Statement Supporting LGBTQIA+ Students

The American College Counseling Association (ACCA) endorses equality and well-being of all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) students, along with its commitment to nondiscrimination and to the prevention of harassment in all forms—verbal, physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological—including protections for transgender, gender non-conforming, and LGBTQ+ individuals. ACCA believes all students should be afforded equal learning opportunities, that colleges and universities should provide a safe and supportive environment for LGBTQIA+ students, and that harassment and/or bullying based on sexual/romantic orientation and gender identity are serious civil rights violations and have no place in higher education.

At the present time, August 2023, there are legislative efforts in most states (492 across the United States) aimed at decreasing, if not eliminating, many rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals (ACLU, 2023). Here is a link to find out what is happening in your state: Mapping Attacks on LGBTQ Rights in U.S. State Legislatures | American Civil Liberties Union (aclu.org).

In addition to support through counseling services and broader higher education efforts, we wanted to share some ways in which we may further fight for our students in this current climate.

1. Know what’s happening in your state
2. Donate to the organization of your choice
3. Write your local congressman (as a private citizen**)
4. Sign relevant petitions (as a private citizen**)
5. Join or support a local PRIDE march or rally
6. Join a local support organization
7. If you are interested in doing more, such as testifying before your state legislature, we can connect you with advocates and training offered by the Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE). Feel free to reach out to John Watson, Chair of the Professional Awareness and Public Advocacy Committee, at jwatson15@missouriwestern.edu and/or visit the following link for more information: Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities – Counselors and Related Professionals Serving Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Communities (saigecounseling.org).

** The note about “as a private citizen” is to protect the work being done at our institutions. For some, this is not an issue. For others, due to public funding sources and other concerns we encourage discretion so as not to draw unwanted attention that may jeopardize the work we are doing on campus to support LGBTQIA+ students.

In Solidarity,

Amanda Allen, Member-At-Large for Community Colleges
Lee Bard II, Secretary
Greg Bohner, Treasurer
Amy Broadwater, President-Elect
Monica Osburn, Representative to the ACA Governing Council
Sam Simon, Member-At-Large for Graduate Students and New Professionals
Becca Smith, Past President
Scott Sokoloski, Member-At-Large for Professional Advocacy
Wayne Strother, President
John Watson, Chair of the Professional Awareness and Public Advocacy Committee