Transgender Day of Visibility Notice
Dear UIC Community:
The Chancellor’s Committee for the Status of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer People (CCSLGBTQP) will celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) on March 31, 2024. TDOV is dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of the work that is still needed for trans equality. One of the first steps toward progress is to bring awareness. The word “transgender” – or trans – is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity is different from the sex assigned at birth.
CCSLGBTQP stresses the importance of using a trans person’s correct gender identity, name and pronouns. This is a required minimum way to respect trans people and work toward creating an environment that values inclusion. Not using a trans person’s name or pronouns is another form of disrespect against transgender people. If you encounter someone not using a trans person’s name or pronouns, check in with the trans person, disrupt communication and speak up.
Our trans community deserves care and support, now more than ever. In the last few years states have advanced a record number of bills that attack LGBTQIA+ rights, especially transgender youth.
The ACLU is currently tracking 425 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the United States. These bills attempt to undermine and weaken nondiscrimination laws by allowing employers, businesses and even hospitals to turn away LGBTQ+ people. Many of these bills are anti-transgender legislation. Therefore, we need all UIC employees and students to make space for trans students, staff and faculty on campus as well as the greater Chicagoland area.
Supporting trans folks includes fighting against racism, ableism, xenophobia and misogyny in all their forms.
We are committed to working toward making space so that transgender people at UIC feel included. If you are trans and a member of the UIC community, the following resources are available to you:
- UIC Gender and Sexuality Center’s Trans Resource Guide
- UIC Counseling (for students): The center’s intake phone number is 312-996-3490 and you can find information about an initial consultation HERE.
- UI Health resources for identifying LGBTQ+ affirming providers/services at UI Health and information about educational training: UIH LGBTQ+ Inclusive Care
- UIC Bias Reporting Tool: Bias Reporting & Prevention
The Trans Lifeline (877-565-8860) provides crisis and non-crisis peer-support services for people who are transgender, non-binary and questioning their gender identity.
UIC Chancellor’s Committee for the Status of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer People