Big 12 LGBTQIA and Allies Summit

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/2346/82360

The Big 12 LGBTQIA & Allies Summit was developed as a program of Texas Tech University, and brings together college students, faculty, staff, and community members who are committed to inclusion, access, and equity within higher education and beyond. Throughout this annual two and a half day gathering, participants have opportunities to network with other leaders and community organizers, engage with social justice advocates through educational programming, and learn from trailblazing professionals for LGBTQIA equality on the national stage.

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    Peer Coaching
    (2019-03) Valient, Arthur; Byrne, Patrick
    In this session, attendees will discuss what Peer Coaching is, and the ways it can be helpful to students. We want to educate students, faculty, and staff about the positive benefits that can result from a Peer Coaching program. Peer coaching models are malleable and can exist within any educational setting that requires or encourages peer partnerships. Information regarding principles of coaching, learning styles, coaching types, ethics, coaching plan of action, goal setting and reflection will be discussed. Peer coaching models can improve students' overall grade point averages and retention rates, helping them to make significant strides in their education.
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    Affirming all Identities: LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in the Classroom
    (2019-03) Swaringen, Katarina; Pittman, Jessica
    Students thrive in academic environments that explicitly confront LGBTQ+ discrimination and change the heteronormative and cisnormative discourses (Linley et al., 2016). While instructors might have the best intentions for promoting an inclusive atmosphere in the classroom, understanding the techniques imperative for creating inclusive environments is not always intuitive. The present review provides attendees with valuable techniques and information regarding classroom inclusivity for LGBTQ+ students. The presenters aim to enable instructors to maintain a classroom that promotes diversity, creativity, and inclusivity, to initiate engaging discussions, and to handle potential conflicts that may arise.
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    Transforming Difficult Conversations into Learning Conversations
    (2019-03) Braddock, Ben; Hudspeth, AJ
    It’s an image that is by no means uncommon: “the social justice conversation gone wrong,” the sort of political and/or religious argument that escalates and ultimately fails to broaden either party’s perspective. In this presentation, the presenters will illustrate: 1) what causes these “difficult social justice conversations,” 2) why these conversations are ineffective, 3) recommended behaviors designed to change these difficult conversations into impactful and transformative social justice conversations, and 4) a scientific overview highlighting why the recommended techniques are effective for promoting belief change regarding social justice.
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    Title IX and the LGBTQIA Community
    (2019-03) Simon, Kimberly
    While Title IX is in flux nationwide, campuses can (and should!) proactively incorporate inclusive Title IX policies, procedures, and remedies on campus. This session will provide attendees with a brief overview of how the sex-discrimination law applies to the LGBTIA population, and how institutions can carve out explicit prohibitions on gender and sexual orientation discrimination under this umbrella. Join us as we discuss best practices for policies, investigations, resolutions and remedies that safeguard equal access to education for all students.
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    Creating Transgender Education and Advocacy in Your Community
    (2019-03) Manzo, Kerry; Benavides, Maureena
    In this session, Out In West Texas conveners will provide attendees with instruction on how to create transgender affirming practices for individuals from various professional backgrounds- including educational, journalistic, criminal justice, faith-based, or other community service backgrounds- to gain knowledge and competency in serving, interacting with, and/or reporting on transgender clients in currently underserved, small town or rural areas of Texas. Session participants will gain experience in understanding the obstacles of creating supportive networks for transgender clients as well as how factors such as race/ethnicity, ableness, socioeconomic status intersect, further impeding access for transgender clients and how to apply specific solutions in order to mitigate the impact of these factors.
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    The Effects of Heteronormative Socialization on Beliefs, Perceptions, Attitudes, and Behaviors Towards Non-Heterosexuals
    (2019-03) Lawson, Caleb
    In this session, participants will examine the effects of heteronormative socialization and the formation of beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes on homosexuality and behaviors toward non-heterosexual people. The presentation examines the association between three primary socialization agents (religion, family, and peers) and beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions about homosexuality and behavior toward homosexuals. The discussion of findings includes the impact of socialization on beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions of homosexuality and the likelihood and level of comfort interacting with LGBTQIA family members, friends, and acquaintances.
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    Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls: Unlearning Gendered Language
    (2019-03) Jordan, Marlena
    This presentation will focus on the gendered language that we typically use in our everyday vernacular. Through the examination of common words and phrases and even occupations, attendees will be given alternatives to gendered language as well as information on how and when to use gender neutral pronouns effectively. Student leaders and higher education professionals alike will be given tactics on how to address these issues in the classroom, in student leader spaces, as well as within the broader culture in order to enact positive changes. Attendants will also be encouraged to examine how gendered language exists in the larger university culture and how we as advocates and allies can begin to dismantle some of the gendered issues in housing, assessment, intramural sports and other areas that can contribute to an unwelcoming culture to queer and transgender individuals.
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    Starting an LGBTQIA Organization on a Conservative Campus
    (2019-03) Alonso, Christian
    Starting an LGBTQ Organization from the ground up is already a challenge, but doing so on a Conservative Campus means that one will be met with a host of additional obstacles. In this presentation, attendees will discuss the struggles and learning lessons from starting an oSTEM (LGBTQ organization advocating for LGBTQ students/professional in the STEM field) chapter at Texas A&M University, one of the most conservative universities in Texas. The Presentation will cover the funding process for a new organization, how to find allies on Campus, how to help create a safe environment for LGBTQ students, the negative pressure you will inevitably face, and the general difficulties of starting a brand-new organization. The presentation will also cover how to become a leader and an advocate for fellow students. Finally, we will at where the organization stands one year later after leadership transitions and examine how the skills learned as a leader are applied in the “Real” World.
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    Frankly My Dear, I Don’t Give a (Dental) Dam
    (2019-03) Phan, Jennifer
    In this presentation, participants will be presented with data on the prevalence of STIs in sexual minority women; the risk of transmission for certain STIs; and discuss safe sex practices for women who have sex with women. The presenters will not only present statistics, but case studies and interviews of lesbian, bisexual, and queer women regarding their attitudes towards safe sex and what kind of education they've received about it, if any.
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    Diversity Recruiting Practices for LGBTQ+ Employees
    (2019-03) Noble, Nicole; Winkelman, Logan; Penner, Ashley
    With global LGBT buying power estimated at $3.7 trillion according to LGBT Capital, it’s no wonder companies are seeking out opportunities to market to and support the LGBTQ+ community. One major way companies can demonstrate support for the LGBTQ+ community is through their recruiting, hiring and training practices to promote a diverse workforce. This session will provide attendees with information based on a survey regarding companies’ recruiting practices for diverse populations, particularly LGBTQ+ employees. Attend this session from the Texas Tech University Career Center to gain insight into employers’ diversity hiring and training practices.
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    Law and Policy Impacts on LGBTQIA Health and Well-Being
    (2019-03) Riggle, Ellen
    There are thousands of laws and policies (public, private, and institutional) impacting LGBTQIA people and their relationships. For example, laws recognizing relationships and nondiscrimination policies, and the discourse of the public debates about these issues, are part of the social context influencing interpersonal and individual well-being for LGBTQIA people and their family members and allies. In this talk, attendees will be introduced to several types of laws and policies that impact LGBTQIA people; be presented with summarized findings from research on the impact of some of these laws and policies; be given examples of understudied impacts; and talk about proposed legal and policy changes that could create positive benefits for the well-being of LGBTQIGNC people and their families. Also, it is important to recognize and discuss the disproportionately negative impact that discriminatory laws and policies may have on LGBTQIA people of color.
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    At the Corner of LGBTQIA People & Religion
    (2019-03) Loving, Susan
    This session will focus on the often-fraught relationship between the LGBTQIA community and Christian institutions. They will examine U.S. churches that have defined inclusivity, as well as the specific scriptures that have been utilized by many to defend their statements that oppress the “other.” Lastly, we will consider a framework that offers support and resources for both allies and LGBTQIA people who may wish to seek out a new spiritual community.
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    On Trans Dignity, Deadnaming, and Misgendering: What Queer Theory Rhetorics might Teach Us about Sensitivity, Pedagogy, and Rhetoricity
    (2019-03) Faris, Michael J.
    This presentation argues that queer theory is often used rhetorically as a “will to truth” that privileges theoretical knowledge over lived experiences and frames queer and trans youth as overly sensitive, recalcitrant in their identity politics, ungrateful to their queer elders, and ultimately regressive in their gender and sexuality politics. In addition to arguing that deadnaming and misgendering students constitutes harassment, participants will learn about renewing the need for empiricism in queer theory and turn toward understanding sensitivity and vulnerability as that which makes pedagogy (and rhetoric) possible.
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    Bondage, Impact, Power... and Word Play?: Language Use in Online BDSM Communities
    (2019-03) Crane, Phoenix
    Participants in this session will learn about the role of language in online BDSM communities, and how it can shape self-perception and identity. To many BDSM and kink practitioners, their role as “Dominant” or “Submissive” is an integral part of their sexual identity that informs not only their sexual behavior, but also their social interactions, intimate relationships, and personality traits. It is hypothesized that BDSM practitioners’ role identification may correlate with their language use, specifically in content words, such as those related to power and drive, and linguistic style words, such as first person and third person pronouns. This session discusses a recent study that used computerized text analysis to explore this hypothesis.
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    Navigating Legal Protections Based on LGBTQIA Identities
    (2019-03) Cohn, Kali
    This workshop will provide participants with a framework for understanding the protections currently in place for LGBTQ people under federal, state, and local law, and other policy. The presentation will overview the role of federal courts and administrative agencies in implementing federal civil rights laws; discuss the role of state civil rights protections; dig into local nondiscrimination ordinances; and explore the benefits of policy protections. The workshop will use interactive methods for participants to explore these protections. Following the workshop, participants will be able to: Explain sources of protections for their rights; Identify strategies for self-advocacy; and Connect these rights to the policymakers in office. The workshop will, to every extent possible, use current events as the entry-point to explore these issues.
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    Building Relationships between Rural LGBTQIA High School Students and College Students
    (2019-03) Baxter, Irissa
    In this session, attendees will learn about the obstacles facing rural LGBTQ students, and how they can be tackled. Created by high school GSA advisor Kristy Self and college LGBTQIA advisor Irissa Baxter, the Oklahoma State GSA Leadership Summit provides high schoolers a day of conversations with LGBTQIA leaders from across the state, presentations of key support structures and resources, and in-depth conversations with LGBTQIA college students. By creating meaningful connections between rural LGBTQIA high school students, college students, and their respective advisors – connections which are often inaccessible in a rural setting – students are given opportunities to improve their mental health, learn lifelong coping mechanisms, develop leadership skills, and increase interest in a college education.
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    Good Health is Sexy: An Inclusive Conversation on Sexual Wellness
    (2019-03) Sanchez-Freeman, Elena
    How is gender expression different from gender identity? What is consent? Have you heard of internal condoms? Chlamydia…hard to spell, but easy to catch? Sexual health is much more than the act of sex. In this presentation, attendees will approach sexual wellness from an all-inclusive, nonjudgmental perspective. Participants will walk away with education on sexually transmitted infections, anatomy, consent, and other tools for their wellness toolbox!
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    2019 Big 12 LGBTQIA & Allies Summit Conference Program
    (Texas Tech University Office of LGBTQIA, 2019) Finlayson, Benjamin; Marr, Reece; Randall, Jody; Solis-Wheeler, Mychael
    Program of educational and social sessions for the 2019 Big 12 LGBTQIA & Allies Summit held in Lubbock, Texas, March 22-24, 2019.