports the federal Equality Act, which provides protections to LGBT individuals, and opposes action that enables discrimination.”

The bill would revise the 1964 Civil Rights Act to include protection for sexual orientation and gender identity, effectively making it illegal to discriminate in hiring and housing and more. The Equality Act is supported by President Obama and the two Democrats running to replace him, but it is stalled in a Republican congress. It’s the polar opposite of what North Carolina lawmakers passed in House Bill 2, which banned local governments from including sexual orientation and gender identity in their anti-discrimination ordinances. The law also specifically targeted transgender people, who it requires to use the public bathroom and locker room facilities that don’t match their gender identity.

Obviously, Target’s bathrooms aren’t the kind of “public” bathrooms that the law takes aim at, but the statement is still seen as a rebuke of lawmakers. Target has come a long way from the days when LGBT activists had threatened a boycott of the company in 2010. The Human Rights Campaign had once even dropped the chain from its annual buyer’s guide. That’s when Target’s political donations ended up supporting an antigay candidate for governor in Minnesota, where it’s based.

Now, Target not only sells products that celebrate LGBT people, and touts the launch of a gender-neutral kids collection, it’s speaking out in defense of LGBT people in the political sphere.

“We regularly assess issues and consider many factors such as impact to our business, guests and team members,” the company explained about why it’s speaking out. “Given the specific questions these legislative proposals raised about how we manage our fitting rooms and restrooms, we felt it was important to state our position. Everyone deserves to feel like they belong. And you’ll always be accepted, respected and welcomed at Target.”

[projectqueer]

In Landmark Decision, Court Rules That Federal Law Protects Trans Students’ Bathroom Access

In a landmark ruling, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals held on Tuesday that federal law bars public schools from denying trans students access to the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. .

The 2–1 decision afforded deference to the federal government’s interpretation of existing law to protect trans students from discrimination. Under that interpretation, the court held, public schools cannot exclude trans students from the bathroom. The ruling puts North Carolina’s new bathroom restrictions in direct conflict with federal law and clear judicial precedent.

CLICK THE HEADER LINK TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE.