 "Photo: Emre Kelly")
As Alexander Sierra stood behind the lectern at Sept. 2's Student Government Association Senate meeting, five other transgender students stood with him in support, but an audience of more than 100 students listened quietly as he shared his story.
"Imagine, for a moment, living in a body that is not your own," the junior biology major said. "When you try to live in a way that makes you feel comfortable, they say you're wrong, confused, a freak. Transitioning is not for the faint of heart."
Sierra's story and the presence of members and supporters of the LGBTQ community came as a response to Maribeth Ehasz's veto of Bill 42-79, Revisions to Title XI: Code of Ethics, which called for the inclusion of gender identity in various sections of the Bill.
In a letter addressed to SGA President Michael Kilbride, Ehasz, the vice president of student development and enrollment services, wrote that gender identity is not currently included in the non-discrimination regulation and is inconsistent with UCF's current policy.
Ehasz also acknowledged that she has requested a more thorough review.
"Changes to university regulations must be approved by the president and board of trustees," Ehasz wrote. "I hope that a more thorough review will provide valuable information to make an informed decision about any proposed policy changes in the future."
Despite her veto, which Senate voted to override, Assistant Director of Diversity Education and Student Engagement Michael Freeman said that he was thankful for her position because the issue otherwise might not have come to their attention.
"I very much appreciate Dr. Ehasz being up there," Freeman said.
Freeman also said that he'd been in talks with her about the issue after the student's reaction to the ruling.
"I do believe because of our conversations over the past 24 hours that this is something she's committed to doing," he said.
Michael Moesch, chair of the governmental affairs committee and proponent of overriding Ehasz's vote, said the brunt of the blame shouldn't fall on Ehasz but on the administration as a whole.
"Like I said at the end, I just don't understand," Moesch said. "I just can't get it through my head how you can sit here, and I understand the logistics part that tomorrow not everything will be in place, but why not start? We represent these students. They're angry about this, and they want these changes to be made because they're not being treated as equal human beings."
Before moving on to the rest of the agenda, Kilbride made a statement regarding how he plans to vote on the issue.
"I hope we can continue to advance this issue forward to higher levels," Kilbride said. "As a member of the board of trustees, I would be proud to vote for the change of university policy to include this in our protective policies."
In addition to the override of Ehasz's veto, another item on Thursday night's agenda that was in regard to the transgender community was Resolution 42-50 (Resolution Calling for Greater Inclusiveness of Transgender Students at the University of Central Florida), which was passed.
"To see these changes does influence the student body," said Eden Wetherell, a former president of Equal at UCF.
Other items on the agenda that passed included: Bill 42-110 (Funding for 12 members of the Chocolate Club to travel to the 13th Annual New York International Chocolate Convention in Manhattan, N.Y.), Bill 42-111 (Funding for eight members of CEO Knights to travel to the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization 2010 National Conference in Chicago) and Bill 42-108 (Funding for Chabad Jewish Student Group to host the UCF's Torah Dedication Ceremony).
Bill 42-107 (Funding for 32 members of the American Humanics Student Association to attend the 2011 American Humanics Management/Leadership Institute in Orlando) was postponed, as was Bill 42-102 (Revision to Student Government Statutes Title VIII: The Finance Code).
