Creating Change 2015 Wrap Up

Thanks to everyone who joined us in Denver for Creating Change 2015! We enjoyed our biggest Day-Long institute ever, the connections we made in the suite, and the conversations we had with many of you. You can revisit everything we did by checking out our Facebook page and the hashtag #lgbtcampusCC15

Business Meeting

We kicked off the conference with our annual business meeting, with more than 100 people present. We celebrated Leslie Morrow with the Consortium’s Award for Intersectionality and Natasha Cox with our Promising New Professional Award. Board members shared their accomplishments for the year. Slides from the meeting are available on our website. Also visit the website to see our annual report.

LGBT Campus Resource Professionals Institute

Thanks to Shaun Travers, our Education Chair, and the education committee who helped create our biggest institute yet! 230 people attended the session. Professionals had the opportunity to connect with others in similar stages in their careers. Over lunch, our regional reps helped create local bonds. QTalks engaged and challenged the audience.

Opening Plenary

This year’s opening plenary was especially moving as a large group of trans activists of color and allies took over the stage, demanding visibility and an end to anti-trans violence. See the demonstration here. This direct action reminded us of the important work we have left to do. It also underscored the importance of the work of Genny Beemyn in documenting transgender lives. At the plenary, we presented Genny Beemyn with the Consortium’s Award for Research and Assessment. Watch the award presentation here.

Conference Sessions

We hosted two fantastic academy sessions that challenged us to think inclusively in our work as professionals. Intersect/Divide asked us to center anti-racism and inclusive practices in LGBTQ work on college campuses. Teaching Trans* allowed us the opportunity to reflect on the tools and modalities we use in educating about gender identity. Also, consortium members hosted 11 workshops in the Campus Administrators Track, in addition to others in the Student Track. If you have materials from these sessions that you are willing to share, please upload them to the Creating Change forum.

Suite Life

We enjoyed hosting a hotel suite for Consortium events. Our suite provided a cozy space for support, mentorship, and connection. The LGBT2, People of Color, and Trans/Genderqueer constituency groups all hosted meals in the Consortium's suite. Participation in these meals ranged from 15 to 30 people. In addition, the Consortium sponsored breakfast for graduate students who are interested in working in higher education. We also held an Anti-Racism Discussion and a number of board events in the space.

Appreciations

We want to offer our deep gratitude to the members of our board with terms that will end in June 2015. Our thanks to LB Hannahs, Craig Leets, Jennifer Miracle-Best, Celiany Rivera-Velázquez, and Danielle Steele. Also, our thanks to the regional representatives who are concluding their terms: Maure Smith-Benanti, Molly Holmes, Sidney Gardner, Petey Peterson, Joel Bolling, and Brian Edwards.We encourage you as members to consider joining the board too!

Looking Ahead

We truly enjoyed connecting with you at our evening socials and between sessions. We always love being with our Consortium family in person. If you have feedback about the conference, please email us and let us know. We are already looking forward to January 20 - 24 for Creating Change 2016 in Chicago!

Our next gathering as the Consortium will take place at the University at Albany - SUNY which is hosting our annual Summer Institute and Board Retreat. The Summer Institute will be on Friday, June 26; save the date and we will share more information soon!

Creating Change 2015

Join us for the Consortium's fabulous activities at Creating Change 2015. We are grateful to the support of the National LGBTQ Task Force in helping us be so visible at this event!

Our full program guide is available for download here. Be sure to check the Creating Change program for specifics and locations.

And join us on Twitter by following @LGBTcampus and contributing to #LGBTcampusCC15

Wednesday, February 4

• Racial Justice Institute: 9:00 am - 6:30 pm. Examine the connection between racial justice and LGBT liberation in contemporary social justice movements.
• Business Meeting - Directors Row H: 8:00 pm. Connect with colleagues, hear about the Consortium’s work, and celebrate a great year. We’ll also discuss our Annual Report.
• Social: After the business meeting, and every night at 10 pm, join us to socialize and unwind.

Thursday, February 5

•  LGBT Campus Resource Professionals Institute: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Develop your work and meet colleagues. Don’t forget to bring swag and brochures you would like to share.
• Opening Plenary: 8:00 pm. The Consortium kicks off the conference by presenting an award on stage. Come early and sit near the front to cheer us on!

Creating Change 2014 Wrap Up

Hello, Consortium family!

We write to you at the end of a productive year for the Consortium. We believe it’s important to look back and celebrate all that we have accomplished as an organization.

Creating Change

At Creating Change 2014, in Houston, through the Consortium Awards, we celebrated the professional contributions of Shiva Subbaraman, Chicora Martin, and Zaneta Rago. Our suite was well-used, for constituency group meetings and socials. And as always, our LGBT Campus Resource Professionals institute was filled to bursting. We hope to see you in Denver!

Suggested Best Practices for Supporting Trans* Students

A talented committee chaired by Dr. Genny Beemyn created a resource guide for higher education professionals to provide better support to trans* students. This guide is available for free from the Consortium website.

Summer Institute

In July, we hosted our summer institute, titled “Points of Influence: LGBTQ Students, Social Change, and You.” Thanks to our Education Chair, Shaun Travers, and the team at University of Vermont (UVM) who made the institute possible.

Annual Retreat

After the institute, we conducted our retreat, also at UVM. This time together allowed us to connect as a group and to make plans for the year to come. We grounded our work in our values of anti-racism and inclusion. Much of our work this year was set into motion at the retreat. 

Non-Profit Status

As of October, the Consortium is officially recognized as a 501(c)3 non-profit! Confusing paperwork aside, we are so thrilled it is complete. Donations to the Consortium are now tax-deductible.  (And in fact, you can donate easily right here, through our website.)  Non-profit status also allows us to apply for grants, which we will continue to do over the next year.

Self-Study

Thank you to the 170 members who completed our 2014 Self-Study. The results will be available in February 2015. The results will allow members to compare themselves to other campuses, lobby for increased resources, and follow trends in LGBT higher education.

Looking Ahead

From February 4 - 8, we will gather for Creating Change in Denver, CO. The Education Committee will ensure that this year’s events will be stellar. Nominations for board positions will be open at that time; if you are interested in being involved, get in touch with a board member. In the summer, we will once again host our Institute and Retreat; watch your email for more information soon.

With Gratitude

Finally, we would like to thank the amazing board members with whom we have the privilege to work: Celiany Rivera–Velázquez, Chris Woods, Craig Leets, Danielle Steele, Jennifer Miracle-Best, Jen Self, LB Hannahs, Lea Robinson, Leisan Smith, Matt Bruno, Meg Evans, Shaun Travers, and Zaneta Rago. We appreciate your commitment to this organization and to the field. We are so glad to work with the regional representatives: Maure Smith-Benanti, Julia Keleher, Brad Freihoefer, Molly Holmes, Jesse Beal, Courtney Dallaird, Steven Willich, Adriana di Bartolo, Sidney R. Gardner, Petey Peterson, Joel Bolling, and Brian Edwards. And finally, thank you to Cornell Woodson and Judy Jarvis for your work coordinating our educational calls.

We also are grateful for the support of you, our members. Your active engagement with the e-lists, forums, regional events, and annual meetings make the Consortium what it is. Thank you, and may you have a wonderful new year.

With pride,

LGBTQ Organizations Issue Open Letter: From Ferguson to True Freedom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC, December 9, 2014 —The National LGBTQ Task Force, in coalition with other national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations, today issued the following open letter:

An Open Letter: From Ferguson to True Freedom

Words cannot begin to describe the depth of feeling we all share about the unfolding tragedies in Ferguson and New York City. Words cannot relieve the suffering of Michael Brown and Eric Garner’s loved ones nor can words alone salve the pain nor quell the anger of millions. It’s action we need and we need it now.

As LGBTQ national organizations, we proudly stand in solidarity with the civil rights organizations and local activists — including the actions of an amazing, fierce, brilliant cadre of youth leaders, many of whom are queer identified — in demanding fundamental systemic change that tackles the root causes of racial and economic injustices once and for all. From political accountability for the deaths of Michael and Eric to the immediate passage of federal legislation that completely bans racial profiling across this land to ensuring that local police departments are representative and fair arbiters of safety and protection for everyone and who — through their actions — are continually working to earn the trust, confidence and respect of the entire community.