LGBTQI+ Task Force

A university-wide LGBTQI+ Task Force, convened by the Office of the Provost, in coordination with the Office of Chancellor, is assessing the impact of Tennessee laws banning gender-affirming care for minors and certain adult cabaret shows passed in March 2023.

The Task force is evaluating and assessing the impact of the legislation on students, faculty, and staff. In their efforts, the task force is considering highly innovative strategies and solutions that can be deployed to ensure the physical safety, and address the uncertainty, of our LGBTQ+ community. To do so, the work of the Task Force has been organized into three lines of effort: university policies and procedures, education and training practices, and legal.

Kitt Carpenter, E. Bronson Ingram Professor and University Distinguished Professor of Economics and of Health Policy and founder and director of Vanderbilt’s LGBTQ+ Policy Lab, who also holds appointments in the Law School; Leadership Policy and Organizations; Medicine, Health and Society; and Gender and Sexuality Studies, is chairing the task force.

Committee Objectives

Evaluate implications of recent legislation for students, faculty, and staff
Identify and advance near-term solutions and immediate actionable items.
Provide long-term strategy recommendations to university leadership.

Resources

LGBTQI+ Resources

Following is a list of new and existing resources for the Vanderbilt University community.

Program	How to Access	Available to
K.C. Potter Center for LGBTQI Life A cultural center and a place of affirmation for individuals of all identities, and a resource for information and support about gender and sexuality.	Details available here.	Students Faculty Staff Postdoctoral scholars
LGBTQ2S+ & Ally Groups Student groups provide support, affirmation, and programming for all students, whether graduate or undergraduate. Glammadores (LGBTQIA+) is a place for employees who identify as LGBTQIA+ and their allies.	Details available here. Details available here.	Students Faculty Staff Postdoctoral scholars
LGBTQI Life Programs Programs provide opportunities for meaningful campus engagement and connections to other students. For employees, information on our non-discrimination policy, surrogacy and adoption coverage, the city of Nashville, gender affirmation toolkit, and teaching and training resources is available.	Details available here. Details available here.	Students Faculty Staff Postdoctoral scholars
LGBTQ2S+ health on campus The Student Health Center is committed to providing quality healthcare to all Vanderbilt students, including those within the LGBTQ2S+ community. We at SHC consider our environment to be a safe place to come for health care, counsel, and advice.	Details available here.	Students
Trans@VU Provides critical information for transgender and gender-nonconforming students when navigating Vanderbilt.	Details available here.	Students
Student Same-Sex Domestic Partner Benefits at Vanderbilt Students may register their spouse or partner with the Dean of Students office in order to allow them to receive a Commodore Card and the benefits associated within. International students only.	Details available here.	International students
Reporting bias or discrimination Bias and discrimination should be reported to the Title IX & Student Discrimination Office. Vanderbilt prohibits all forms of sexual misconduct and discrimination. The university will take prompt and effective action to address all allegations of sexual misconduct and discrimination.	Details available here.	Students
International Travel LGBTQIA+ students traveling or studying abroad are encouraged to meet with the Global Education Office and look into resources such as their Resources for Identity and Culture and the State Department Travel Advisories. Fullbright students can also join Fulbright PRISM, an affinity group for LGBTQIA people.	Details available here. Other resources include: Sparticus Gay Travel Index “climate” by country Equaldex LGBTQIA rights by country ILGA’s publication Identities Under Arrest Man About World LGBTQ guide to travel safety (trans inclusive) Alturi’s list of LGTBQI Organizations resources to tap while abroad	Students
Academic and Career Resources The Department for Gender and Sexuality Studies, the LGBTQ+ Policy Lab, The Carpenter Program in Religion, Gender, and Sexuality in the Divinity School and the Vanderbilt libraries all provide resources for discovery and learning. The Career Center Diversity Opportunities Resource Page, as well as other guides, provides resources for navigating careers and the workplace.	Details available on the Academic Resources and Career Resources section here.	Students Faculty Staff Postdoctoral scholars

To submit additional inquires or provide feedback to the LBTQIA Task Force, email lgbtqiataskforce@vanderbilt.edu.

To reach out to the LGBTQIA Task Force committee chair, email christopher.s.carpenter@vanderbilt.edu.

Additional Resources

University Counseling Center	Call 615-322-2571 to speak with an on-call behavioral health provider
Student Care Coordination	Schedule an appointment online or call 615-343-WELL (9355)
Center for Student Wellbeing	Call 615-322-0480 to schedule an appointment
Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center	Call 615-322-4843 for assistance
Project Safe	Call 615-322-7233 hotline for support
Center for Spiritual and Religious Life	Call 615-322-2457 for support
Employee Assistance Program	Visit Vanderbilt’s Health and Wellness website to learn about behavioral and mental health programs for employees, their spouses and their children ages 2 and older.
Transgender Student Health and Wellness Resources	https://www.vanderbilt.edu/studentcarenetwork/trans-student-resources/
Wellness Programs for Faculty, Staff, Postdocs	Vanderbilt’s mental health service provider, Lyra, offers specialized services and support for employees who identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community. All Vanderbilt University employees and their family members are eligible to receive 12 counseling sessions per household member each year at no cost. https://vanderbilt.lyrahealth.com/
VIVID Health at Vanderbilt University Medical Center	VIVID Health promotes physical, mental and spiritual well-being for adults of all sexual orientations and gender identities. The VIVID Health team offers inclusive and compassionate health care and support for the adult LGBTQ community. https://www.vanderbilthealth.com/program/vivid-health

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

LGBTQI+ LEGISLATION IN TENNESSEE

What is the current state of recently adopted LGBTQI+ legislation in Tennessee?

In March 2023, the state of Tennessee enacted two laws relevant to LGBTQI+ people in Tennessee. One bans gender affirming care for minors in the state; the other restricts adult cabaret performances, including drag shows, in public spaces in the presence of children. In June 2023, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction preventing part of the gender affirming care law from taking effect, but in July 2023 a panel of judges for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals voted to stay that preliminary injunction, meaning that the law has gone into effect for the time being. It continues to be actively litigated by several organizations and in June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the case in its upcoming 2024-2025 term. The restriction on certain adult cabaret performances was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge in Memphis in June 2023 due to being vague and substantially overbroad. The State of Tennessee has appealed that ruling to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. In September 2023, a non-profit organization that supports LGBTQ+ rights sought to intervene in the lawsuit, and the Sixth Circuit allowed them to do so. As of July 2024, the appeal is still pending with the Sixth Circuit.

VANDERBILT’S RESPONSE TO LGBTQI+ LEGISLATION

How has the university responded to anti-LGBTQI+ legislation?

Vanderbilt remains committed to supporting the success, health and well-being of the university’s LGBTQI+ community. A university-wide LGBTQI+ Task Force convened by the Office of the Provost, in coordination with the Office of Chancellor, was appointed and charged with assessing the impact of the legislation on students, faculty and staff; identifying short, medium, and longer-term recommendations for university senior leadership; and creating learning forums for university campus members to engage in thoughtful dialogue on related issues.
How has the LGBTQI+ Task Force gone about its work?

The Task Force divided its initial work into three subcommittees focused on the implications of the legislation across three areas: a) university policies and procedures (including benefits), b) education and training practices, and c) legal. The Task Force held separate listening sessions for students, faculty, and staff in April and May 2023. The Task Force drafted initial recommendations to university senior leadership and has worked through Summer 2023 to plan strategically for Fall 2023 and beyond. Specifically, the task force is considering strategies and solutions for continuing to protect the physical safety of LGBTQI+ community members, in addition to addressing the uncertainties tied to anti-LGBTQI+ legislation.
What recommendations has the task force made, and what is the status of the recommendations?

The Task Force made two concrete recommendations to university senior leadership for addressing the most pressing gaps identified through the listening sessions and outreach across the university. Both have been adopted. The first of these was to include a travel/lodging benefit in the university health plan to cover services not available in a plan member’s home state. This is described in detail in the next FAQ. The second of these recommendations was to enhance staffing on gender identity related issues for Vanderbilt community members. This new position will help address questions, concerns and support for LGBTQI+ students, faculty and staff members. The program coordinator for gender diversity role sits within Student Affairs, and will collaborate very closely with the K.C. Potter Center for LGBTQI+ Life, Faculty Affairs, Office of Health and Wellness and other relevant areas on campus. Moreover, the new staff hire will spend at least 20 hours per week on site at the K.C. Potter Center.
What health care options are available to the transgender community?

Students
Vanderbilt offers healthcare benefits in the student health plan. Additionally, students can apply for assistance through the Student Critical Support Fund and Student Care Coordination that aids with unexpected medical and/or mental health expenses that may impact a student's success.
The university’s Student Health Center provides comprehensive care sensitive to students’ sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.
The University Counseling Center offers virtual and in-person sessions specifically for LGBTQI+ students, as well as, the Continuum Support Group for students wishing to give and receive support around sexual identity and/or gender identity. For more information, email:
Melissa Porter, board certified transgender therapist through the International Transgender Certification Association
melissa.porter@vanderbilt.edu
Kyle Shadrick, board certified transgender therapist through the International Transgender Certification Association
aaron.k.shadrick@vanderbilt.edu
Employees
Vanderbilt offers healthcare benefits, including a travel/lodging benefit in the employee health plan and for out-of-state care that is included in the plan but unavailable in the employee’s home state. Specialized mental health services and support are available to members of the LGBTQI+ community and families through Vanderbilt’s mental health service provider, Lyra. All Vanderbilt University employees and their family members are eligible to receive 12 counseling sessions per household member each year at no cost.
Will there be learning opportunities related to the LGBTQI+ legislation?

The LGBTQI+ Task Force, in conjunction with key campus partners, has planned two university events to address the relevant policy/legal issues and the relevant medical issues surrounding gender affirming care. The first of these will be an Oct. 24 lecture by C.P. Hoffman from the National Center for Transgender Equality on the policy and legal issues surrounding gender affirming care in Tennessee and across the United States. Hoffman’s lecture is scheduled for 12:30-1:30 p.m. in Flynn Auditorium at the Vanderbilt Law School.
What will be the plan for the LGBTQI+ Task Force going forward?

As with other similar university task forces addressing specific issues of relevance to the campus community, a subset of the larger Task Force will continue to meet to continuously assess university support for the LGBTQI+ community in the context of new legislation. Relevant updates will be shared with the university community as appropriate on myVU, this website, and through email communications.

LGBTQI+ COMMUNITY AT VANDERBILT

How does Vanderbilt foster inclusion, belonging and community on campus for students, faculty and staff who identify as LGBTQI+?

Vanderbilt is committed to having a campus environment in which equity, diversity and inclusion are inseparable from institutional excellence. The university’s Office of LGBTQI Life provides opportunities for engagement and connection as well as resources for faculty and staff. Student groups and employee affinity groups also provide support and programming.
Does the university support name changes and pronoun designation?

Vanderbilt University offers students, faculty and staff the options of using a preferred name in select systems. Learn more about where names are listed, who can see them, and how you can change your preferences in the many components of the university’s online systems here.
Are academic and career resources regarding LGBTQI+ Life available at Vanderbilt?

The Department for Gender and Sexuality Studies, the Vanderbilt LGBTQ+ Policy Lab, The Carpenter Program in Religion, Gender and Sexuality in the Divinity School and the Vanderbilt libraries all provide resources for discovery and learning.
Can the university guarantee safety of individual Vanderbilt community members or official university guests?

The university has robust security protocols in place to protect all its community members and guests as much as possible.
How can members of the LGBTQI+ community report bias or discrimination?

Vanderbilt prohibits all forms of discrimination. Bias and discrimination should be reported to the Equal Opportunity and Access Office or Title IX Office. The university will take prompt and effective action to address all allegations of discrimination and sexual misconduct.

Task Force Membership

Chair

Kitt Carpenter, E. Bronson Ingram Professor and University Distinguished Professor Economics and Health Policy, and founder and director of Vanderbilt’s LGBTQ+ Policy Lab

Members

G.L. Black, vice provost for student affairs and dean of students
Laura Mariko Cheifetz, assistant dean of admissions, vocation and student life, Vanderbilt Divinity School
Pam Jones, associate vice chancellor for health and wellness
Luis Leyva, assistant professor of mathematics education and faculty affiliate in the Department of Gender and Sexuality Studies
Stephanie Mahnke, director of the K.C. Potter Center for LGBTQI Life
Kevin Niswender, associate professor of medicine and executive medical director of VIVID Health
Ciera V. Scott, associate director for community engagement, University Counseling Center
Michelle Tellock, deputy general counsel, Office of the General Counsel
Catherine A. Wood, executive director, Total Rewards, Human Resources
Kosha Tucker, associate vice chancellor and chief of staff, Office of the Provost (ex officio)