LGBTQ+ status is considered as a factor for diversity among applicants to the law school. The Lambda Law Student Organization has frequently partnered with the University’s LGBTQ+ Office; this involvement has served as an informal “bridge” to introduce to LGBTQ+ identified or allied undergraduate students the concept of law school and showcased our Law School’s inclusivity and commitment to diversity.
Students admitted to the law school are provided with the contact information to the array of services offered at UH Manoa including the LGBTQ+ Center, the Women’s Center. In addition, the Law School’s student organizations including Lambda Law Student Association, La Allianza, Black Law Student Association, and the ‘Ahahui o Hawai‘i.
The Law School application includes space for applicants to provide their identifying pronouns and preferred name on the application. During orientation and at events, the Law School encourages students to include their pronouns next to their names during Zoom sessions or below their names in email signature blocks.
Students can also share their sexual orientation and gender identity via our online employment data system. The Larger University of Hawaii system has a “Change of Name/Preferred Name Request Form” that students can complete and submit to the Office of the Registrar. https://manoa.hawaii.edu/lgbtq/downloads/name_change_preferred_name.pdf
This information is voluntary and not required of applications. More than one (1) students self-identify as part of the LGBTQ+ communities and are “out”; however, this information may not have been captured by the admissions process. Post-employment data reported to the ABA and NALP for graduates reflect five (5) students self-identifying as LGBTQ+.
Students are allowed to contact the main campus registrar’s office which has developed a Preferred Name Policy for students to use within the University system.
The school embraces diversity in its hiring; diversity advocates are included in its hiring processes to ensure that all candidates of diversity, LGBTQ+ included, are actively sought and considered equally.
The school supports those who self identify as LGBTQ+, but does not actively engage in any process. This information has been captured informally and reported for faculty and administrators who are out.
Two of the six faculty are in administrative roles and are also reported below.
The two reported here are in temporary administrative roles and also reported as faculty.
A variety of plans are available to Law School employees through the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund or “EUTF.” The two primary insurance companies are the Hawaii Medical Service Association of HMSA (Hawaii’s Blue Cross) and Kaiser Permanente. Their plans can be accessed as follows: HMSA: https://eutf.hawaii.gov/health-life-insurance-providers/hmsa/active-benefits/; Kaiser: https://eutf.hawaii.gov/health-life-insurance-providers/kp/active-benefits/
A variety of plans are available to Law School employees through the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund or “EUTF.” The two primary insurance companies are the Hawaii Medical Service Association of HMSA (Hawaii’s Blue Cross) and Kaiser Permanente. Their plans can be accessed as follows: HMSA: https://eutf.hawaii.gov/health-life-insurance-providers/hmsa/active-benefits/ ; Kaiser: https://eutf.hawaii.gov/health-life-insurance-providers/kp/active-benefits/
One policy offered through HMSA (Hawaii’s Blue Cross) can be found at:
HMSA’s Gender Identity Services is found at: https://hmsa.workfrontdam.com/bp/#/folder/8350597/108785823
HMSA’s University of Hawaii and Chaminade University Student Plan (Aug 2021): https://hmsa.com/Media/Default/documents/student/MD_491_PPP_Aug2021_DR483.pdf. Additional information regarding HMSA’s Gender Identity Services, including fertility counseling and breast/prostate/cervical cancer screening is found at: https://hmsa.workfrontdam.com/bp/#/folder/8350597/108785823
HMSA’s Gender Identity Services is found at: https://hmsa.workfrontdam.com/bp/#/folder/8350597/108785823
The Manoa Counseling & Student Development Center (“CSDC”) has less than 20 professional or support staff providing counseling services. Three indicate professional interests in LGBTQI, LGBTQ, and LGBTI issues. Taken from their website, “The CSDC offers support to UH Mānoa students to assist with mental health, personal, or academic concerns. Our approach is encouraging, collaborative, goal focused and culturally sensitive.”
University Health Services Manoa has a patients rights guide on their website and available as a printable PDF that indicates, “Patients shall be treated with respect, consideration and dignity.” (Available at https://www.hawaii.edu/shs/downloads/Notice_of_Privacy_Practices.pdf).
The University of Hawaii at Manoa has a Commission dedicated to LGBTQ+ equity as well as an LGBTQ+ center that offers regular Safe Zone training. https://manoa.hawaii.edu/lgbtq/resources.php; http://www.hawaii.edu/offices/op/lgbti/index.html
The Law School Dean supports the initiation of processes to provide an all-gender restroom at the Law School. The larger University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa does have all-gender restrooms. The map is located at https://manoa.hawaii.edu/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/UHM-all-gender-restrooms-map.pdf. Student Services has been authorized to work with the larger University to explore and provide an all-gender restroom at the Law School.
Law and LGBTQI+ Rights; LGBTQI+ Rights in Turbulent Times
Student groups receive funding from the Law School. Rather, the Student Bar Association collects student dues and funds student organizations for events including the Lambda Law Student Organization. Students can also apply for funding of specific events from the Student Equity Excellence and Diversity (SEED) Office which has two grant cycles a year for projects that promote diversity.
The Law School generally does not fund students to attend trainings or career services opportunities. Students did attend the Lavender Law Conference a few years ago; this was at their own expense.
Yes, optional for all students
Regular diversity and inclusion training is offered for administrators, faculty, staff, and students. For example, Safe Zone training is regularly offered; other CLEs are offered through the Hawai’i State Bar Examination that students can attend (free of charge) and faculty. For example, the Associate Dean for Student Services, then the Career Services Director held a training with graduates and a public health colleague: “Pronouns Matter: A Conversation about the Language of Pronouns in the Workplace and in Practice.”
Not all students share their personal pronouns on the roster. In these cases, some faculty will ask for pronouns. Part of the culture of the Law School is that administrators, faculty, and staff will correct or remind others regarding mis-gendered persons and pronouns.
The Law School has a number of ways diversity is woven into the culture of the Law School. This includes encouraging and welcoming LGBTQ+ members in our legal and law school community to participate in the numerous events that happen outside of the classroom. For example, admissions events and career services sessions that have panels are planned with an eye towards diversity. For example, Associate Justice Sabrina S. McKenna, the first openly-LGBTQ+ member of Hawaii’s Supreme Court, is a frequent speaker at the Law School and Kim Coco Iwamoto, who is an attorney and former elected official, served as the 2019 commencement speaker. In addition, the Faculty has a Diversity Committee, chaired by a faculty member who also sits on the Committee on Equality and Access to the Courts set up by the Hawaii Supreme Court; and the Interim Associate Dean for Student Services co-chairs the Diversity, Equality, and Access to the Law Committee set up by the Hawaii State Bar Association.