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3701
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A S. Harvard Ave., #183
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Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135
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918.671.3733
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info@theequalitynetwork.org
www.theequalitynetwork.org
MEDIA STATEMENTFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Laura A. BelmonteVice-PresidentTEN - The Equality Network918.906.2134lbelmonte@theequalitynetwork.org
New Report Shows Serious Weaknesses inOklahoma Higher Education Inclusivity Policies
82% of Oklahoma’s colleges and universities do not protect LGBT faculty,
staff, or students
Tulsa, Oklahoma
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August 23, 2010
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,reveals that many of Oklahoma’s
institutions of higher education have yet to embrace full inclusivity for lesbian, gay,bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students and employees.While there are a few positive standouts, 82% of Oklahoma colleges and universitieshave no policies in place to support and protect LGBT faculty, staff, and students.TEN Institute
’s preliminary research shows that out of the 66 statewide colleges and
universities:
Only 11 have Compliance/EOE/Affirmative Action Statements includingsexual orientation
Zero include gender identity or expression in Compliance/EOE/AffirmativeAction Statements
One provides domestic partner benefits for employees
Only 12 have an LGBT Student Group or Gay/Straight Alliances on campus
“When we began this research, we hoped that Oklahoma’s
inclusivity protections inthe higher education community would rival those of other states. While this is notcurrently the case, we are very pleased to highlight those institutions who have
3701
–
A S. Harvard Ave., #183
•
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135
•
918.671.3733
•
info@theequalitynetwork.org
www.theequalitynetwork.org
taken steps to embrace equality on their campuses,” explains Kathy L. Williams,
Ph.D., president of TEN Institute.Those institutions with protections in place include:
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (Miami), Oklahoma City Community College,Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma State University Center for HealthSciences (Tulsa), Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology(Okmulgee), Oklahoma State University (Stillwater), Oklahoma StateUniversity (Oklahoma City), Oklahoma State University (Tulsa), Rose StateCollege (Midwest City), Southwestern College (Wichita, KS and MidwestCity), University of Phoenix (Oklahoma City and Tulsa); all have non-discrimination policies including sexual orientation.
The University of Tulsa provides domestic partner benefits.
Cameron University (Lawton), East Central University (Ada), Murray StateCollege (Tishomingo), Northeastern State University (Tahlequah), OklahomaCity Community College, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma StateUniversity (Stillwater), Oklahoma State University (Oklahoma City),Southwestern Oklahoma State University (Weatherford), The University ofTulsa, University of Central Oklahoma (Edmond), University of Oklahoma(Norman), University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (Chickasha): all haveLGBT student groups and/or Gay/Straight Alliances.
Dennis Rudasill, the president of Oklahoma State University’s Sexual Orientation
Diversity Association (SODA),
noted a disjuncture between students’ increasing
acceptance of their LGBT classmates and inequalities still embedded in universitypolicies.
“
As a student,
it’s easy to feel the attitudes of my peers progressing in the direction
of open-mindedness and inclusion. But this index shows that our institutions ofhigher education are struggling to keep their policies up to date with thisgenerational progress.
Although I’ve never felt actively discriminated against by anymember of my university’s administration, I worry about passive forms of discrimination like my university’s lack of domestic partner b
enefits.
” said Rudasill.
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