Transgender and Gender Non-Binary Resources

PLU Athletics – The Pacific Lutheran Athletics Department is dedicated to providing a broad-based, quality program and experience for men and women who strive to achieve academic and athletic excellence within the Northwest Conference as well as regional and national levels. Committed to the holistic development of students, the department strives to educate and promote personal growth and physical well-being through its intercollegiate sports program. The department subscribes to high standards of ethical conduct and fair play to achieve athletic prominence and to safeguard the health and welfare of its students.

PLU Athletics and Recreation Inclusion Policy and Best Practices for Transgender and Gender Non-binary Student-Athletes

View the Student-Athlete Handbook [pdf]

TransAthlete College Athletics Guidelines (condensed) – “The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has a complete policy outlining transgender student-athlete participation in NCAA sports. Colleges not governed by the NCAA may have different policies. School-specific procedures for working with trans athletes may differ at each institution.”

NCAA Transgender Guidelines – NCAA Office of Inclusion, Published August 2011

Career Connections – Career Connections brings together PLU’s best academic and career planning tools to help students make a seamless transition into the next phase of life. Career Connections positions students to succeed by linking them to the right resources, advisors, opportunities, and employers.

Student Employment – Finding a job during college can be a daunting process, especially for new students. The Student Employment Office works with current students to assist them in their employment endeavors– whether through work-study or on-campus employment.

Career Connections Opportunities Board – On and off campus jobs can be found on the Career Connections Opportunities Board. If any student wants assistance looking for a job or developing a resume or cover letter, please schedule an appointment with Career Connections by calling 253-535-7415 or emailing career@plu.edu.

Career Fairs – Career Connections hosts several career fairs throughout the school year. Employers come to campus for these fairs, looking to hire PLU students. Make sure to dress professionally and bring a resume to the career fairs.

National Center for Transgender Equality – National organization devoted to ending discrimination and violence against transgender people through education and advocacy.

Transgender Employment Empowerment Initiative – Collaborative effort of Jewish Vocational Services, the TG Law Center and the San Francisco LGBT Community Center to help transgender job seekers find and keep jobs.

Transgender Law Center – Comprehensive resources on transgender law.

Transgender Law and Policy Institute – The Transgender Civil Rights project is a leading source providing legislative, policy and strategy assistance.

Transgender Workplace Diversity – A blog hosted by transgender attorney/ consultant Jillian Weiss. Information for human resource professionals, lawyers, transgender employees and allies on workplace-related issues.

Out for Work – National career fair and conference for GLBT job seekers, GLBT-friendly employers and workshops featuring education and outreach to addressing the concerns of GLBT Industry Specific Resources.

Industry Specific Resources:

Gay and Lesbian Medical Association – Organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered physicians, medical students, and their supporters.

National Lesbian and Gay Law Association – A national association of lawyers, judges and other legal professionals, law students, and affiliated lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender legal organizations. Includes news, events, and membership and contact information.

Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies – Group for workers in U.S. State Department, Agency for International Development (USAID) and other foreign affairs agencies. Events, news, mission, links, membership, history and contact details.

National Gay Pilots Association – National organization of Gay and Lesbian pilots and other aviation enthusiasts from across the U.S. promoting aviation safety and equal treatment. News, Events (into 2003), scholarships, merchandise, contacts, links, photos.

National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals – NOGLSTP is a national organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people (and their advocates) employed or interested in scientific or high technology fields.

PRISM – PRISM serves as a resource to create a supportive and education environment for students at Pacific Lutheran University through advocacy for the queer community and addressing issues which arise for those who identify as LGBTQQIAA2. Contact: qasu@plu.edu

The Center for Diversity, Justice, and Sustainability Offers programs, retreats, communities, and resources that center and celebrate LGBTQIA+ students at PLU

The Queer Student Retreat – The Queer Student Retreat is a gathering for PLU students who identify as GLBTQ. Students attending the Queer Student will make connections, build community, engage in meaningful conversation, explore issues of identity, celebrate the energies and initiatives of the GLBTQ community at PLU and have an all-around good time.

Transgender Day of Remembrance – November 20th is the annual observance of the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Founded in 1999, TDOR is an opportunity to memorialize the people murdered because of transphobia, and to bring attention to the continued violence and prejudice endured by the transgender community. Transgender people cannot be visible only when they are being mourned. Their lives matter, not solely their deaths.
Read the PLU Open Letter for TDOR 2016

Tacoma T-Men – Tacoma Tmen is a peer-facilitated discussion group for people who were assigned female at birth, who do not identify as female. This includes those who identify as male, FtM, trans men, transmasculine, trans*, genderqueer, genderfluid, gender-non-conforming, non-binary, or are questioning their gender identity.

Oasis Youth Center – Oasis is the only drop-in and support center dedicated to the needs of LGBTQ youth ages 14-24 in Pierce County. We are a youth-adult partnership in which youth and adults come together for shared teaching learning and action!

SPART*A – Military – SPART*A’s mission is to advocate for and support our actively serving LGBT military members and veterans, and their families, while working to ensure the military provides equal opportunity for all service members regardless of race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Gender Odyssey – Conference – Gender Odyssey is an international conference focused on the needs and interests of transgender and gender diverse people. Packed with thought-provoking workshops, discussion groups, social events and entertainment, this one-of-a-kind annual gathering attracts people from all over the world for an uplifting weekend of skill sharing and community.

Gender Alliance of the South Sound – The Gender Alliance of the South Sound is a federal 501(c)(3) non-profit group dedicated to assisting the transgender community within the South Puget Sound area of Washington state. G.A.S.S. is open to all individuals who wish to learn more about their own unique inner self, and to meet and mingle with others who are likewise on this voyage of discovery. We welcome anyone upon the vast transgender spectrum: crossdressers, transsexuals (M-to-F and F-to-M), intersexed individuals, as well as spouses, significant others, friends and family.

Lambert House – Lambert House is a safe place for LGBTQ youth ages 11 to 22. Youth age 11-13 need a signed parent consent form for participation, available at the Lambert House front desk. Our calendar is packed with fun activities, support groups, planning meetings, dances, and other events. We are here to make life better for each other as LGBTQ youth.

Gender Justice League – Gender Justice League is a Washington State trans and allied activist collective headquartered in Seattle… GJL was started by a group of long time trans, queer, and allied activists who were looking to increase the community’s capacity to address cissexism, transphobia, transmisogyny and homo, bi, and queer phobias that trans, and gender non-conforming people face.

Ingersoll Gender Center – Ingersoll Gender Center (Seattle) is a mutual support and education organization for transgender, trans*, gender variant and genderqueer people, and the people who support them.

Gay City: Seattle’s LGBTQ Center – Gay City: Seattle’s LGBTQ Center promotes wellness in LGBTQ communities by providing health services, connecting people to resources, fostering arts, and building community. Gay City is a leading provider of HIV and STI testing in King County.

Pride Foundation – Pride Foundation works with donors, volunteers, grantees, and scholars all over the Northwest to bring full equality to the LGBTQ community. The Pride Foundation helps nonprofits, students, and leaders with a broad range of ideas for advancing LGBTQ equality get the support they need to achieve their goals.

Washington Won’t Discriminate – Washington Won’t Discriminate is broad coalition of faith leaders, law enforcement officials, businesses and concerned Washingtonians committed to protecting our state’s long-standing non-discrimination laws.

PLU Health Center – Medical services provided by the PLU Health Center include gender-affirming care for acute illness, minor injuries, contraception, management of side effects from hormone therapy, sports physicals and travel medicine consultation. Many routine immunizations are available for a fee. Influenza vaccine is available at no charge. STI screening, condoms and dental dams are offered at no charge to students. The PLU Health Center has on site lab for lab orders placed by any provider, regardless of whether they are a PLU or off-site clinician.

PLU Counseling Center – Mental health services provided by the PLU Counseling Center include care in the form of individual counseling, walk-in consultation, Springboard workshops, consultation to staff, faculty and students concerned about a PLU student, mental health medication evaluation/treatment, after hours crisis support and referral. All office visits are free and confidential.

Trans Lifeline – Non-profit hotline staffed by transgender individuals. This is primarily for transgender people or people struggling with gender identity who are experiencing a crisis.
(877) 565-8860

Cedar River Clinic in Tacoma offers quality health care in a safe and culturally responsive environment. Every client who receives care at Cedar River Clinics is treated with dignity and respect.

Ingersoll Gender Center has collaborated with medical and mental health providers to provide the best and most competent services for trans and gender variant people.

List of Providers

Planned Parenthood of Puyallup & Planned Parenthood of Tacoma provide low-cost and/or free medical resources for individuals in the community. You can view the full list of services here.

Capitol Hill Medical (an LGBTQI clinic in Seattle) also schedules appointments for HRT, and they too operate in an Informed Consent model. In their own words, we “are a gay focused clinic that exists to serve the unique medical needs of the Seattle LGBTQ community. We are gay doctors and gay clinicians in Seattle offering primary care services to gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and trans* patients. We are also certified by the American Academy of HIV Medicine as HIV specialists, and offer hormone therapy to our trans* patients who are in transition.”

Pride Counseling NW – PLU MFT graduate that works with couples, individuals, and families from all backgrounds and circumstances. Amira Fordham Erickson offer specialized counseling for the LGBTQ community, including (but not limited to) issues around coming out, family reconciliation, faith reconciliation, identity development, gender identity and transition.

Seattle Children’s Hospital – Gender Clinic – Gender-affirming care to people up to 21 years old

Schine Health –

Olympia Free Clinic – They offer gender-affirming health care once per month, by appointment. Their services include non-surgical care focused on hormone replacement therapy. Their providers may also refer patients for outside services.

Queen Anne Medical Remote – Queen Anne Medical Associates, PLLC, is a “Gender-Friendly” practice, and we welcome you to come to our office in the gender appropriate for you. We are happy to address you in your preferred name; simply let us know how we can make you more comfortable.

The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) – The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), formerly known as the (Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association (HBIGDA), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, interdisciplinary professional and educational organization devoted to transgender health. Our professional, supporting, and student members engage in clinical and academic research to develop evidence-based medicine and strive to promote a high quality of care for transsexual, transgender, and gender-nonconforming individuals internationally. We are funded primarily through the support of our membership, and through donations and grants sponsored by non-commercial sources.
Standards of Care, Version 7

Washington state health insurance topics:

• Office of the Insurance Commissioner Washington State – Transgender Rights
• Kaiser Permanente – Transgender Services
• Multicare – LGBTQ+ Care
• Apple Health (Medicaid) – Transgender Health Program
  • Gender Justice League: Apple Health FAQ’s

PLU Couple and Family Therapy Center (Low-cost, sliding-fee scale)
Contact: 323 Garfield Street South
Tacoma, WA 98447
(253) 535-8782

Amira Fordham Erickson, MA, Med, LMFTA (LGBTQ+ counseling)
2711 North 21st Street
Tacoma, WA 98406
(253) 201-0203
pridecounselingnw.com
amira@pridecounselingnw.com

Elisabeth Esmiol Wilson, LMFT, PhD, LMFT (sex therapist)
323 Garfield Street South
Tacoma, Washington 98447
(253) 655-0633

Jane Ryan, MA, LMFT (sex therapist)
Ryan Therapy Services
3224 6th Avenue
Tacoma, Washington 98406
(253) 205-0704

Dr. Patricia Fawver (Board Certified clinical sexologist specializing in gender positive counseling.)
patriciafawver.com

Laura Johnson, LMHC (counselor & gender therapist–will see little kids)
Psychology Today: Therapists – Laura Johnson Profile

Gender Inclusive Housing at PLU – Campus Life is committed to creating inclusive living communities that foster a sense of belonging and comfort for all students, inclusive of all gender identities. Campus Life at PLU routinely works with students to address issues of individual need, comfort and fit with the on-campus living experience.

Since Fall of 2017, Campus Life has expanded the offering of gender-inclusive housing options (from previously 2 communities established in Fall 2013):

• A Gender Inclusive Wing in Tingelstad Hall
• A Gender Inclusive Wing in Hinderlie Community for Creative Expression
• The Lavender Wing in Ordal Hall, which is a Gender Inclusive Wing and also a Residential Learning Community focused on the exploration and understanding of LGBTQ+ identities and experiences (NEW for Fall 2017)
• All Wings in Stuen and Ordal Hall

Gender inclusive housing provides students with the opportunity to live in a community with a centralized, all-gender bathroom designed to provide additional privacy that can be used by any resident on the wing. Students interested in these communities need to submit an application that can be found on the Campus Life website. In this application, students are able to indicate if they would like to live in a single room, a double room with a preferred roommate, a double room with someone of the same gender, or a double room with someone of any gender, including their own. Gender inclusive housing is primarily open to returning students, though incoming first-year students may apply through contacting Campus Life.

For students who are 20 years old or have 60+ credits, South Hall provides an apartment-style living option that allows students to live with students of any gender when mutual roommate requests are confirmed.

Student Life Emergency Resources – Housing emergencies for current students are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If you are a current student at PLU and are experiencing homelessness, please contact Campus Life or Campus Safety (if after daytime office hours.)

Oasis Youth Center – Oasis is the only drop-in and support center dedicated to the needs of LGBTQ youth ages 14-24 in Pierce County. We are a youth-adult partnership in which youth and adults come together for shared teaching learning and action!
Gay City: Seattle LGBTQ Center – Gay City: Seattle’s LGBTQ Center promotes wellness in LGBTQ communities by providing health services, connecting people to resources, fostering arts, and building community. Gay City is a leading provider of HIV and STI testing in King County.
Lambda Legal – Founded in 1973, Lambda Legal is the oldest and largest national legal organization whose mission is to achieve full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.
Resources for LGBTQ Youth

Registrar’s Office – The Office of the Registrar supports the mission of Pacific Lutheran University by enforcing academic policy and providing administrative services to the academic community.

Other Services in the Registrar’s Office

A few key services we support include: class registration, grading, transfer credit evaluation, degree evaluation, and academic record maintenance. The university’s curriculum advising and program planning tool (CAPP) is also managed by the office. In addition, the office produces the PLU Catalog and class schedule, and assists with commencement.

The Office of the Registrar welcomes your questions. We are available by e-mail (registrar@plu.edu), by phone (253-535-7131) and by appointment. The office is located in the Hauge Administration Building, Room 130, and is accessible Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Should you need assistance during non-business hours the catalog, the PLU website and BannerWeb are available 24/7. We look forward to serving you.

Driver’s License/Passports

• WA DMV – Change your gender designation: Driver licenses and ID cards
• WA DMV – Change your name: Driver licenses and ID cards
• U.S. Passport – Gender Designation Change
• National Center for Transgender Equality – Know Your Rights: Passports
• Ingersoll Transition Guide (Applies to all above)

PLU’s Non-Discrimination Policy – “Pacific Lutheran University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by law in the educational programs or activities which it operates. Numerous federal, state and local laws, including but not limited to the following federal laws, prohibit discrimination in educational programs, activities, admission to and employment at PLU: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.”

Title IX – Pacific Lutheran University’s Title IX policy represents a full commitment to gender equity that aligns with our mission and our community of care, while meeting the federal government’s call to action.

Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) – The purpose of the Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) is to anonymously collect data regarding instances of experienced bias within the PLU community and monitor the type and frequency of such occurrences. Doing so will help us better understand our campus climate, create community-based educational opportunities to address noted trends in such occurrences, and foster an environment where everyone feels welcome.

Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities – The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) is part of Pacific Lutheran University’s commitment to holistic student development. PLU SR&R Office seeks to provide a fair and equitable process for reviewing and responding to incidents.

Washington State Human Rights Commission – Established in 1949 by the Washington State Legislature, the Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC) is a state agency responsible for administering and enforcing the Washington Law Against Discrimination.
Guide to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and the Washington State Law Against Discrimination

ACLU – WA – The ACLU is the nation’s premier civil rights and civil liberties organization. It is an unwavering voice of freedom, fairness and equality for all people in America. We work in the courts, the legislatures, and in our communities to protect and extend basic rights for everyone. The ACLU is fueled by more than 500,000 members and supporters as well as thousands of volunteers. The ACLU takes no government funds – we are people-powered!
Rights of Transgender People in Washington State

Lambda Legal – Founded in 1973, Lambda Legal is the oldest and largest national legal organization whose mission is to achieve full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.
Resources for LGBTQ Youth

National Center for Transgender Equality – The National Center for Transgender Equality is a national social justice organization devoted to ending discrimination and violence against transgender people through education and advocacy on national issues of importance to transgender people.
Washington State Resources

QLaw – QLaw Association is an association of LGBT legal professionals and their friends. Serving as a voice for LGBT lawyers and other legal professionals in the state of Washington on issues relating to diversity and equality in the legal profession, in the courts, and under the law,…