What can CMU do?
What can CMU change to be more inclusive?
"I found Mariam’s channel on a message board for trans and nonbinary teens after I’d started questioning my own identity and spent a whole night binging their videos and vlogs."
Diverse speakers: The book showcases Mariam, a non-binary influencer whose YouTube videos about their experiences helps Ben come to terms with their gender identity. In the book, Mariam goes to speak at an LGBTQ+ safe space. CMU can do something similar; either the school or clubs should invite more diverse speakers, such as those who identify as non-binary. This can expose the student body to more diversity and nurture a sense of belonging for those who share the same identities as these speakers.
First year orientation/mandatory online modules: Inform students of the gender-inclusive bathroom policies and respecting pronouns. As shown in the survey, students are not willing to use the all-gender bathroom partially because they believe that other do not know it is an all-gender bathroom. An online training module on this topic can address this problem.
All-gender restrooms: Make sure every building has all-gender options.
Learn More
Resources
TINA (Trans, Intersex, Nonbinary Alliance) at CMU
Frequently Asked Questions on CMU's All-Gender Restrooms
Sources
https://www.masondeaverwrites.com/content-warnings.
https://www.sarahmaxwellart.com/scholastic-/-i-wish-you-all-the-best
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27323925/
https://doi.org/10.1080/19317610902922537
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/09/05/gender-neutral-pronouns/
https://www.npr.org/2021/06/02/996319297/gender-identity-pronouns-expression-guide-lgbtq
https://www.capnw.org/news/2021/international-non-binary-peoples-day
https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/nonbinary-lgbtq-adults-us/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19117902/.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27046450/
https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/therapeutic-response.pdf
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30403564/.
https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000070
https://www.commonapp.org/blog/common-app-update-gender-identity-questions-college-application
https://www.cmu.edu/student-diversity/dash-study-findings.pdf
https://www.cmu.edu/student-diversity/learning-and-development/final-voices-executive-summary2.pdf