Land Acknowledgement

The Pride Alliance strives to work toward racial justice and decolonization. Part of that work includes reading a Land Acknowledgement before programs and gatherings. This Land Acknowledgement was written in collaboration with the UNT Native American Student Association. More information about their organization can be found on the UNT NASA website.

Before we begin I would like to read a land acknowledgement. Land Acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of this land and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories. To recognize the land is an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those whose territory we reside on, and a way of honoring the Indigenous people who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial. It is important to understand the long existing history that has brought us to reside on the land, and to seek to understand our place within that history. Land acknowledgements do not exist in a past tense, or historical context: colonialism is a current ongoing process, and we need to build our mindfulness of our present participation. It is also worth noting that acknowledging the land is Indigenous protocol. We would like to open our event today by acknowledging that the land on which we gather is the occupied/unceded/seized territory of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes and the Caddo Nation. These tribes have stewarded this land throughout the generations and we would like to pay our respects to elders, both past and present.

Racial Justice

In addition to our focus on gender and sexuality, the Pride Alliance is committed to centering racial justice and anti-racism in the programs, trainings, services, and spaces that fall within our purview. We are also committed to advocating for and demanding racial justice in the work we do with our campus and community partners who share our spaces. By centering the lives and experiences of our students of color, those that exist at the intersections of greatest oppression, the greatest amount of people will be included and experience justice and equity.

Spaces that focus on gender and sexuality are not free of racism, and it is essential for us to interrogate, challenge, disrupt, and dismantle the ways in which white supremacy and white privilege show up in the actions of our staff, students, colleagues, and everything that is a product of our office. It is our intention to continue to examine our policies and practices and recognize that we will never be "done" with work that strives toward racial justice. We are accountable to the students we serve to remain open and receptive to feedback and continued conversation and to be transparent in our actions and the ways in which we take responsibility for racial justice.

The Pride Alliance strives to remain a brave space that is a place of comfort for all UNT community members.

Signed,
The Pride Alliance

June 29, 2022 – Supreme Court Decision to Overturn Roe v. Wade

The UNT Pride Alliance and Multicultural Center have released a joint statement in response to recent news about the U.S Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and a concurring opinion.

On June 24th, the United States Supreme Court voted to overturn the decision of Roe v. Wade - a key court case protecting the rights of individuals seeking an abortion or termination of pregnancy. In addition, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas released a concurring opinion that the Supreme Court should also reconsider cases that legalize access to and use of contraception and birth control, marriage equality, and sodomy – sexual acts deemed as immoral because of their common association with queer expressions of sexuality.

Abortions are a human right. The state ban of abortions will directly increase death rates of our most marginalized populations. Members of our community who have been most impacted by the recent decisions include but are not limited to: women, queer people, trans people, people of color, disabled people, unhoused people, and people who are uninsured or don’t have access to adequate medical care. These communities exist and deserve respect, care, sovereignty, and access.

The staff of the UNT Pride Alliance and Multicultural Center uphold the offices’ shared values by asserting an individual’s right to bodily autonomy and sovereignty. We support and value the health and wellbeing of our students and all UNT community members and the continued access to all forms of healthcare including abortion, contraception, and gender affirming care. We will continue to offer free menstrual and sexual health products in our spaces to our campus community. We will continue to celebrate, honor, and uplift all forms of consensual relationships and their expressions of love, romance, commitment, and/or sex.

The Pride Alliance and Multicultural Center welcome our community members to utilize our offices as safe spaces to process feelings and reactions to the recent and developing news.

February 25, 2022 – Standing in Solidarity with Trans Students, Faculty, Staff, and Community

The UNT Pride Alliance unequivocally supports and remains in solidarity with our Trans students, faculty, staff, and community members. We uphold UNT’s Nondiscrimination Policy (Policy number: 16.004) that prohibits discrimination and harassment based on protected classes including gender identity and gender expression.

The events of the last week, on campus and in the state of Texas, have contributed to a toxic environment that tells Trans people that they should not exist and that supporting and affirming their existence is unethical, political, and even criminal. Based on the experiences of our own community, as well as numerous studies on the mental health and wellness of Trans people, creating affirming and celebratory environments where Trans people can be their authentic selves, is the best way to help Trans people thrive. This is true for Trans people of ALL ages.

Structural and systemic transphobia continue to be the cause of mental and physical harm, and ultimately countless deaths, of members of the Trans community. It is imperative that we acknowledge and act against the transphobia that continues to operate on our campus and in our state, and that all areas of our campus community hold themselves accountable. Recognizing that transphobia exists is not enough and silence speaks loudest of all.

"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor."
-- Desmond Tutu

We share our thanks for the various UNT affiliated organizations, offices, and departments that have shown their support in the last week and encourage all areas of campus to demonstrate their support with action items that create equity for Trans people in their respective spheres of influence. The Pride Alliance is a resource that can be utilized by our campus community in this endeavor as we learn, grow, and strive ever closer to becoming a university that “empowers [ALL of] our students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”

The Pride Alliance will remain open in Union 372 until 8:00pm on Wednesday, March 2 to provide a safe space and community for those that have been affected by messages of hate, violence, and invalidation.

Resources

 

June 2, 2020 – Black Lives Have Always and Will Always Matter

As we enter “Pride Month”, the Pride Alliance is recognizing and holding space for the fact that our Black community, and non-Black allies, are mourning and protesting the recent murders of Tony McDade, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. These deaths are weighing heavily on our country, our city, and our UNT community. Structural and systemic racism continue to be the cause of countless deaths, many that are state sanctioned, of members of the Black community. It is imperative that we recognize that racism and oppression also continue to operate within our Queer and Trans communties, and that queerness and transness does not exempt our white and non-Black members from participating in acts of anti-Blackness. Most Queer and Trans spaces were built for the experiences and benefit of white people, while erasing or denying the work of our Black and Brown ancestors.

At the start of Pride, we would typically begin a time of celebration and recognition of our history as Queer and Trans communities. This June, we cannot center our focus on celebration. We will, however, engage in recognition of our Black and Brown Queer and Trans ancestors and current community, and the historic acts that have made it possible for us to exist. The staff of the Pride Alliance are in solidarity with our Black students, faculty, staff, and Denton residents. We will continue to do the work of learning, growing, and striving to provide anti-racist informed support and advocacy and welcome your feedback on our efforts.

September 6, 2017 – Unequivocal support of DACA, Undocumented, and Dreamer students

A statement was issued this afternoon by Neal Smatresk, President of the University of North Texas, addressing growing concerns and firmly planting UNT's values about our DACA, Dreamer, and Undocumented students. The statement, in full, is shared below.

The Pride Alliance joins the University of North Texas and President Smatresk in proclaiming that we "unequivocally support DACA, undocumented and other students who are overcoming significant barriers to educational attainment" and "call on Congress to swiftly pass bipartisan legislation that provides a permanent solution for these young people — a defined pathway that allows Dreamers to continue to live, work, study and achieve citizenship in the only nation many of them have ever known as home."

It is imperative that we, as a community, "do everything possible to ensure that our students have access to the services and support necessary for them to thrive at UNT and graduate from their chosen degree programs."

The Pride Alliance encourages all DACA, Dreamer, and Undocumented students, particularly Queer and Trans students, to utilize our office for support, and commits to continuing to advocate for our students as we find out more in the months to come. We Stand #WithDreamers.

Signed,
The Pride Alliance

---

September 5, 2017

Dear UNT community,

Today, the Trump administration announced it would begin to roll back the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This action is a blow to the aspirations of hundreds of thousands of “Dreamers,” including some of our students and alumni. The action threatens to derail the future of some of our nation’s most determined young adults and brightest minds.

While we learn more about how the administration intends to enact the changes, our university’s immediate concern is for how the rollback could negatively impact the wellbeing of our most vulnerable students — those who are DACA-certified or undocumented. I want to make clear that I unequivocally support DACA, undocumented and other students who are overcoming significant barriers to educational attainment. These students aspire to a better life and are doing what our society asks of them — they work hard, study hard and play by the rules. They want to use their talents and gifts to give back to their communities and our nation. We need to encourage them to stay focused, hopeful and invested in their education.

Like other university presidents nationwide, I call on Congress to swiftly pass bipartisan legislation that provides a permanent solution for these young people — a defined pathway that allows Dreamers to continue to live, work, study and achieve citizenship in the only nation many of them have ever known as home. In my role as UNT’s president, I will be visiting with our state-elected officials in hopes of maintaining eligibility for state financial aid and in-state tuition for our DACA and undocumented students.

Often, I’ve spoken of our warm, caring and inclusive community and our respectful treatment of one another, regardless of national origin or immigration status. In every dimension of university life, we are enriched by the contributions of our students, faculty and staff. Even during these uncertain and somewhat turbulent times, our shared values of equity, diversity, inclusion and non-discrimination make us stronger. It’s the UNT way. We must do everything possible to ensure that our students have access to the services and support necessary for them to thrive at UNT and graduate from their chosen degree programs.

I want to reiterate a few of our university’s commitments, policies and procedures. UNT is strongly committed to the privacy of student records, including immigration status for all students, consistent with state and federal laws. Student records are otherwise not disseminated without student consent or a judicial order. In the performance of their duties, members of the UNT Police Department don’t initiate law enforcement activities based solely on immigration status.

Students seeking assistance can find help from the following UNT areas:

• Students have access to free counseling through UNT’s Counseling and Testing Services. Call 940-565-2741, stop by Chestnut Hall, suite 311, or learn more online.
• Students can receive free legal advice through UNT’s student legal services office. Call 940-565-2614, email studentlegal@unt.edu, stop by University Union, suite 411, or learn more online.
• UNT’s Care Team is available to assist students who are struggling and may be in distress. Call 940-565-4373 to refer yourself or someone else to the Care Team.
• UNT’s Multicultural Center provides an environment where all students can thrive. Call 940-565-3424, email multicultural@unt.edu, stop by the University Union, suite 335 or learn more online.
• UNT’s Dean of Students is available for all students. Call 940-565-2648 or 940-565-2039 or stop by the University Union, suite 409.

Issues that impact students who are first-generation college students hit close to home for me and some other university administrators. Like most DACA and undocumented students enrolled at UNT, we were among the first in our families to pursue a better quality of life through higher education. We know first-hand how foundational and empowering a college education is to personal and professional success, and we believe our students deserve the same opportunities. Our nation will be stronger for it.

In the days ahead as more information becomes available, we will share it. Please join me now in ensuring UNT continues to be a welcoming, supportive and caring community.

UNT Proud,
Neal Smatresk
President

August 30, 2017 – Racial Justice Commitment

The Pride Alliance would like to send a warm welcome to the University of North Texas students, faculty, and staff who are returning to campus for the 2017-2018 school year! We are excited to start our fourth year as an office on UNT’s campus and for the opportunity to work alongside all of you to explore and create possibilities around gender and sexuality.

In addition to our focus on gender and sexuality, the Pride Alliance is committed to centering racial justice and anti-racism in the programs, trainings, services, and spaces that fall within our purview. We are also committed to advocating for and demanding racial justice in the work we do with our campus and community partners who share our spaces. By centering the lives and experiences of our students of color, those that exist at the intersections of greatest oppression, the greatest amount of people will be included and experience justice and equity.

Spaces that focus on gender and sexuality are not free of racism, and it is essential for us to interrogate, challenge, disrupt, and dismantle the ways in which white supremacy and white privilege show up in the actions of our staff, students, colleagues, and everything that is a product of our office. It is our intention to continue to examine our policies and practices and recognize that we will never be "done" with work that strives toward racial justice. We are accountable to the students we serve to remain open and receptive to feedback and continued conversation and to be transparent in our actions and the ways in which we take responsibility for racial justice.

The Pride Alliance strives to remain a brave space that is a place of comfort for all UNT community members.

Signed,
The Pride Alliance