Carnegie Mellon University
November 23, 2021

Transphobia has no place in CFA

Dear Members of the College of Fine Arts Community:

Last week was Trans Awareness Week, a week to celebrate, educate and identify modes of accountability and allyship. The week ended on Saturday, November 20, Trans Day of Remembrance — a day to honor the memory of those whose lives were taken to trans violence, transphobia and cissexism. These heinous acts are not isolated, but complicated by intersections of race, ethnicity, ability, class, etc.

As I prepared to send a message last week to highlight these events, I learned of the violent incidents related to transphobia, as outlined by Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer, Dr. Wanda Heading Grant, in her message to all members of the CMU community. I then learned of violence taking place in our college. Violence is not limited to physical harm, but includes mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual harm. While some of this harm is unintentional and implicit, some harm is done with malice. Neither will be accepted nor tolerated in the College of Fine Arts.

We are in a transformative stage at the college. To move forward into a future of inclusive excellence, we are all required to do the work of self-reflection. We all contribute to a disequal system; we all have privilege and we all must do the work to dismantle the harm and violence that is perpetuated.

In thinking specifically about the trans community, it is imperative that we hold ourselves accountable to avoid misgendering someone, to ask (but not require) pronouns, to hold someone accountable when they misgender someone, to advocate for gender inclusive restrooms, to ensure all restrooms have sanitary products and changing stations, and to respect the privacy and privilege we have when our community members share their stories and experiences with us.

We remain in unprecedented times as we continue to learn how to navigate a pandemic world. We are each facing unique challenges, some of us more than others. We must each acknowledge our own individual human fragility and that of our colleagues and peers. Please be kind to one another.

I urge you to be compassionate, considerate and curious about how to better ourselves and our community.

To our trans community members: you are valued. You matter. You are not alone.

With sincerity,

Valeria J. Martinez, M.S.E.
Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
College of Fine Arts