IU group surveys transgenders

The IU community is working toward better acceptance for transgender students with a new survey aimed at accommodating their needs.\nThe survey was conducted by the IU Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Alumni Association.\n"We are trying to see if IU is meeting the needs of transgender people around campus," said board member Bryan Sirtosky, who chairs the committee that created the survey.\nIU GLBTAA was started by Jeff McKinney, Doug Bauder and Cindy Stone in June 1997 after presenting the group for formal recognition. After a voice vote, the organization was approved as an affiliate alumni group of the IUAA. Since the beginning, the organization has been working to make gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students feel comfortable on campuses. \n"(It) is dedicated to making each of IU's eight campuses a positive learning and working environment for the GLBT students, faculty staff and alumni," as stated in the introduction to the transgender/transsexual survey.\nIt is the responsibility of GLBTAA to accommodate the needs of all students on campus to help them feel comfortable in their environment. In doing so, the survey is aimed at covering such topics as personal safety, housing, personal counseling, health care, career counseling, locker rooms, University records, social environment and University curriculum.\n"We want to make sure we are meeting the needs of the students, faculty and staff and to see if we need to make any changes," Sirtosky said. "Even changes in the policies will be made, if needed, to make IU a better place for all students." \nThe board members of GLBTAA encourage all students, faculty, staff and alumni to participate in the survey as they look for positive feedback from transgender experiences.\n"We want to hear the good stories, the bad stories and the in-between stories," said IU GLBTAA Board President Kim Davis. "With survey data in hand, we'll be in a stronger position to advocate for any improvements that would affect recruitment, retention rates and the academic success of trans people at IU."\nAlthough non-trans students are invited to take the survey, it is aimed at accommodating the needs of those who find discrimination or do not feel welcome in their learning environments. \n"Visibly, transgender concerns have come to the forefront in the past few years," Sirtosky said. "The term can apply to people who are simply gender-atypical, androgynous or gender-queer."\nThe Bloomington campus GLBTAA addresses the issue of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans people with a wide variety of students and the means to help those who are discriminated against.\n"We're fortunate on the IU-Bloomington campus to have comprehensive, high-quality clinical services for trans people through the Kinsey Institute Sexual Health Clinic, as well as bias-incident teams that gather and act on complaints of harassment and discrimination," said fellow committee member John Clower. "We have a trans-positive GLBT Student Support Services office, but we need to know more about the full range of trans people's experiences on campus."\nThe board members of GLBTAA are hoping for feedback to stop transgender issues on all of IU's campuses.\n"We want everyone to share their experiences and issues on this topic," Sirtowsky said. "We are hoping this survey will help change these issues on the campuses."\nFor more information, visit www.indiana.edu/~glbtaa.\n-- Contact staff writer Nellie Summerfield at nsummerf@indiana.edu.