Vol. 113 Issue 13 | April 21, 2022 — April 27, 2022
Every Voice at NAU club hopes to use its voice to enact change MARK FABERY & EMMA LONG
Trigger warning: Mentions of sexual assault
S Supporters for transgender rights protest new Arizona legislation while walking along Route 66, April 16. Octavia Freeland | The Lumberjack
Anti-trans legislation sparks PRISM protest outside city hall
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XAVIER JUAREZ
AU students protested the recent passing of Senate Bill 1138 and SB 1165 — two bills attacking transgender people in the state of Arizona. The protest took place in front of the University Union Starbucks Saturday, April 16, with volunteers arriving at 10 a.m. to decorate signs. The march through Flagstaff was followed by a protest in front of Flagstaff City Hall, which started at 11:30 a.m. At the protest’s peak, there were more than 30 people in attendance. The protest was organized by People Respecting Individuals and Sexual Minorities (PRISM), a club that seeks to empower, advocate and support the LGBTQIA+ community. Cedar Morris, a transgender student and secretary of PRISM, said the protest has been in the works for a couple weeks, spurred on by the passing of SB 1138 and SB 1165 on March 30, just one day before International Transgender Day of Visibility. “We just decided that we finally wanted to take charge and do something in our community, so we decided to do something and take a stand,” Morris said. Both of the bills PRISM was protesting limit the rights of transgender people in the state of Arizona, according to an Instagram post. SB 1138 prevents Arizona youth from receiving irreversible gender-reaffirming surgery until they are 18-years-old and SB 1165 prevents transgender youths from competing in school sports as the gender they identify as. Governor
Doug Ducey’s press release described the laws as “common sense.” However, not everyone sees the laws that way as Morris said he believes the laws may lead to more harm than good. “I think it’s one of the few legal ways they can discriminate against trans youth,” Morris said. “I think they’re just finding any excuse they can to be transphobic, and this is one of the ways they can say, ‘Well trans kids, biologically, are different, so why don’t we just attack that?’” During the protest, many drivers and onlookers honked their horns, raised their fists and cheered out their windows. Valerie Bishop was one of many protestors who made their voices known, who voiced the sentiment that transgender individuals are
human too. “There are a lot more trans people than people think,” Bishop said. “We’ve always been around, we’ll always be around. We’re humans too, just treat us like it.” Bishop, a 2019 NAU graduate, said restrictions which the new laws put in place could hurt transgender visibility. Moreover, Bishop said she is worried the passing of the bills could encourage people to think transphobia is acceptable. “I’ve had people on the streets here in Flagstaff yell slurs at me,” Bishop said. “I’ve been assaulted, I’ve had people try to sexually assault me and it’s just kind of — enough is enough. I don’t want to see that get worse.” Continue reading at JackCentral.org
exual assault is the most underreported crime on college campuses, and college women are at an elevated risk of sexual violence in the United States. Every Voice at NAU is a newly formed group focused on ending sexual violence on campus through lobbying state politicians to pass studentwritten legislation. The legislation is aimed at providing resources and solutions to end sexual violence on Arizona’s college campuses. Statistics from the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network note sexual violence is more prevalent at colleges than other crimes. This can lead to a higher risk of sexual assault for female college students, according to the American Economic Association. NAU has implemented numerous programs and policies to combat rape culture at the university and keep students safe. However, in a 2021 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report for NAU’s Flagstaff mountain campus, NAUPD reported 26 cases of rape, 27 domestic violence cases and 29 stalking incidents. In general, crime statistics are not exclusive to gender, although 91% of sexual assault victims are female, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Payson Hudson is the co-founder of Every Voice at NAU. “There is no law in Arizona addressing campus sexual violence, and students really want to change that,” Hudson said. “Our organization is the first to do this, and we are the ones that are bringing this conversation to the table.” Hudson said she wants to see free access to medical and legal support services for students through partnerships between universities and rape crisis centers. In addition, she noted the state should enact policies which will protect students under the influence of drugs or alcohol from punishment for underage possession after reporting a sexual assault. Moreover, Hudson said she would like to see universities offer confidential advising services, because she believes the majority of students who report to NAU are not receiving the resources they need. “Amnesty policies basically codify that students cannot be held for breaking Student Code of Conduct when they were assaulted, so it really protects survivors in the sense that they can come forward and work for it in a safer way,” Hudson said. “We also push for confidential advising services, through resource advisors to make clear students’ rights and options.” NAU’s Sexual Misconduct Policy states a commitment to non-discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment. The policy outlines the steps of a formal complaint and grievance process. See ASSAULT continued on Page 5
Protesters conduct a peaceful protest against recent state bills that seek to limit transgender rights, April 16. Octavia Freeland | The Lumberjack