OFFICE OF LGBTQI UPDATES

#BeYouAtVU

As we are gearing up for the 2021-2022 academic year, we are excited to announce new employees, new trainings, and new opportunities to get involved.

The Office of LGBTQI Life’s team is lead by Director Dr. Stephanie Mahnke (she/her), the Assistant Director Yasja Hemmings (they/them), and the Program Coordinator Katja Tetzlaff (they/them.) Get to know us by stopping by the KCPC, scheduling a training, or seeing us at events like Transfer and Law Student Orientations. We are excited to offer resources and support, and better know our LGBTQI community and allies!

To kick off the school year, we are starting an event series titled Queer Intersections, where we will be hosting movie nights, book clubs, group discussions, and more around intersecting identities among LGBTQI people. Watch out for details on these events.

Interested in a Straight Facts or P.R.I.D.E. program workshop for your unit or classroom? Get in touch!

Let us know what kind of programs and events you are interested in by completing our Office of LGBTQI Life Survey.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Discord Server

Interested in joining our Discord Server for events, games, movie nights, and more? Click here to request to join our new Discord Server.

Employment Opportunities

Our Office is hiring an Administrative Assistant.

CAMPUS EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

The Inclusive Connector

To learn about news, events, and happenings related to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, sign up for the Inclusive Connector. Please sign up here.

LGBTQ+ Policy Lab

Check out the Vanderbilt LGBTQ+ Policy Lab, who connects researchers, students, and community members interested in the causes and consequences of LGBTQ+ policies. In addition to events throughout the year, be sure to check out any research participation opportunities that may be relevant to your students.

Trans Buddies: VUMC Program for LGBTQ Health

The Vanderbilt University Medical Center Program for LGBTQ Health is an innovative effort to improve healthcare for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) patients, including the Trans Buddy Program. Apply to be a Trans Buddy by e-mailing lgbtq.health@vumc.org or signing-up here.

Clark Lab LGBTQ+ Teen Mental Health Research

The Clark Lab mission is to disentangle why lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people disproportionately experience severe, adverse mental health outcomes. If you are the parent or guardian of a teen aged 13-17 in Tennessee, see if your teen is eligible to participate in a conversation about mental health and earn $40. Find out more at ClarkLabVU.com.

PRISM Research Lab

PRISM (Power, Resistance & Identity in STEM Education) is a research lab that engages in scholarship to inform equitable teaching and student support practices in undergraduate STEM. Please share with your students that the lab is looking for two part-time research assistants for Latinx in College Mathematics and Queer Students of Color in STEM.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Creating Change Conference and Proposal Deadline

The Creating Change call for proposals deadline is Sept 9. The Office of LGBTQI Life is here to help your students write and submit their proposals. Students accepted can also apply for funding from the KCPC to cover travel and accommodations!

International Bisexuality Research Conference

The International Bisexuality Research Conference, a free, daylong conference for anyone interested in learning about bisexual, pansexual, Two-Spirit, queer, fluid, polysexual, plurisexual, and unlabeled experiences, is being held virtually Sept 24.

Nashville Children’s Theatre Performs “She Kills Monsters”

The Emerging Artists Company presents “She Kills Monsters” by Qui Nguyen at the Nashville Children’s Theatre’s on August 5-7. This high-octane dramatic comedy is laden with homicidal fair, as well as a story of finding your true self and battling the monsters within. Fore more information and to purchase tickets, see their website.

Queer History South

Queer History South is a network of professional and community members invested in preserving and promoting LGBTQ archiving and history in the US South. Queer History South 2022: Archives for All, Y’all is a conference about the research and preservation of LGBTQ history in the US South taking place Sept. 30 – Oct. 2. Register here.

Register to vote with Vanderbilt, Let’s Vote

The focus of Vanderbilt, Let’s Vote is to encourage every member of the university community—students, staff and faculty—to participate in the democratic process and exercise their right to register and vote in elections held in their districts of residence, whether they be at the federal, state or local level. Sign up for 2022 primary and general election reminders as well as register to vote in the general November election here.