The Queer Life

1. The Queer Life NWACUHO 2011 Vancouver, Canada

2. Welcome Erin Honseler Assistant Complex Director University of Oregon Sasha Masoomi Complex Director University of Oregon

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLdRBnc-RV4 Queer Leader Example

4. Background On Our Institution • UO received a perfect score in LGBT Housing and Residence life. Criteria: • Does your campus offer LGBT students a way to be matched with a LGBT-friendly roommate in applying for campus housing? • Does your campus enable transgender students to be housed in keeping with their gender identity/expression? • Does your campus provide a LGBT theme housing option or a LGBT/Ally living-learning community program? • Does your campus offer students with non-student same-sex partners the opportunity to live together in family housing equally to those married opposite-sex couples in the same situation? • Does your campus allow residence life staff with same-sex partners who are not affiliated with the college/university to live together in a residence hall on an equal basis with married opposite-sex couples? • Does your campus offer gender-neutral/single occupancy restrooms in campus housing? • Does your campus offer individual showers in campus housing to protect the privacy of transgender students? • Does your campus provide on-going training on LGBT issues and concerns for residence life professional and student staff at all levels?

5. Supportive Research Leadership Identity Development Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Student Leaders -NASPA Journal Vol. 42, no.3 -Kristen A. Renn, Associate Professor, Higher, Adult, & Lifelong Education, Michigan State University -Brent L. Bilodeau; Director, LBGT Resource Center, Michigan State University The common conclusion is that being involved in leadership activities related to some facet of identity (gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc…) promotes positive development of leadership, activism, and personal identity.

6. Key Terms and Definitions Language at different institutions can be very different, it is important to understand your climate. • Queer, Leader vs. Queer Leader • A queer leader can mean several things. • It can mean a leader (on campus) who Identifies LGBTQQI • It can also mean a leader in LGBTQQI issues and social justice • We will be using both

7. Shared Learning Outcomes We want you to leave here: • With a better understanding of the concept of a collective “they” • Thinking about queer leaders and queer leadership opportunities on your campuses • Having had the opportunity to share ideas and gain a multi campus view of implementable practices

8. Review of Study • Why we did the Study: • Hypothesis: Process: LGBTQQI students are in need of advanced resources in the form of Queer Leadership Training and no longer want identity counseling as much. We surveyed residents at a large public institution by speaking to LGBTQA student unions and performed a “snowball sampling” by word of mouth.

9. Key Findings

10. Did you feel protected and safe in your hall?

11. What was your biggest concern when moving in to the residence halls?

12. What type of programs would have been beneficial for you?

13. If you could do it over again, would you choose to live in a hall that was specified (through housing application choices) as an LGBTQA friendly space?

14. Implications • Collective “they” is not obtainable • Different Stages in Student development • Changing needs of LGBTQQI residents

15. Implications to Student Affairs Professionals • As Student Affairs professionals, what should we ideally be providing to our Queer students to help them be Queer Leaders? • An inclusive approach for celebrating diversity and motivating others • An open, safe environment to express yourself • Fun, entertainment and lasting relationships • Key leadership concepts to becoming a stronger leader. Time management skill, public speaking, group management, etc… • Opportunity to connect and work with peer student leaders • Identity Development • A leadership and personal growth experience inclusive of gender identity/expression and sexual orientation • Accessing and Effective strategies for coalition building with LGBTQ Community • Resources responding to Harassment, Homophobia, and/or Hate • Successful campus organizing practices and the chance to explore challenges confronting your campus • LGBTMentors

16. What practices can we implement? • Dedicate yourself to using inclusive language • Guess the Straight RA • Campus-wide trainings • Queer page on Housing website • Queer Leader Campout • Camp Pride • Gender Neutral Housing • Rainbow Communities? • What do you do on your campus?

17. Conclusion We want you to leave here: • With a better understanding of the concept of a collective “they” • Thinking about queer leaders and queer leadership opportunities on your campuses • Having had the opportunity to share ideas and gain a multi campus view of implementable practices In the end, we should be asking ourselves, “Are our students leaving housing having cultivated their leadership potential and are they feeling empowered to be powerful, productive Queer Leaders?”

18. Questions? Erin Honseler Assistant Complex Director University of Oregon ehonsele@uoregon.edu Sasha Masoomi Complex Director University of Oregon masoomis@uoregon.edu