To the editor:

The University Senate’s Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Discrimination Advocacy Committee (EIADAC) is made up of faculty, staff, students and administrators from across campus who come from a variety of academic disciplines, personal backgrounds, and intersectional identities. Together, we are committed to identifying and reviewing issues related to equity, inclusion and respect, and advocating for practices, policies and programs that make Pitt a welcoming, accessible and inclusive place for all members of our community.

In practice, this commitment means speaking out clearly when specific situations place members of our community at a disadvantage or in danger, and challenge their ability to thrive. It also means working to bridge the distance between the University population and administration to find ways of addressing these issues swiftly and comprehensively.

As individuals, and as a committee, we have attentively observed the heightened discourse and protest surrounding the invitation of several high-profile, controversial speakers who question the rights and presence of transgender individuals on campus and athletic programs, as well as calling for “the eradication of transgenderism.” These speakers have also condemned feminism and racial equality.

The organizations supporting them maintain “watchlists” that many call a threat to academic, as well as personal, freedom. EIADAC remains committed to the safety, security, and support of all transgender, nonbinary and gender diverse students, staff and faculty at the University of Pittsburgh, and stands in vehement opposition to hate speech against any member of our community.

We also recognize that words and public statements are simple responses that make it possible to perform allyship without effort. We request that the University go beyond statements and make thoughtful, comprehensive changes to demonstrate its commitment to the safety and well-being of its LGBTQIA+ University members. EIADAC is committed to serving as a conduit between the University population and the University administration in addressing these problems thoughtfully and comprehensively.

According to external metrics and measures of success, Pitt has many reasons to be proud of its inclusivity. In August 2022, the Campus Pride Index, the pre-eminent resource for LGBTQIA+ leadership development, diversity inclusion, and advocacy within higher education, ranked Pitt as No. 20 in the Best Schools in America for LGBTQIA+ students. But again, although such reports are encouraging, words can only do so much.

The reality is that the LGBTQIA+ population at Pitt remains underserved overall. Moreover, specific groups within this community — including BlPOC, disabled and neurodivergent individuals — experience further marginalization, as well as fewer resources, networks of support, and mentorship opportunities. The University is well aware of this situation, both through discussions held in Faculty Senate meetings and ongoing advocacy work by student organizations.

Moving toward systemic and lasting change can be daunting; it is precisely for this reason that EIADAC exists. In our meetings and working groups, we have identified a number of issues that will demonstrate the University’s commitment to all members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their long-term well-being at Pitt.

Among the many issues identified by EIADAC and student organizations, the issue of student space is the most pressing. In this matter, Pitt is actually regressing. Previous spaces allocated to gender-related student organizations have closed, while other universities locally, regionally, and nationally, have made efforts to establish spaces for LGBTQIA+ students on campus. Research demonstrates that such spaces offer critical sources of support, especially in a state that lacks comprehensive education and advocacy around transgender rights.

Additionally, although Pitt has made strides in establishing single-occupancy bathrooms on campus, we wish to emphasize that single-occupancy and gender-neutral spaces are not inherently the same thing. Individuals utilizing these bathrooms require access to sanitary products, and these resources must remain supplied at all times. While we applaud student groups who are addressing the issue of period poverty, it is the University’s responsibility to address this issue as a matter of student health and well-being that speaks to its commitment to the education of all members of the community.

The University of Pittsburgh operates in the only state in the Northeast without a law protecting individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Nationally, members of the LGBTQIA+ community are nine times more likely to be the victim of a hate crime than cisgender and/or straight people. Here again, race, ability and economic support all impact an individual’s risk. It follows, therefore, that in 2022, 73 percent of LGBTQIA+ youth in America reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety, and 58 percent  experienced depression, compared to about 17 percent  of youth in general. Additionally, 93 percent of transgender and nonbinary youth said that they worried about transgender people being denied access to gender-affirming medical care due to state or local laws.

In these circumstances, words and public statements are not enough. LGBTQIA+ students and their allies have made it clear that they do not feel safe, particularly because of recent events on campus. If we as an institution wish to attract the best students, and those most eager to create change, the University must realize that such individuals come from a wide variety of backgrounds and have a diverse range of needs. The University must reaffirm their concern and support for LGBTQIA+ students, through action, funding and careful, attentive listening to student groups’ concerns and needs.

EIADAC stands ready to support this work with the current University Senate president and vice president (who are running unopposed for a second term), as well as staff and student leaders, the University’s new chancellor and provost, and the rest of the administration to ensure long-term and effective change. In particular, we are committed to working with Senate leadership and members who will work to create a University statement that will help to encourage all campus community members to consider the responsibilities that come with free speech, where free speech ends and hate speech begins, and the harm that can be done to others under the guise of freedom of speech (See, e.g., this statement of free speech values from the University of Maryland).

We invite members of the University community to join us in this work.

Signed by the members of EIADAC:

Bridget Keown (professor, Gender, Sexuality & Women's Studies) and Natasha Tokowicz (professor, Psychology and LRDC), co-chairs of EIADAC

Allyn Bove, assistant professor, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Brenda Cassidy, associate professor, School of Nursing

Stephen Gabrielson, Health Sciences Library System

Susan Graff, assistant professor, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Sharon Joyner, Staff Council representative on EIADAC, School of Nursing

Mitali Ray, postdoctoral representative, School of Nursing

Ellen M. Smith, teaching professor, Department of English

Zuzana Swigonova, professor, Department of Biological Sciences

Kelly Tatone, Staff Council representative and LRDC research program manager