MEDIA STATEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura A. Belmonte

Vice-President
TEN - The Equality Network
918.906.2134
lbelmonte@theequalitynetwork.org

New Report Shows Serious Weaknesses in

Oklahoma Higher Education Inclusivity Policies

82% of Oklahoma’s colleges and universities do not protect LGBT faculty,

staff, or students

Tulsa, Oklahoma – August 23, 2010 –A new report by the TEN Institute, the
research arm of The Equality Network (TEN), reveals that many of Oklahoma’s
institutions of higher education have yet to embrace full inclusivity for lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students and employees.

While there are a few positive standouts, 82% of Oklahoma colleges and universities
have no policies in place to support and protect LGBT faculty, staff, and students.
TEN Institute’s preliminary research shows that out of the 66 statewide colleges and
universities:

 Only 11 have Compliance/EOE/Affirmative Action Statements including

sexual orientation
 Zero include gender identity or expression in Compliance/EOE/Affirmative
Action Statements
 One provides domestic partner benefits for employees
 Only 12 have an LGBT Student Group or Gay/Straight Alliances on campus

“When we began this research, we hoped that Oklahoma’s inclusivity protections in

the higher education community would rival those of other states. While this is not
currently the case, we are very pleased to highlight those institutions who have

3701 – A S. Harvard Ave., #183 • Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135 • 918.671.3733 • info@theequalitynetwork.org

www.theequalitynetwork.org
taken steps to embrace equality on their campuses,” explains Kathy L. Williams,
Ph.D., president of TEN Institute.

Those institutions with protections in place include:

 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (Miami), Oklahoma City Community College,

Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma State University Center for Health
Sciences (Tulsa), Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology
(Okmulgee), Oklahoma State University (Stillwater), Oklahoma State
University (Oklahoma City), Oklahoma State University (Tulsa), Rose State
College (Midwest City), Southwestern College (Wichita, KS and Midwest
City), University of Phoenix (Oklahoma City and Tulsa); all have non-
discrimination policies including sexual orientation.
 The University of Tulsa provides domestic partner benefits.
 Cameron University (Lawton), East Central University (Ada), Murray State
College (Tishomingo), Northeastern State University (Tahlequah), Oklahoma
City Community College, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma State
University (Stillwater), Oklahoma State University (Oklahoma City),
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (Weatherford), The University of
Tulsa, University of Central Oklahoma (Edmond), University of Oklahoma
(Norman), University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (Chickasha): all have
LGBT student groups and/or Gay/Straight Alliances.

Dennis Rudasill, the president of Oklahoma State University’s Sexual Orientation

Diversity Association (SODA), noted a disjuncture between students’ increasing
acceptance of their LGBT classmates and inequalities still embedded in university
policies.

“As a student, it’s easy to feel the attitudes of my peers progressing in the direction
of open-mindedness and inclusion. But this index shows that our institutions of
higher education are struggling to keep their policies up to date with this
generational progress. Although I’ve never felt actively discriminated against by any
member of my university’s administration, I worry about passive forms of
discrimination like my university’s lack of domestic partner benefits.” said Rudasill.

3701 – A S. Harvard Ave., #183 • Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135 • 918.671.3733 • info@theequalitynetwork.org

www.theequalitynetwork.org
In early August, Campus Pride, a national organization for student leaders and
campus groups working to create a safer college environment for LGBT students,
released its annual Campus Pride Climate Index. The study awarded nineteen U.S.
colleges and universities its highest ratings for LGBT inclusivity – the largest number
of institutions to achieve this status since the inception of the index in 2007.

“TEN is pleased that more and more colleges and universities across the nation are
willing to stand up for their LGBT faculty, staff, and students, and provide a safe and
inclusive environment,” said Williams

“It is imperative that the Oklahoma higher education community work to recruit and
retain the best and brightest amongst its employees and students, while respecting
the diversity which comes with that effort. We hope that with the release of our
Higher Education Fairness Index, we can work with Oklahoma’s colleges and
universities to enhance those protections already in place, as well as encourage
institutions lacking inclusivity language and programs to adopt appropriate policies to
protect their LGBT employees and students,” stated Williams.

TEN Institute will continue to solicit information on inclusivity practices and will
integrate additional findings into its Higher Education Fairness Index. Colleges and
universities wishing to partner in efforts to improve LGBT inclusivity or to provide
more data may reach TEN Institute at (918) 906-2134 or
info@theequalitynetwork.org.

The entire Higher Education Fairness Index may be accessed at

http://www.scribd.com/doc/35962887/Higher-Education-Fairness-Index-August-2010

####

The Equality Network works to achieve equality and to secure legal protection for
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Oklahomans through advocacy, coalition
building, and individual empowerment in the political process.

3701 – A S. Harvard Ave., #183 • Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135 • 918.671.3733 • info@theequalitynetwork.org

www.theequalitynetwork.org