Letters to the UMB Community

UMB Celebrates Pride Month

May 31, 2022

To the UMB Community:

June is Pride Month, a time to honor and celebrate the lives, achievements, and identities of our LGBTQ+ community.

As we observe Pride Month, we also recognize that members of the LGBTQ+ community still lack protections for fundamental rights and continue to experience threats, homophobia, and acts of violence in our society. There has been progress over the last few years, including the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2020 that affirmed that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act would cover the employment rights of gay, lesbian, and transgender workers.

We at UMB affirm our commitment of support in the struggle for dignity and justice, as we live our core values of respect and integrity and celebrate our colleagues and friends in this community.

UMB is pleased to support and celebrate our LGBTQ+ community with educational and community programming and events in June.

Resources

Programming and Events

Safe Space Training, Part I
June 1 | Noon-1:30 p.m.
The Safe Space program trains UMB faculty, students, and staff in LGBTQ+ allyship, advocacy, and education. This training is offered each semester by the Intercultural Center and challenges participants to reflect on the identities and lived experiences of marginalized gender and sexual identities while challenging norms related to the gender binary and heteronormativity.

This workshop is split into two 90-minute trainings. Participants must participate in both trainings to be Safe Space-certified.

Inclusive Pronouns Training
June 7 | Noon-1 p.m.
Understanding and using pronouns are important ways to practice gender inclusivity. In this training, the presenter will discuss the history of gender pronouns and give examples of the uses of gender-inclusive pronouns. Gender pronoun best practices will be discussed and gender-neutral pronoun practice activities will be provided.

Safe Space Training, Part II
June 22 | Noon-1:30 p.m.
This is the second session of the Safe Space training series. Participants must participate in both trainings to be Safe Space-certified.

LGBTQ+ Pride Social Hour
June 22 | 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. | SMC Campus Center, Elm Room B
LGBTQ+ students, faculty, staff, and alumni are invited to attend the LGBTQ+ Pride Social Hour. This social hour is an opportunity for LGBTQ+ identifying individuals at UMB to build community and develop professional and social relationships. Refreshments will be provided.

Providing Gender-Affirming Care Panel
June 24 | Noon-1 p.m.
A panel of health care professionals will discuss the importance of providing care that is affirming to an individual’s gender identity. They also will discuss current services offered at the University of Maryland Medical System for transgender and gender non-conforming communities.

LGBTQ Intersectionality Panel Discussion with Greg Brightbill and STAR TRACK
June 29 | Noon-1 p.m.
This will be a discussion to explore the intersectionality of gender expression, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, and the layers of these identities within conversations among those who hold multiple marginalized identities and have different lived experiences.

Thank you for your continued commitment to equity, inclusion, and justice.

In partnership and collaboration,

Diane Forbes Berthoud, PhD, MA
Chief Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer and Vice President


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