[Imc-michigan] STL hook up and info for Black Box

[esquires at umich.edu]

hey all

I'm from STL and still have a few friends there that could drum up some floor
space if folks are going to the conference there in May.

Also, to the ann arbor Black box folks -- I'm attaching the email from Paul
Courant that has the U's response to including gender ID and expression in our
anti-discrimination language. I think it's totally worth doing a story on. not
that I can do much other than say that I think it's a good idea from the other
side of the atlantic, but thought I'd say it. :) you could email showdown (at)
umich to get in touch with some students who have strong opinions about it.

btw, met with this guy named Peter from capetown IMC earlier this week, seems
really cool. they have relatively reg meetings and do a newsletter type of
thing. I also just met some phenom organizers with the anti-eviction campaign
here, so if I get my shit together I'll do a story and send it to you all.

cheers
emily

**********************8
The University of Michigan is strongly committed to providing an inclusive and
welcoming environment for all members of our community.  To that end, we
established the Task Force on the Campus Climate for Transgender, Bisexual,
Lesbian and Gay (TBLG) Faculty, Staff, and Students and charged it to collect
relevant information and then make recommendations aimed towards improving the
climate for TBLG persons.  The report was issued last spring and includes a
recommendation that the University's non-discrimination and equal opportunity
policy include gender identity within its protections.  In addition, the
Michigan Student Assembly issued a resolution on February 8, 2005 that makes
the same recommendation.  We have reviewed the Task Force Report, the MSA
resolution, and consulted with diverse members of our community.

Based on a recent opinion of the Sixth Circuit in Smith v. City of Salem, 378
F.3d 566 (2004), our General Counsel's Office has concluded that discrimination
based upon gender non-conforming behavior, including gender expression and
gender identity, is expressly included in and covered by the prohibition
against sex discrimination contained in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964 and the equal protection clause of the United States Constitution, 42 USC
§1983.

The University has in place several University-wide non-discrimination
statements that apply to faculty, staff and students, and include a prohibition
of discrimination based on sex.

Accordingly, from this point forward, the University will interpret and apply
the prohibition against sex discrimination in its equal opportunity and
non-discrimination policies to include discrimination based on gender identity
and gender expression.

Discrimination against members of the University community based on gender
non-conforming behavior, gender expression or gender identity is prohibited.

If you have questions about how this policy impacts you or your unit, you may
contact the following University offices:

Office of Institutional Equity
http://www.umich.edu/~hraa/oie/contact.htm
734-763-0235 (V)
734-647-1388 (TTY)

Division of Student Affairs
Dean of Students
http://www.umich.edu/~dofs/
Tel: 734-764-7420

The Office of Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Affairs
http://www.umich.edu/~inqueery
(734)763-4186


Paul N. Courant
Provost and Executive Vice President
for Academic Affairs





"I am supposing, or perhaps only hoping, that our future may be found in the
past's fugitive moments of compassion rather than in its solid centuries of
warfare."
-- Howard Zinn