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LBGT responds to ASMSU bills

December 7, 2001

The Alliance of Lesbian-Bi-Gay-Transgendered and Straight Ally Students and campus affiliates sponsored a forum Wednesday night in the Wonders Hall Kiva in an attempt to promote awareness about issues affecting the LBGT community.

About 50 people attended the forum, which included discussions about the lack of domestic partner services for students, adding gender identity to MSU’s Anti-Discrimination Policy and multiple identity concerns. Other debated ideas included expanding the LBGT office and resource center and implementing an LBGT or ally residence hall mentor position.

The forum was created in response to three bills presented by ASMSU’s Student Assembly last month. In the first bill, MSU’s undergraduate student government is trying to change the preamble of its constitution, which does not include gender identity. A student body vote next spring will decide the bill.

The second bill, which passed last month, changed the Anti-Discrimination Policy to include transgendered people. The third bill asks the university to change its Anti-Discrimination Policy, which includes sexual orientation but not gender identity.

Matt Weingarden, co-director of the Alliance and ASMSU’s vice-chairperson for internal affairs, said the forum was beneficial because it allowed students to discuss important issues in the LBGT community.

“It’s important because transgendered individuals are not truly welcomed into the university,” he said. “It’s like, ‘you can come in, but if something bad happens, we don’t care.’”

Weingarden said the bill that would change the preamble of the ASMSU Constitution will most likely be accepted by students, but not university officials.

“I don’t think they’ve thought about this, but hopefully they’ll be supportive,” he said. “I feel confident that the student community isn’t so bigoted and close-minded.”

Brent Bilodeau, MSU’s assistant for LBGT concerns, said the event was significant because students were able to voice their concerns.

“What was most important about the forum is that it was organized by students, for students to allow LBGT student leaders to listen to and respond to the issues and concerns of their constituency,” he said.

Kyeorda Kemp, also a co-director of the Alliance, said the forum allowed people to learn how to end discrimination against LBGT people.

But she said the event was not just for the LBGT community because it discussed the relevance of gender roles in society.

“Everyone at some time transgresses gender - from getting a haircut to playing football or hockey,” she said. “Forty years ago, me wearing pants would clearly be a problem. Today, if a man wanted to wear a skirt, he is transgressing gender. So we do need protection.”

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