Kris Grey: he may be more recognizable by his show name, Justin Credible, or as the "Ask a Tranny" person. Yet, whatever name he goes by, he is genderqueer — a relatively new term for someone who does not identify completely as a man or a woman — and says he's "proud to represent" the greater genderqueer and transgender community.
Only a few years ago, there was no "T" in LGBT. For this reason, the LGBT community and its allies have recently focused on educating the public about the transgender community and working to provide equal treatment for them and their lifestyle.
Ohio University's LGBT Center played its part by holding OU's first TransWorld Awareness (TWA) Week from Oct. 3-8. Tuesday evening's event, a panel discussion focused specifically on transgender needs in a higher-education setting.
"It's time to raise the level of awareness and open up people's minds… and blow some people's minds because they can't get beyond the binary," said Mickey Hart, director of the LGBT Center.
Hart, along with four other presenters including Grey, discussed what steps have been taken to incorporate transgender needs into higher education, specifically in Southwest Ohio, as well as the challenges that still must be overcome.
One of the largest obstacles is providing support and adequate facilities for transgenders so that they can feel comfortable on campus, according to panelist Dr. Susan Young, a psychologist at OU's Hudson Health Center.
Previously, the closest support group could be found in Columbus, said Young. Yet, the group was geared toward an older generation, so college students still felt out of place.
Hudson Health Center, which has made many strides to accommodate transgender students, now houses the only support group in the area. It is unique because it's not just for students, but rather all community members who need a safe haven.
Another way Hudson and the campus have aided transgender students is by incorporating "single-stall locked restrooms" into several buildings, especially new structures, said Hart.
"When I arrived, if people were taking hormones, they couldn't even take a (urine) test in that building (Hudson) because there was no bathroom for them," said Young.
Hart said that some people jokingly compare the need for these restrooms to the old TV show "Ally McBeal," which was famous for its single-user locked bathroom. However, it's a serious matter that needs to stay on the forefront of advocates' agendas, he added.
A building that Grey frequents, Siegfried Hall, has two single-stall lockable restrooms, but other buildings, including Grover, which was recently updated, have none. Neither does the aquatic center, according to the panel.
Grey said he can get past this fact for now. He's willing to use any restroom, but not everyone may feel that way. "I'm pretty bold," he said.
The LGBT center has worked to bring more attention to the "T" in its name in other ways, too. These efforts include an extensive website with links and educational tools; the OUTstanding poster campaigns that always feature at least one transgender; and the Safe Zone campaign to create an accepting environment.
"I know there's always more we could be doing. Any time issues come up, we've been there to help move forward," said Hart.
OU continues to make strides for LGBT students' living situations as well, panelists said, for example with the addition of Gender Neutral Housing for the 2011-2012 school year.
GNH has received good responses, and the students living there, who do not absolutely need to identify as LGBT, are enjoying it, said Josh Bodnar, assistant director of residential housing.
"It's giving them a place they can feel comfortable and pressure free to be themselves. It's about the community," said Bodnar.
Advocates hope to not only bring social awareness but also medical awareness to the transgender issue, specifically in a college setting, said panelist Dr. Lee Ann Conard, pediatrician at the OU Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Hormones and procedures are expensive, and it is difficult to find the money alone, she said.
To help persuade schools to look into insurance plans that include this type of coverage, research needs to be done to prove that the lives of candidates for insurance will be happier and healthier, said Conard.
As of now, no evidentiary support exists because no studies have been done, according to Conard and Young. Therefore, it's harder "to get insurance companies on board," and the most that can be done is advocating the issue individually and in a united front, according to Conard.
Grey added, "There is no coverage for hormones or surgical procedures. It's one thing I'm excited about working with this year."
These things are necessary to think about because a college setting may not just be a place to begin treatment; it may be a place to continue it for some, according to the panel.
The panel closed on the note of advocacy, pressing for its importance and ease. It doesn't take more than five minutes to call an advocacy organization or legislator, said Conard.
"I aim for visibility. I'm interested in peer advocacy, in how to connect with people who are not LGBT, but allies," said Grey.
