Our questions on our application are as follows:
1. Do you self-identify as Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual?
2. Do you self-identify as transgender or any other gender identity?
3. What are your preferred pronouns (optional)?
Representatives from our college regularly attend the Lavender Law Conference. https://lgbtqbar.org/annual/
The University of Tennessee is now accepting and processing insurance applications from same-sex married couples.
Applicants who were married in another state prior to the ruling will be eligible to apply through August 25, sixty days from the date of the ruling. Applicants who marry after the ruling will have sixty days from the date of their marriage to apply.
The enrollment change form may be downloaded from the State of Tennessee website.
Applicants who have sixty days from the date of the Supreme Court ruling to apply may make the coverage effective on the June 26 decision date but will be required to pay the full month’s premium for the added spouse and/or dependents. Applicants may also choose to make the coverage effective date July 1.
All applications and copies of supporting documents should be returned to the UT Payroll Office, P115 Andy Holt Tower, 1331 Circle Park Drive. UT Payroll will submit the applications to the state on the employee’s behalf.
If the application is received outside the initial eligibility period, or if the employee is requesting to add other eligible dependents along with their spouse, the rules regarding enrollment by special qualifying event or open enrollment will apply.
Additional information on eligibility and enrollment can be found in the plan documents.
All eligible employees may also add their spouse and dependents during the annual enrollment period this fall.
If you have questions, you can call the Benefits Administration Service Center at 800-253-9981 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT. You may also call the UT Payroll Office at 865-974-5251 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or the UT Human Resources Call Center at 888-444-UTHR from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. https://payroll.tennessee.edu/insurance/same-sex-marriage-insurance-information/
https://www.studenthealthprograms.com/lib/file/manager/2019-1268-1_Certificate.pdf
https://www.studenthealthprograms.com/lib/file/manager/2019-1268-1_Certificate.pdf
The Counseling Center website details the following about its commitment to care, which suggests training for specific needs of patients. (https://counselingcenter.utk.edu)
Caring for All Vols
The Student Counseling Center is committed to providing high-quality care and services to all UT students. Regardless of your race, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, physical ability, personal creeds or spiritual beliefs, national origin, or socioeconomic status, we pledge to create an affirming and welcoming environment. We achieve this by providing culturally responsive counseling services, specialized training for our staff, participation in community events that promote diversity and inclusion, and exemplifying a welcoming, compassionate presence within the Volunteer community.
Sex, Gender, and Justice
Additionally, the following courses address LGBTQ+ issues through a variety of course materials:
Seminar in Psychiatry and the Law
Lawyers as Leaders
Leadership Practicum
Behavioral Legal Ethics
Images of the Law
The College of Law has hosted events with the Matthew Shepard Foundation and provides support for travel to networking events for the LAMBDA Law student organization.
The University of Tennessee’s Human Resources policies state:
The university is committed to an environment that recognizes the worth and dignity of every person while striving to foster tolerance, sensitivity, and mutual respect. The university therefore prohibits employees from engaging in acts of harassment on the basis of sex, which includes harassment based on gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity, as required by state or federal law. The university further prohibits discriminatory harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and any other category protected by federal or state law. Employees are prohibited from engaging in sexual and other discriminatory harassment, regardless of whether such conduct is directed at another employee, a student, a vendor, or a visitor to campus.
Not every action or utterance that may be perceived as offensive will violate this policy. Nevertheless, some inappropriate conduct and actions based on sex or other protected characteristics and/or retaliatory acts may violate this policy even if not severe or pervasive enough to violate state or federal law. Whether the alleged conduct violates this policy may depend on the context and other relevant circumstances.
The university will not tolerate sexual harassment or other discriminatory harassment of employees or students by vendors or campus visitors. The manner in which the university will respond to a report of such harassment will depend on the circumstances involved, including the university’s ability to investigate and, if necessary, implement corrective action.
The Dean of the University of Tennessee College of Law regularly attends the Lavender Law Conference. https://lgbtqbar.org/annual/