TCC is finally putting something in writing stating the college accepts people of all sexual orientations.
It is years overdue.
Better late than never.
In a board of trustees meeting March 11, a unanimous vote was made to adopt the words “sexual orientation” into five different TCC policies.
They now state the college will not tolerate discrimination of a person’s sexual preference in any way from employees and students.
It’s strange to think that there is no federal law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation across America.
Yet the federal government itself has policies in place stating it cannot discriminate against its own employees because of their sexual preference.
With no federal law as of yet, it’s refreshing to see TCC taking an initiative to prevent something so hateful.
These policy changes will help students, faculty and staff maintain jobs at a time when employment is hard to come by.
No one at TCC can be fired for his or her sexual preference. It will also prevent bullying.
K.C. Jenkins, an art adjunct instructor at SE Campus, attended NE Campus back in the ’90s.
She said students and faculty discriminated against her based on her orientation.
“We can be more effective instructors because we won’t have that looming fear (of being fired) that’s in the back of our minds,” she said. “Students will also feel better about approaching faculty with their own concerns.”
Thanks to these changes, TCC is now one of several schools like Texas Christian University, the University of Texas at Arlington and the Dallas County Community College District that have taken a step closer to eliminating prejudices against a very controversial topic.
“It’s not a solution. It’s a starting point,” Jenkins said.
A starting point is still better than no point at all.
Now if only the federal government will work on a law that prohibits discrimination against “sexual orientation.”
This isn’t about religious views or anything of that nature. It’s about having a country with legally equal opportunity, especially in the workforce.
