Curriculum & Inclusion

 The University’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion would probably be the first stop if someone (faculty or staff) experienced discrimination or harassment as a result of transitioning or coming out.  While the State of New York has a law forbidding discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, at this time a proposed law forbidding the same with regards to gender identity has still not been passed by the legislature.

 Since the information changes frequently, refer to Health Benefits Administrator and Payroll personnel in Human Resources.

 Yes, sexual orientation and gender identity and expression are all included in the University’s Equal Opportunity Statement: “The University at Albany is committed to all persons having equal access to its programs, facilities and employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetics, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.”

 a.    Albany Bombers (largely-gay hockey team, open to all): http://www.facebook.com/albanybombers

b.    Capital Pride Center (LGBT community center): 332 Hudson Ave. Albany, NY 12210; (518) 462-6138; http://www.capitalpridecenter.org/

c.     Capital Pride Festival:  http://www.capitalpridecenter.org/capital-pride/

d.    Capital Pride Singers (GLBT Chorus): http://capitalpridesingers.org/

e.    Choices Counseling (specializing in issues related to sexual orientation, sexuality, gender identity and expression): 523 Western Ave., Ste. 2A, Albany NY 12203; (518) 438-2222; http://www.choicesconsulting.com/

f. Empire State Pride Agenda (working for equality and justice for LBGT New Yorkers): http://www.prideagenda.org/

g.    GayAlbanyOnline (gay-owned/gay-friendly business and services directory): http://gayalbanyonline.com/

h.    GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Educators Network): PO Box 5392, Albany, NY 12205; (518) 635-0552; http://chapters.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/nycr/home.html

i. In Our Own Voices (for LGBT people of color, friends, family): 245 Lark St., Albany, NY 12210; 518-432-4188; http://www.inourownvoices.org/

j. Our Brother’s Keeper (raises money to support programs providing services to persons with HIV/AIDS): http://www.obkf.org.

k.     TransLegal Services of Upstate New York: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Trans-Legal-Services-of-Upstate-New-York/181360481884899

 Yes, UAlbany does offer domestic partner benefits. Further information can be found on the Office of Human Resources Management Benefits website (http://hr.albany.edu/content/health.asp), at the following link (http://hr.albany.edu/content/Domestic_Partner_Instructions_for_Benefits_ps425.pdf), or by calling (518) 437-4700.

 Yes, although there have not been any formal activities by this group in the recent past. Information about the group can be obtained by emailing: 

a. The Allies/Safe Space Training is a half-day session to create a network of allies for LGBTQ-identified campus members.  Contact the Safe Space Coordinator or by email at gsrc@albany.edu for more info, to sign up for next training session, or to arrange a traininsession for your group. https://www.albany.edu/lgbt/ally.shtml

b. Project SHAPE is a peer education program that offers sexuality education and sexual health promotion. To request a program contact Carol Stenger, Director of Project SHAPE and Coordinator for Health Promotion at (518) 442 5800 or email at [email protected].

c. The Gender & Sexuality Resource Center is located on the third floor of the Campus Center in Room 332. For resources you can contact a representative at 518 442 5015 or email [email protected]. https://www.albany.edu/lgbt/center.shtml

d. STEP UP! UAlbany is a bystander intervention training program developed by the University Counseling Center for more information you can contact Heidi Wright, Psy.D., at 518 442 5800 or [email protected].

e. National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) training is offered through the Office of Multicultural Student Success, NCBI trains faculty, staff, and students to work against racial prejudice. What is perhaps less commonly known is that the skills taught at these workshops can be used in just about any situation in which there is conflict, controversy, or where people hold widely disparate beliefs. For more information contact D. Ekow King at 518-442-5490 or by email at [email protected] for more info, to sign up for next training session, or to arrange a training session for your group.

The campus offers several LGBT student activities; to find out what specific events are occurring and when, contact the Office of Student Involvement & Leadership, the Office of Multicultural Student Success, the Department of Gender & Sexuality Concerns of the Student Association, or the Gender & Sexuality Resource Center. See https://www.albany.edu/lgbt/ for more information.

 Our campus provides a multitude of resources available to LGBT students to aid them in coming out, or anything else they might need help with. This includes a student support group through the University Counseling Center, several student groups on campus and  the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center,   See https://www.albany.edu/lgbt for more information.

Recognizing that single-gender housing may not be appropriate or comfortable for all students, Residential Life offers a limited number of rooms as Gender Inclusive Housing in both the residence halls and apartments on a space available basis. Students signing up for these areas will be permitted to have roommates and suite mates from across the gender spectrum. Gender Inclusive Housing will allow for an environment where student housing is not restricted by traditional limitations presented by our current system that is based on the gender binary. We believe that it is important that our housing policies evolve to meet the needs of all students and to create an inclusive, welcoming environment. Continuing students may elect Gender Inclusive Housing during their Residence Hall or Apartment sign-up.

For more information on Gender Inclusive Housing, please visit the Department of Residential Life’s web site at https://www.albany.edu/housing/gihfaq.shtml.

 No retirement benefits, but there are survivor benefits.  For more information please visit the Office of Human Resources Management Retirement website (http://hr.albany.edu/content/retire.asp), or call (518) 437-4729.

According to the Internal Revenue Code, if a domestic partner is not a “dependent” (as defined in Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code), the “fair market value” of the partner’s coverage, less any contribution by the enrollee, is treated as income for federal tax purposes. This value, referred to as “imputed income,” will be added to your annual salary for income tax purposes and will apply even if you cover other dependents in addition to your partner.  Please consult with your tax advisor regarding treatment of the imputed income.

All University at Albany employees are eligible for health insurance coverage.  What is covered depends on the insurance and plan you choose.

The Department of Residential Life offers single stall gender-neutral bathrooms on State and Colonial Quads, and Liberty Terrace.  For a listing of all gender-neutral bathrooms in the Residence Halls visit https://www.albany.edu/housing/gih.shtml

This is an acronym referring to two separate entities; sexual orientation and gender identity. Even though they are grouped in this way it is critically important to understand the distinction between the two. Sexual orientation refers to the gender or genders one is attracted to; while gender identity refers to the gender or genders we are. We all have a sexual orientation and a gender identity and knowing one does not predict the other. Further, we live in a culture that has a view that you are either male or female, either heterosexual or gay/lesbian when in fact these are really on a continuum with many points in between.

L stands for Lesbian, a sexual orientation in which a woman has an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual, erotic, affectional and/or spiritual attraction to other women.

G stands for Gay- typically referring to a sexual orientation in which a man has an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual, erotic, affectional and/or spiritual attraction to other men; but is sometimes used by women with same-sex attraction as well.

B stands for Bisexual, a sexual orientation in which a person has an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual, erotic, affectional and/or spiritual attraction to both men and women.

T stands for Transgender. This is an umbrella term used for persons whose gender identity differs from the gender they were assigned at birth. This includes transsexuals, cross-dressers, transgenderists, genderqueers, bigender, and people who identify as neither male nor female and/or as neither a man nor a woman. Transgender is not a sexual orientation. Transgender people may have any sexual orienttion: heterosexual, gay, lesbian or bisexual.

Q stands for Queer. This is most often an umbrella term used to refer to all LGBT people. It can be a political statement which advocates breaking binary thinking and seeing gender identity as fluid. It can also be a label to explain a complex set of sexual behaviors and desires; e.g. a person who is attracted to transgender people.

I stands for Intersex, a medical condition that results in ambiguous assignment of sex at birth. There may be a combination of male and female genitals and/or chromosomes and/or hormones and/or gonads.

A stands for Ally, someone who identifies as heterosexual and cisgender and is in support of civil rights and equality for members of the LGBTQ community. Less often, “A” can also mean asexual; which is a person who experiences an enduring lack of sexual desire. They do not feel an erotic or sexual attraction to others.

P stands for Pansexual. Pansexual refers to the potential for sexual attraction and desire, romantic love and emotional attraction to persons of all gender identities and biological sexes. This would include people who fall in the binaries of male and female and everyone who falls in between the binaries; e.g. genderqueer, transgender, intersexed, etc.

a.    If you feel you are experiencing discrimination and/or harassment, please contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at (518) 956-8110.

b.    If you are uncertain about talking with a supervisor and/or would like referrals to speak with a qualified professional about issues such as personal or work stress, depression, etc., contact the Employee Assistance Program at (518) 42-5483.

c.     If you think your supervisor and/or others in your unit would be interested in becoming allies, contact D. Ekow King at (518) 442-5490 or by email at [email protected] for information about Safe Space Training. https://www.albany.edu/lgbt/ally.shtml

A list of department contacts exists and will be periodically updated at this link:  https://www.albany.edu/lgbt/contact.shtml.

Micro-aggression is a subtle type of behavior with demeaning implications and other subtle insults which can manifest both verbally and non-verbally. Students feel a cumulative negative effect after many micro-aggressions.

If a student in your class is harassed and you directly observe this, it would be a good idea speak to both students involved privately immediately after class. I would use this as an educational moment for the harasser and explain that their behavior is inappropriate, in violation of university regulations, and will not be tolerated in your classroom. Depending on whether the entire class observed this harassment, it would be appropriate to make a similar statement in the classroom. A recommendation would be for you to speak privately with the victim, express your concern for their feelings and welfare and ask if they wish to talk. Offer resources for the student at the University. Explain their rights in terms of referral of the other student for harassment to the University’s judicial system. You can direct the student to the Office of Conflict Resolution and Civic Responsibility to find out what their options are. You can also refer the individual to the University Counseling Center if they wish to discuss their feelings in response to this or other experiences.

The University at Albany has established a complaint procedure to report any allegations of unlawful discrimination and/or harassment. Students and employees may review this procedure and access the complaint form here: (this web page is no longer functional) https://www.albany.edu/diversityandinclusion/docs/ualbany-discrimination-complaint-procedures-current.pdf.  Several offices are available to offer support and resources including Diversity and Inclusion, Conflict Resolution and Civic Responsibility, Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, University Police Department, University Counseling Center, the Victim Assistant Liaison, and the Department of Gender & Sexuality Concerns of the Student Association.

To report a hate or bias related crime, please visit the link on the University Police Web site at https://www.albany.edu/lgbt/report.shtml.

Transgender is an umbrella term used for persons whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. This includes people who identify as neither male nor female and/or as neither a man nor a woman. Transgender is not a sexual orientation. Transgender people may have any sexual orientation: heterosexual, gay, lesbian or bisexual.

Transgender persons may feel their assigned sex at birth does not reflect their true gender identity. It can be someone who may appear to be assigned male but identifies as female. This can also include someone who recognizes that gender falls along  a spectrum rather than a binary “male or female”; i.e.,  they identify somewhere in between or beyond male and female.

How do I address transgender students in my class? As with any student, you should address them with their preferred name. Ask how they wish to be addressed; what name they prefer and perhaps what pronoun they prefer. Make a note of it and be certain to use their choices.

How do I support students who are transitioning? A student may come to you and state that they will be transitioning during the course. They may tell you they will return to class on a particular date dressed differently and they may have a new name they prefer you use and/or new pronouns. The best response is to ask thee student what you can do to make this transition easiest for the student. Would they like a few minutes to let the class know about their transition? Would they prefer it be handled quietly? Ask what they would like to do if someone makes a comment or asks a question about it. Ask in advance what would make them most comfortable.

 An ally supports and stands up for the rights of LGBTQ people.  An effective ally respects confidentiality, avoids assumptions and stereotyping, educates themselves about issues facing LGBTQ people, tries using gender-neutral terms when taking about significant others, spouses, and partners, and speaks up when someone makes a homophobic, transphobic or heterosexist remark.  An ally expects to make mistakes but doesn’t use them as an excuse for not acting.  A supportive ally recognizes when to make referrals to somebody for outside help and knows the resources available for LGBTQ individuals on campus and in the community.  To learn more about how to be a supportive ally, attend the UAlbany Safe Space training.

 If a student confides in you about issues related to their “coming out,” listen. Coming out is a long process, and chances are you’ll be approached again to discuss the process since you were someone that the student felt comfortable speaking to about this.  Be a role model of acceptance, ask questions that demonstrate compassion, appreciate the person’s courage, and offer support.  Most importantly, assure confidentiality—the person may not be ready to come out to others or would like to do so in their own way.  Be prepared to give a referral to a campus or community resource that can be of support as well.

In order to create a space for learning to occur, students need to feel safe.  Speak up when someone makes disparaging remarks about LGBTQ people, or thoughtlessly uses anti-gay language, just as you would any other slurs. Don't perpetuate injustice through silence.  One approach to take is to stop and say to the class, “I’d like to use this as a teachable moment.  What does the rest of the class think about this comment?” Then, facilitate a discussion with the students.  Follow these steps of action when encountering such a situation: Recognize and Interrupt; Interrupt and Educate; Support and Encourage; Initiate and Prevent.