LGBT Concerns Committee Minutes, February 2008

LGBT Concerns Committee Minutes

Meeting Held: February 8, 2008, 2 - 4 pm, Ustler Hall, 3rd Floor meeting room

Next Meeting: March 14, 2008, 2 - 4 pm, Ustler Hall, 3rd Floor meeting room

Committee Web site: http://www.aa.ufl.edu/committees/lgbtcc.htm

Attendance: Greg Allen, Mark Brennan, Joyce Dewsbury, John Dobson, Carlos Hernandez, Linda Lamme, Michelle Langkop, Jill Lingard, Martin Smith, Flo Turcotte (chair)

Reports and Discussion (Actions Items are marked **)

Chair's Remarks --On January 28, the City of Gainesville passed an ordinance adding Gender Identity to its non-discrimination clause for employment, housing, credit, and public accommodation. There was much opposition to the item voiced at the final reading held on the 28th. I shared a copy of my email to the 4 commissioners who supported the ordinance with the group. Carlos reported a related inquiry at the Counseling Center asking for clarification and interpretation of the applicability of the ordinance on campus and elsewhere.
--On February 2, the proponents of the so-called "Marriage Protection" amendment to the state Constitution obtained enough certified petition signatures to have the measure included on the November 2008 ballot. This dangerous measure, which has passed with comparable wording in other states, may if passed here in Florida provide a legal basis for the rolling-back of already established domestic partnership benefits in county and municipalities, and corporate and government entities, including UF, Gainesville, and Alachua County. The Chair indicated that it is easier to pass such an amendment than to defeat it, since it is deceptively benign in its wording, and people tend to vote measures in as a matter of habit, especially if it doesn't contain an associated spending component.

Agenda Items
Reports and Addition of New members to Subcommittees
--Rainbow Alliance Research and Service Awards Committee: Joyce, John, Martin. Charles Brown and Geoffrey Giles will be consulted about current rules for the awards. Mark Brennan added.
--Bias Reporting Task Force: Michael, Jen, Nora
--Sexual Harassment Workshop Working Group: Flo requested that all committee members try to sign up for a session. HR requested that committee members register through MyUFL to attend the workshop. Flo agreed to a meeting with Jodi Gentry at the end of the spring semester for the committee to provide feedback on workshop content and materials.
--LGBT Resources/Webpages Task Force (formerly Library Resources Webpage Task Force): Greg, Joyce, Michael, Michelle, Martin. The index of materials in the Dean of Students Office is up to date and online; Martin will organize.
--Center for LGBT Students Focus Group: Michael, Jen. Chris, Nora and Carlos added. LGBT Concerns should have representation on this group of students who are meeting weekly.
--Domestic Partners Health Care Benefits Task Force: Jessica, Kendal, Michelle. Jill added. Group will request a meeting with HR- Benefits office and the Provost.
--UF Policies Task Force: Jessica, Kendal, Michael, Martin. The goal is to add gender identity and expression to the non-discrimination clause in the University Regulations. In addition, to add Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression to UF's Affirmative Action Plan for Equal Employment opportunity.
--Rita Mae Brown Honorary Degree Task Force was formed. It will be comprised of Flo, Nora, Carlos, and Mark.

LGBT Campus Climate Survey
--Members are asked to take the survey at http://www.campusclimateindex.org/details/overall.aspx and forward their responses to Flo for discussion at the next meeting.

General Announcements and Concerns:

Carlos requested that members refer UF students interested in forming an LGBT Empowerment Group to him.

Joyce announced that Interweave will be meeting on Sunday, March 9, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville.

Nora announced that Pride Awareness Month will be held in April of this year.

The Multicultural Awards Ceremony will be held on March 25.

We decided to invite Danaya Wright to meet with our group sometime this semester.

We discussed the activities of Fairness for All Families and Florida Red and Blue toward fighting the "Marriage Protection Amendment" which will call into legal question domestic partnership benefits and very likely roll-back accomplishments over the last several years.

Very few members indicated that they will not be able to make the next meeting which is scheduled for the Friday during Spring Break. Others indicated that keeping the same date of March 14 is fine, so we decided to do so.

Meeting adjourned at 4:04.

Notes prepared by Michael Dietz

Meeting Held:	February 8, 2008, 2 - 4 pm, Ustler Hall, 3rd Floor meeting room
Next Meeting:	March 14, 2008, 2 - 4 pm, Ustler Hall, 3rd Floor meeting room
Committee Web site:	http://www.aa.ufl.edu/committees/lgbtcc.htm
Attendance:	Greg Allen, Mark Brennan, Joyce Dewsbury, John Dobson, Carlos Hernandez, Linda Lamme, Michelle Langkop, Jill Lingard, Martin Smith, Flo Turcotte (chair)

Reports and Discussion (Actions Items are marked )**
Chair's Remarks	--On January 28, the City of Gainesville passed an ordinance adding Gender Identity to its non-discrimination clause for employment, housing, credit, and public accommodation. There was much opposition to the item voiced at the final reading held on the 28th. I shared a copy of my email to the 4 commissioners who supported the ordinance with the group. Carlos reported a related inquiry at the Counseling Center asking for clarification and interpretation of the applicability of the ordinance on campus and elsewhere. --On February 2, the proponents of the so-called "Marriage Protection" amendment to the state Constitution obtained enough certified petition signatures to have the measure included on the November 2008 ballot. This dangerous measure, which has passed with comparable wording in other states, may if passed here in Florida provide a legal basis for the rolling-back of already established domestic partnership benefits in county and municipalities, and corporate and government entities, including UF, Gainesville, and Alachua County. The Chair indicated that it is easier to pass such an amendment than to defeat it, since it is deceptively benign in its wording, and people tend to vote measures in as a matter of habit, especially if it doesn't contain an associated spending component.
Agenda Items	Reports and Addition of New members to Subcommittees --Rainbow Alliance Research and Service Awards Committee: Joyce, John, Martin. Charles Brown and Geoffrey Giles will be consulted about current rules for the awards. Mark Brennan added. --Bias Reporting Task Force: Michael, Jen, Nora --Sexual Harassment Workshop Working Group: Flo requested that all committee members try to sign up for a session. HR requested that committee members register through MyUFL to attend the workshop. Flo agreed to a meeting with Jodi Gentry at the end of the spring semester for the committee to provide feedback on workshop content and materials. --LGBT Resources/Webpages Task Force (formerly Library Resources Webpage Task Force): Greg, Joyce, Michael, Michelle, Martin. The index of materials in the Dean of Students Office is up to date and online; Martin will organize. --Center for LGBT Students Focus Group: Michael, Jen. Chris, Nora and Carlos added. LGBT Concerns should have representation on this group of students who are meeting weekly. --Domestic Partners Health Care Benefits Task Force: Jessica, Kendal, Michelle. Jill added. Group will request a meeting with HR- Benefits office and the Provost. --UF Policies Task Force: Jessica, Kendal, Michael, Martin. The goal is to add gender identity and expression to the non-discrimination clause in the University Regulations. In addition, to add Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression to UF's Affirmative Action Plan for Equal Employment opportunity. --Rita Mae Brown Honorary Degree Task Force was formed. It will be comprised of Flo, Nora, Carlos, and Mark. LGBT Campus Climate Survey --Members are asked to take the survey at http://www.campusclimateindex.org/details/overall.aspx and forward their responses to Flo for discussion at the next meeting. General Announcements and Concerns: Carlos requested that members refer UF students interested in forming an LGBT Empowerment Group to him. Joyce announced that Interweave will be meeting on Sunday, March 9, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville. Nora announced that Pride Awareness Month will be held in April of this year. The Multicultural Awards Ceremony will be held on March 25. We decided to invite Danaya Wright to meet with our group sometime this semester. We discussed the activities of Fairness for All Families and Florida Red and Blue toward fighting the "Marriage Protection Amendment" which will call into legal question domestic partnership benefits and very likely roll-back accomplishments over the last several years. Very few members indicated that they will not be able to make the next meeting which is scheduled for the Friday during Spring Break. Others indicated that keeping the same date of March 14 is fine, so we decided to do so. Meeting adjourned at 4:04.