LGBT Minutes

Minutes
LGBT Concerns Committee
Jewish Studies Conference Room, Walker Hall
March 26, 2003, 3:00-4:30

Attendance: Charles Brown, Scott Feldman, Yuri LaTorre, Linda Lamme, Carlos Hernandez, Mary Kay Schneider, Rich Senker, Ken Wald

Reports from Campus Groups

… LGBT Student Affairs Cabinet - no report

… Gator Gay Straight Alliance - Scott reported that the GSA is making plywood cutouts of same sex couples that will be placed around campus for a week and then on Friday united, but that the project will occur next fall. The GSA is working with Jeanna on 150 Years of LGBT History at UF.

… Pride Student Union - no report

… Rainbow Alliance - Charles is setting up the UF Foundation account. The Rainbow Alliance financed the research and service awards. Charles is writing by-laws that are needed in order to establish a UF Foundation fund. The monthly alumni E-mail newsletter gets longer and more complex monthly. Congratulations, Charles!

… Rainbow Alliance Award for LGBT Service and Research - Carlos reported that there were two winners and one runner up. The awards will be presented at the 150 years of LGBT History Program at 7 PM on April 15th in the Reitz Union Auditorium. In the future the awards will be: for research or service (one of each or two of either); for undergraduate or graduate students (one of each or two if either) and grants will be awarded on a competitive basis with a maximum grant of $500.00. The award will be announced publicly, so anonymity will not be possible.

… Committee on Sexism and Homophobia - Mary Kay
Friends - The FRIENDS training and end of year reception is on Wednesday, April 16 from 3:00 - 5:00pm in the Dean of Students Office conference room, 202 Peabody Hall.

Old Business

… Campus Climate Survey - Ken reported that the committee (Jeanna, Mike M, Ken, and Amanda) met three times with Gail Baker. The report is being written and includes documentation of a need for funding and personnel. The programming done on campus needs to be institutionalized, and best practices done elsewhere not being done here. There is an April target for concluding the report. Basically we need a staff person in student affairs and a non-discrimination policy because its absence is a huge barrier to progress.

… LGBT Colloquium - no report

… Methods of Reporting Harassment - Mike and Mary Kay are still working on a way for DSO to provide for anonymous reporting of harassment on campus.

New Business

… UF Together for a Safe Campus - Linda will invite Nick Vellis from the Community Relations Office next year. We may offer to conduct LGBT Training for Campus Police.

… New Associate Provost - Deborah Walker King is the New Associate Provost in Jacqueline Hart's office. We might want to invite her to a future meeting.

… 150th Anniversary Celebration -Joe Antonelli is presenting the history of the LGBT Gainesville Community on Tuesday, April 15th and showing the video "Behind Closed Doors" with a panel on the history of GLBT people at UF

… Transgender Issues -Kendal continues to work on the Frequently Asked Questions sheet. She asks if we know of any other people who would like to be allies. If you have any transgender information for her, please send it to her. Are there any programs, activities or classes offered at UF that address gender or transgender issues. Trans Allies include Jennifer Sager, Carlos Hernandez, Linda Lamme, and Kendal Broad.

… Linda met with President Young on April 11 where he reiterated that the target date is June for working on our agenda. He said he will share with us the research that has been done by the Benefits staff that indicate that although LGBT people are supposedly 10 % of the population, fewer than one percent of employees use partner benefits at Universities. He believes we have a good chance of this passing. He will also share with us the wording for the Nondiscrimination clause. He wants our feedback on both before presentation and said it would be good if members of our committee were present at the meeting to answer any questions about these topics. We need to make sure that people with real answers are there. As soon as I receive this "documentation material" from the President, I will let you know and ask for your help in looking it over.