The Student Diversity and Inclusion office held a “Paint and Sip” for Transgender Day of Visibility at the end of last month.
The event was meant to offer a safe space to decompress. While not a place for serious discussion, it still was a way to emphasize that Columbia sees their transgender students and is willing and happy to offer support in the changing political climate.
Columbia’s continuous support for transgender community has been a beacon of light during the recent developments and attacks on the LGBTQ+ community by the Trump administration. We implore the college to continue standing firm against the Trump administration’s assault on basic human rights.
We know that it may come at a cost. Trump has threatened schools that promote trans rights. This includes defunding gender-affirming medical care and calling for the end of “radical indoctrination,” which is preventing students from socially transitioning, meaning changing their name or pronouns to match their gender identity rather than their gender assigned at birth.
We don’t want Columbia to lose federal funds that support our TRIO office. We also know, as Senior Vice President and Provost Marcella David has told the Faculty Senate, coming under investigation would be a huge resource drain for our college as it tries to reduce its $17 million financial deficit.
But as more colleges and universities buckle to Trump’s threats and as red states pass their own restrictions, students need a place like Columbia College in a city like Chicago and a state like Illinois to find their community, to choose their pronouns, to learn about the importance of DEI, to seek gender-affirming care and to celebrate who they are.
Illinois has one of the most comprehensive human rights laws in the country.
On Trans Visibility Day on March 31, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker reaffirmed his commitment to trans rights and the LGBTQ+ community.
“As governor, it has been my mission to ensure that every Illinoisan lives without the fear of violence, prejudice or discrimination,” he said.
On campus, the student-led group Trans Fam welcomes all students and displays the diversity of gender expression at the school. Established just two years ago, the club shares resources that Columbia provides and places are available in the Chicago area. SDI held a Transgender Day of Visibility event in collaboration with Trans Fam that year.
Charee Mosby-Holloway, the director of SDI, made it abundantly clear at the “Paint and Sip” event what Columbia stands for: “To our trans, nonbinary students here at Columbia, you do have a community. You have people that see you, you deserve to be visible and even if you for whatever reason, cannot be visible, we still want to celebrate you and hope that you know that you have a space here on campus that you will be affirmed in who you are.”
The college is not afraid to stand up for its students’ well-being and expression of who they are. We commend Columbia for backing their words with actions of support and allyship. We hope they will continue these efforts.
Copy edited by Trinity Balboa
