Genny was one of the speakers invited to be part of a roundtable discussion sponsored by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy on how to further inclusion in STEM programs. They spoke about their work to make colleges, and Engineering programs in particular, more welcoming to LGBTQ+ students.
Article on How Colleges Can Now Better Support Trans Students Published
Genny’s article on the need for colleges to increase support for trans students, with the Common Application now giving students the ability to indicate their gender identity, was published in The Conversation.
Genny Beemyn Spotlighted By Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative
Genny Beemyn was selected by Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative as one of their spotlighted LGBTQ+ educators on Instagram during Pride Month. The post recognized Genny as “the leading expert on the experiences of trans students in the United States.”
View the post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQt2N4ntOCk
Panel discussion: PFLAG “Something to Talk About”
June 11, 2021 4:59 PM ET
On June 10, 2021, Genny Beemyn was part of a panel discussion about choosing a college as an LGBTQ+ student. The discussion was part of PFLAG‘s Something to Talk About Live, a series created by PFLAG National’s Straight for Equality program, which aims to encourage discussion of LGBTQ+ topics. Each topic in the series includes an article to read and suggested discussion questions. Panelists offered their perspectives on the article and what features of a college or university are important for LGBTQ+ students to consider.
Drawing on their decades of expertise working on behalf of LGBTQ+ college students, Genny offered a number of key insights, such as:
- Since most colleges in the U.S. today have at least one LGBTQ+ organization on campus, that criteria is no longer a reliable indicator of campus climate.
- Prospective students should research the activities the college offers specifically for marginalized groups, such as trans students, bi students, pan students, and queer and trans people of color (QTPOC).
- Every building on a college campus should have gender inclusive restrooms.
- Colleges should assign all on-campus housing based on gender identity, rather than making a small portion of housing “gender-inclusive.”
For more, watch the video, below. [31 minutes]
Panel discussion: Trans Rights Priorities for the Biden Administration
March 29, 2021 1:00 PM PT/4:00 PM ET
On March 29, Genny facilitated a panel of national trans leaders in a discussion of the gains that they are trying to make during this presidential administration and what they hope the political landscape for trans people will look like in four years. Among the topics covered were the latest developments in trans legal issues and what people can do to support trans rights.
The event marked the publication of The SAGE Encyclopedia of Trans Studies, edited by Abbie Goldberg and Genny Beemyn, and was sponsored by the UMass Stonewall Center and Clark University’s Women’s and Gender Studies Program. Co-sponsored by UMass Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies and the Five College Queer, Trans, and Sexuality Studies Certificate.
Watch the video, below. [1 hour 29 minutes]
Panel discussion: The State of Trans Studies in the 2020s
April 9, 2021 6:00 PM PT/9:00 PM ET
On April 7, five contributors to the new SAGE Encyclopedia of Trans Studies shared their expert perspectives on the current state of trans studies and what we can expect for the field in the future. The panel was introduced by Genny Beemyn and moderated by Emily Skidmore, associate professor of history at Texas Tech University. It featured:
- Marquis Bey, Assistant Professor, African American Studies and English, Northwestern University
- Aaron Devor, Founder, The Transgender Archives; Inaugural Chair in Transgender Studies; and Professor, Sociology, University of Victoria
- Julian Kevon Glover, Assistant Professor, Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Kristen Renn, Professor, Higher, Adult, & Lifelong Education, Michigan State University
- Travers, Professor, Sociology and Anthropology, Simon Fraser University
The event marked the publication of The SAGE Encyclopedia of Trans Studies, edited by Abbie Goldberg and Genny Beemyn. It was sponsored by the UMass Stonewall Center and Clark University’s Women’s and Gender Studies Program. Co-sponsored by UMass Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies and the Five College Queer, Trans, and Sexuality Studies Certificate.
Watch the video, below. [1 hour 30 minutes]
New Encyclopedia of Trans Studies

Announcing the publication of The SAGE Encyclopedia of Trans Studies, edited by Abbie Goldberg and Genny Beemyn!
From the publisher’s press release:

[Read the full press release on the SAGE Publishing website]SAGE Publishing announces the release of The SAGE Encyclopedia of Trans Studies, a two-volume set featuring 300+ entries that examine experiences of the trans community across different subjects, cultures, and life stages.
Containing entries from over 300 contributors from the social & behavioral sciences and humanities, the encyclopedia takes an interdisciplinary and intersectional approach to examine discrimination, correct misconceptions, and increase trans awareness. Contributed articles examine key issues, including:
~ Instances of discrimination: cisgenderism, health care discrimination, and military bans
~ Key individuals: Harry Benjamin, Chaz Bono, Jazz Jennings
~ Organizations advocating for the trans community: interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth, Lambda Legal, World Professional Association for Transgender Health
~ Major events: Stonewall Riots, Compton’s Cafeteria Riot
In addition to serving as the project’s co-editor, Genny contributed twelve entries to the two-volume encyclopedia. These entries cover a range of topics including viewing transgender through a historical lens, inclusion and exclusion of transgender people in the LGBTQ movement, crossdressers as a part of the trans community, campus policies and campus climate, and groups such as Tri-Ess and Transexual Menace.
[Learn more about Genny’s contributions to the SAGE Encyclopedia of Trans Studies.]