The AU Trans Experience: Then and Now

"The AU Trans Experience: Then and Now" project aims to explore and celebrate the transgender experience at American University over the past several decades. For current transgender students, this project provides a sense that they belong to a trans-affirming AU community and to a long history of trans people at AU.

The project also brings a rich awareness to our non-trans community members, who may know that trans people exist, or may even know a trans individual personally, but may not have spent much time thinking about what trans experience is like or how rich trans history and research really is.

This display was researched and curated by Dr. Perry Zurn (Dept. of Philosophy and Religion), Matt Ferguson, Stephen Masson, Hana Henzen, and Scout Pruski, with special direction from Leslie Nellis (Associate Archivist) and Erica Bethel (Marketing and Design Coordinator), in partial fulfillment of an Inclusive Excellence Mini-Grant. This is an ongoing archival project. If you have additional information about the history of trans life at AU, feel free to contact Perry Zurn (pzurn@american.edu).

This abridged timeline is currently on display on the second floor of Bender Library.

Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA) was founded in DC. It is the oldest continuously active gay and lesbian civil rights organization in the United States.

American University Gay Community (AUGC) established “to provide a sense of community, friendship, and openness among the Gay and Lesbian students, faculty, and staff.”

AU’s Human Diversity League: A Union of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Supportive Students exists. It states four main goals: 1) provide a feeling of unity, 2) provide information (including Aids information), 3) support social life, and 4) instill a sense of pride, self-worth, and self-understanding among members.

“Sexual Minority Resource Center Mission Statement,” revision dated June 1, 1995, includes reference to “transgender communities,” “transgender-positive policies,” and “the homophobia and heterosexism faced by lesbians, gays, and bisexual and transgender individuals every day.”

The At Least 10% group forms, “a student-run, University-recognized organization dedicated to improving the campus climate and creating opportunity for lesbian, gay, bissexual, and transgender people at American University.”

Sexual Minority Resource Center (SMRC) officially changes its name to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Allies (GLBTA) Resource Center.

Riki Anne Wilchins, cofounder of Transsexual Menace, visits AU on April 1, 1998, to “speak about Sexual Subversion and the End of Gender as we know it.” The talk is entitled, “Ever Wonder What It’s Like to Change Your Sex?” The event is co-sponsored by At Least 10%, Lambda Grads, and GLBTA.

At Least 10% meeting, on February 17, 1999, discusses wrongful death of Black trans woman Tyra Hunter in DC as well as identifies problems with the AU administration in relation to trans issues.

At Least 10% and the GLBTA Resource Center bring transgender activist Jessica Xavier to campus on April 12, 1999, for a discussion of transgender communities and transgender activism.

TRANARCHY poster (hand drawn), includes key definitions, advice on respecting trans people, and trans resources, such as:

• Kate Bornstein, Gender Outlaw (1994) and My Gender Workbook (1997).
• Loren Cameron, Body Alchemy (1996).
• Leslie Feinberg, Transgender Warriors (1996) and Transliberation (1999).
• Daphne Scholinski, The Last Time I Wore A Dress (1997).
• Rikki Anne Wilchins, Read My Lips (1997).

Susan Rankine (Pennsylvania State University) submits the American University Climate Survey Report, a 76 page document.

Mindy Michels and Caeden Dempsey send a report to Gail Hanson and Gary Wright dated June 12, 2001, and titled, “Administrative Support of Transgender Students, Faculty, and Staff at American University.”

Vice President of Student Services issues signed letter declaring all new and renovated facilities must have gender neutral single-stall bathrooms.

Washington College of Law hosts a conference on transgender legal issues.

Nicholas S. Sakurai and Sara Bendoraitis present, “Removing Transgender Exclusions from AU’s Employee Health Insurance,” on October 25, 2007.

Danna Galan presents, “Celebrating the Transgender Movement in Bolivia,” on October 20, 2009, in the Battelle Atrium. Event is co-sponsored by the Department of Anthropology, the Council on Latin America, and the GLBTA Resource Center.

The GLBTA Resource Center programming for Transgender Advocacy Week includes film screening of Two Spirit (2009) documentary, November 18, 2010, in the Weschler Theatre. The event, which includes a discussion of the film by Marion Fixico from the Two Spirit Society of Washington DC, was co-sponsored by the Center for Social Media; Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Program; GLBTA Resource Center; School of Communication; Queers and Allies; Office of University Chaplain; Student Advocates for Native Communities; and Multicultural Affairs.

Kate Bornstein gives a talk entitled, “I Am a Queer and Pleasant Danger, and My Time is Coming.” Talk is sponsored by Queer and Allies, WGSS, Women’s Initiative, GLBTA Resource Center, and Student Activities.

Tonei Glavinic is awarded the Richard Schlegel National Legion of Honor Award, in the category of “Emerging Activist;” the National Center for Transgender Equality is awarded the Richard Schlegel National Legion of Honor Award, under the category of “Visionary Leader.” The awards are presented on April 12, 2011, at the 14th Annual Awards Ceremony, run by the GLBTA Resource Center.

Trans Advocacy Project starts (lasts until about 2016).

Loro Lox and Emmett Patterson, students in the AU WGSS program, found Not Your Average Sex Talk, a peer-to-peer, trans-affirming health advocacy network.

Laverne Cox speaks at American University; see "Trans Trailblazers" article by Gregg Sangillo, February 14, 2014.

Janet Mock speaks at AU on April 1, 2015. The event was organized by the AUSG’s Women’s Initiative.

Cass Bliss, genderqueer alumn of the AU WGSS program (’15), publishes The Adventures of Toni the Tampon; A Period Coloring Book. The book aims to introduce kids of all genders to menstruation.

First full length “Transgender Studies” course taught by then WGSS Director and term faculty member Lauren Weiss (3 credit, WGS 350).

On September 27, 2018, in the Katzen Recital Hall and hosted by SPA, AU SPA alumna Sarah McBride (‘13) did a talk on her book, Tomorrow Will Be Different (2018).

Thinking Trans // Trans Thinking Conference, October 5-6, 2018, co-organized by AU faculty member Perry Zurn and UNC Charlotte faculty member Andrea Pitts. The two keynotes were: Mel Chen (University of California, Berkeley) and Che Gossett (Rutgers University).

Eli Clare, trans and disabled activist and author, is awarded the Richard L. Schlegel National Legion of Honor Award, under the category of Visionary Leader. The award is presented at AU’s Thinking Trans // Trans Thinking Conference.