University of Hawai‘i President’s Commission on the Status of LGBTI Equality

1. University of Hawai‘iPresident’s Commission on the Status of LGBTI Equality Stocktaking 2008 FB 09-11 Biennium

2. Commission History • 1992 Established as UH System-wide Task Force on Sexual Orientation • 1997 Became UH President’s Commission on the Status of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Equality

3. Commission Membership • Representatives are appointed by the President from each of our 10 campuses • Commissioners reflect campus diversity: Executives; APTs; Faculty Members; Civil Service Employees; Graduate Students; Ex Officio representative • Several Commissioners have continued their service in appointments since 1992

4. Commission on the Status of LGBTI Equality Mission • Promotes a safe and inclusive environment by creating a culture of equality, acceptance, and respect throughout the UH system. • Advocates the creation and implementation of and adherence to Hawaii State and University of Hawaii policies that serve the needs of the LGBTI students, staff, and faculty.

5. Commission Accomplishments • Safety and compliance • Awareness of campus climate issues • Increased visibility and support of LGBTI students, faculty, and staff • Policy and procedure recommendations

6. Safety and Compliance • Safe Zone is a proactive effort to make campuses safer for all members of our university community • Safe Zone workshops have been held on each campus • Safe Zone is part of the University response to anti-gay, bias-related incidents • Two Train-the-Trainer (T3) workshops have been conducted at UHM (Sp 2007, F 2007) • Council of Chancellors approved funding for October 2008 programs

7. Awareness of Campus Climate Issues • Initial campus climate survey conducted at UHM in 2001 • 23% of students knew someone who had been harassed because of perceived sexual orientation • 48% of students felt they were not safe from verbal harassment • 32% of students felt they were not safe from physical harassment

8. Increased Visibility and Support • The LGBTI Gathering: System-wide Conferences (March 23-24, 2007; April 4-5, 2008) • Featured keynotes included UH faculty, elected officials, Local authors and Local LGBTI business owners • First LGBTI and Ally student summits • Pride at Work Hawaii

9. Policy, Procedure and Best Practices • Feelings of isolation are prominent with students, especially Local transgender students. • Recommendation to add “gender identity and expression” to A9.920 • Continuous commitment to outreach to new faculty, staff and students via Safe Zone Programs

10. FB 09-11 Biennium Proposals • Campus Safety: Student Outreach and Retention • Leadership/Professional Development: Faculty and Staff

11. Campus Safety: Student Recruitment and Retention • Expansion of Safe Zone with annual outreach in October for National Coming Out Day on each campus • Publication of a brochure addressing harassment, safety and campus climate for LGBTI individuals • Creation of a website with resources to help curtail feelings of isolation and to increase opportunities for academic and personal achievement

12. Leadership/Professional Development: Faculty/Staff • A Focus on APT/Civil Service Employees: University-supported, equitable access to Safe Zone workshops and training • Continued programmatic support of The LGBTI System-wide Gathering • Honor years of service already contributed by Commissioners • Deepen system-wide commitment to funding across the UH system

13. Requests