LGBTQ Advisory Council

The UA President’s LGBTQ Advisory Council strengthens the relationships between the University and the LGBTQ communities within the State of Arizona by serving as a communications conduit and by developing mutually-beneficial partnerships. Council members advise the President on matters of importance to LGBTQ communities as they relate to the University of Arizona.

Highlights of Council Accomplishments

  • Recommended that the UA hire an LGBTQ Program Coordinator in order to support the retention of LGBTQ faculty, staff, and students.  In response, the UA established the LGBTQ Affairs Office in 2007.  The Office works to build, sustain and strengthen a safe, inclusive, and open environment for faculty, staff, appointed professionals, students, alumni, parents, and guests of all gender identities and sexual orientations. Learn more about the LGBTQ Affairs Office.
  • Encouraged the UA to take additional concrete steps to create a campus that is inclusive and welcoming of transgender colleagues and visitors.  Based on the Council’s suggestion, the UA issued a restroom access policy which in keeping with the University’s nondiscrimination on the basis of gender identity policy states that individuals may use the restroom that corresponds to their gender identity.  The University also began converting single stall restrooms into gender-neutral restrooms in as many buildings as feasible.  Not only was this conversion supportive of transgender individuals, but it was also more inclusive of parents with children of a different gender and caregivers/attendants of a different gender as well.
  • Advocated that the University establish Domestic Partner Benefits for employees.  In May 2010 the UA Human Resources Department announced that the UA will offer group medical, dental and vision insurance coverage to its benefits-eligible employees who wish to cover their domestic partners and their children.
  • Supported the allocation of funds to develop a UA LGBT Studies Center which would serve to coordinate sexuality-related research, curricular activities, and provide innovative programming.   Leveraging the talent and expertise of the LGBT Studies Executive Committee the LGBT Studies Institute was created in 2007.  The Institute is the only one of its kind in the nation that addresses LGBT border issues, thus enhancing the UA’s reputation for excellence in research and service to its local communities.


Select Council Interests and Initiatives

  • Assessing campus climate for LGBTQ faculty and staff.
  • Supporting the LGBT Institute by engaging in fundraising and volunteer activities.
  • Helping to build additional UA – community partnerships.

Council Updates
Learn more about current events at the UA and access important messages from the Council.

Council Members
Review a list of the current Council members.

Stay Connected
We are committed to serving as a communications conduit between southern Arizona’s LGBTQ communities and the UA President. We also value and welcome your input.  Please email your questions, suggestions, or comments. Contact us.

Note:  The Council accomplishments and interests/initiatives above are not an exhaustive list, but rather illustrative of the Council’s work.  The University of Arizona is indebted to Council members who so generously volunteer their time and talent in support of students.