LGBTQIA Best Practices

Best Practices for LGBTQIA Inclusivity in Graduate Student Career and Professional Development

Ask participants to share pronouns when introducing themselves (note that best practice is to use the language of “pronouns” rather than “preferred pronouns”)
Use gender-neutral language when referring to a group (e.g. use “everyone” or “students” rather than “ladies and gentlemen” or “you guys”)
Avoid making assumptions about someone’s gender identity or pronouns based on appearance
Share the location of gender-neutral restrooms when hosting in-person events
Acknowledge homophobia, transphobia, and heteronormativity as common experiences in academic spaces
Use inclusive and open-ended questions when collecting gender identification and/or sexual orientation data
Avoid using gender to split students into groups during workshops and events
Work with your campus LGBTQIA center to develop your understanding of the needs of the populations on your campus and to develop programs that serve LGBTQIA students
Include LGBTQIA alumni and role models when developing panels and programs
Acknowledge that LGBTQIA students face unique challenges:
- Determining whether to be “out” in their academic communities and on the job market
- Being misgendered
- Experiencing gender - and sexual orientation-based harassment
- Experiencing higher rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts in comparison with other student populations
- Experiencing higher rates of substance abuse and homelessness than other populations

For Career Advisors and Graduate Development Professionals

UC Davis LGBTQIA Resource Center Glossary https://lgbtqia.ucdavis.edu/educated/glossary
Stanford Recommendations for Writing Recommendations for Trans, Non-binary, and Genderqueer Students https://queer.stanford.edu/sites/g/files/sbiybj10401/f/writing_letters_of_rec_for_nb_trans_students.pdf
Consortium of Higher Education LGBTQ Resource Professionals Policy and Practice Recommendations (extensive resource bank) https://www.lgbtcampus.org/policy-practice-recommendations
EDUCAUSE’s Gender Identity in Higher Education Recommendations https://library.educause.edu/-/media/files/library/2018/4/ewg1802.pdf
UC Santa Barbara LGBTQIA+ Glossary http://rcsgd.sa.ucsb.edu/education/lgbtqia-glossary

For LGBTQIA Graduate Students