Thread by @EmLedd1

Happy Pride month! I’m a trans grad student who started transitioning he summer between graduating UG and starting a PhD program. Here’s a thread on things to keep in mind when considering the recruitment of #trans students. #AcademicTwitter #ChemTwitter 1/20

For REUs:
Does your program provide housing? How is it broken up? Chances are it’s by legal sex. Are you putting this information where applicants can see it? Would trans applicants be able to room with their actual gender, not just the one on paper? Could they room alone? 2/n

Rooming alone isn’t always ideal from both standpoints (to school, more money, to students, isolation), but it might be the preferred option depending on school rules and the “oh jeez, will my assigned roommate hate trans people & be potentially hostile to me for 8-10 weeks.” 3/n

What do I mean by school rules? If your school doesn’t have a gender-inclusive housing policy, then you’re likely bound to house students based on legal sex due to safety or the “potential for impropriety.” Consider publicly pushing for these policies as a department/college. 4/n

While we’re on the topic: bathrooms. Do you provide suite-style or community housing accommodations? Locker rooms and community showers can be terrifying places for gender non-conforming (GNC) folk to navigate. Does your general work building have single-user restrooms? 5/n

As for apps:
Do you ask for both a legal name and a preferred name? Is there a reason why you don’t? If you don’t actually need a legal name at the time of application, specify that. Likewise, *and this is important* specify if you’re sending decisions to permanent addresses. 6/n

I applied to grad schools knowing I’d be out as trans, but I couldn’t risk applying as Emmett, because I wasn’t out at home. If a school sent a letter to Emmett home, it would have outed me. That wasn’t something that seemed safe. 7/n

It would’ve taken a lot of fear out of applying if places specified what name (or what avenue) correspondence would have taken. A lot of schools are (thankfully!) asking for preferred names, but potentially outing students (including current trans students on campus!) is bad. 8/n

How are you asking about gender on applications? Male/Female/Trans is *not* the way to ask. Woman, man, non-binary, self-describe. If you require legal sex, explain why (ex: social security employment info). A separate question for “do you ID as trans” can be appropriate. 9/n

But, like with most demo Q’s, why do you need to know? Is it to show you are recruiting trans people? To better understand housing needs? (Hint: if it’s to show you need to train your dept on trans issues, train ‘em now.) Offer yes/no/prefer not to respond as answer choices. 10/n

What’s your policy on medical leave? Are you up front with that? Surgery wait lists can be years long, depending on the country and surgeon. Surgeons often require a consult months prior and probably therapist’s letters. Informed consent isn’t common for transition surgery. 11/n

Transition-related surgery can be the difference btwn life and death for some trans people. (Not all, & not all trans people want surgery.) Surgery almost always improves the mental health of trans people who seek it out. Less brain power spent on dysphoria = better science. 12/n

Now, let’s talk about why trans students might not be applying. Summer is a really good time for trans students to take steps for transitioning. My home state req’d at least 4 weeks to legally change your name. HRT clinics can have months-long waiting lists for appts. 13/n

Those same docs that offer HRT might be hours away. I know several people that drove 3+ hours to initiate HRT. I also know people that have had horrible experiences with the only physician taking new trans patients within 2 hours. You usually can’t just call your family doc. 14/n

This doesn’t even touch on the financial reasons for not applying, or the fact that not every eligible student knows programs like REUs exist. Why apply? Not everyone has a welcoming home to go to at the end of term. Getting hired in transition can be its own battle. 15/n

“That sucks, how do I fix it?” Are there places in your area that do informed consent HRT? Is that information made accessible to them (like on a school LGBTQ+ center website)? Could it be? Does you student health center provide it to trans students? Could they? 16/n

[Aside: you should also include accessibility information (or link to it) on your website. Does your building only have one ADA-accessible entrance? Do you have “historic” buildings that aren’t as accessible as they should be? Campus transportation system?] 17/n

How visibly inclusive are you to an outsider? Do you have pronouns in your email signature, signaling to an external recipient that you’re at least aware of gender things? Does your school include gender identity and expression in their equal opportunity policy? 18/n

TLDR:
-You’ll have trans applicants
-You want them to complete the app and not get frustrated away
-Be up front about housing accommodations
-Ask for legal & pref names & say how they’ll be used
-Provide info on local resources
-Advocate for a better school enviro
19/n

And some bonus reading:
Lots of articles on gender transition and well-being whatweknow.inequality.cornell.edu/topics/lgbt-eq…

Safe-zone symbols: researchgate.net/publication/30…

Gender-inclusive housing policies: researchgate.net/publication/27…

Campus Pride Trans Policy Clearinghouse: campuspride.org/tpc/

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