Two Spirits Screening & Discussion

6-7:30 pm • Women’s Center & LGBTQ+ Services (C-220)

In honor of Native American Heritage Month and Trans Awareness Week, join students from Professor Neriko Doerr’s Global Indigenous Cultures class and the Coordinator of the Women’s Center & LGBTQ+ Services for pizza, a screening, and discussion of Lydia Nibley’s Two Spirits (2009). The documentary interweaves the tragic story of Fred Martinez, a nádleehí (“one who constantly transforms”) from Diné (Navajo) culture and one of the youngest hate-crime victims in U.S. history, with the broader history of Two-Spirit peoples across Indigenous nations — traditions that honor gender diversity as integral to spiritual and communal balance. Following the screening, participants will engage in conversation about the film’s relevance today and how we can deepen solidarity with Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer people.

Coffee & T Couch Talk: Queer & Trans Women’s Health

1:15-2:15 pm • Women’s Center & LGBTQ+ Services (C-220)

Join us for a discussion with Dr. Samantha Cohen, DO, and Kelly Martins, LSW, from the LGBTQ+ Health & Wellness Center at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center. This drop-in conversation during Trans Awareness Week will offer an opportunity to deepen understanding of inclusive sexual education and the importance of annual checkups for queer and trans women. Dr. Cohen, a queer family medicine physician specializing in women’s health, gynecological care, and cancer prevention, and Martins, a queer social worker and administrative director devoted to healthcare equity, will share insights. Stop by for coffee, tea, and conversation.

Crafting Community: Paper Portraits

3-5 pm • Women’s Center & LGBTQ+ Services (C-220)

Crafting Community is an open maker’s space where you can bring your own project or try our “craft of the week.” In honor of Trans Awareness Week, this week’s craft is paper portraits! The key to the trans experience is self-discovery, so join us in reflecting on how we present ourselves to the world by crafting our likeness from colored paper. Inspiration and supplies provided. Whether you’re doodling, knitting, collaging, or trying something new, come hang out, craft, and connect in a relaxed queer and trans feminist space that celebrates creativity as care.

Zine Night: Self- & Community Care

6:30-8 pm • Women’s Center & LGBTQ+ Services (C-220)

Join us for Zine Night to learn how to make your own mini zine — a self-publication created from a single sheet of paper — and enjoy free pizza in queer and trans feminist community. In honor of Trans Awareness Week, our optional prompt invites reflection on strategies for self-care and community care, with special attention to care practices for trans individuals and communities. With creator permission, zines made at this event may be printed, folded, and shared during our Trans Community Care event on Thursday, November 20.

Trans Day of Remembrance & Community Care

1-2 pm • Alumni (SC 157 & SC 158)

In commemoration of Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), we gather to honor and mourn the transgender and gender-diverse people whose lives were lost to anti-trans violence in the United States since TDOR 2024. Join us for reflections from Ramapo staff and students, a proclamation from President Cindy Jebb, the reading of names, and a vigil as we recommit to supporting and uplifting trans lives.

2:30-4 pm • Friends Hall

Following Trans Day of Remembrance, join us for a restorative gathering that centers trans students and emphasizes belonging, care, and well-being. Visit with rescued and rehabilitated animals from TevaLand Sanctuary Farm for a hands-on, healing experience that nurtures mutual care. Wellness activities, resources, refreshments, and opportunities for reflection and connection are also available in this safer, welcoming space.

Restrooms on Campus

Gender Inclusive Restrooms provide safe and comfortable restroom facilities for trans and gender nonconforming people. The chart below lists the locations for all of the Gender Inclusive Restrooms at Ramapo.

Restrooms off Campus

Refuge Restrooms is a web application that seeks to provide safe restroom access for transgender, intersex, and gender nonconforming individuals. Users can search for restrooms by proximity to a search location, add new restroom listings, as well as comment and rate existing listings. Refuge Restrooms is trans led and seeks to create a community focused not only on finding existing safe restroom access, but also advocating for transgender, intersex, and gender nonconforming people’s safety.

Campus Name Changes

In recognition of students who use names that differ from their legal names, Ramapo College’s Used Name Policy provides a pathway for students to be officially recognized, included, and given the opportunity to identify themselves as they wish (this should not be confused with the Change of Name form, which addresses legal name changes). After submitting the short Used Name Form, a member of the Name Committee will contact you to discuss how the process will work.

Used Name Form

New Jersey and New York Identity Document Changes

Visit Advocates for Trans Equality to learn more about how to obtain a legal name change, update a name or gender on an ID, or amend birth certificates in New Jersey and New York.

Ramapo College of New Jersey seeks to provide a living environment welcoming to people of all gender identities, not limited by gender binarism. Gender Inclusive Housing (GIH) allows residents of the same gender or different genders to live together in a multiple-occupancy space, in mutual agreement, regardless of their sex assigned at birth.

The primary goal of GIH is to center the needs and comfort of queer and trans+ students, who often experience marginalization, harassment, isolation, or exclusion in standard housing arrangements. With GIH, Ramapo seeks to provide a safe, supportive, and affirming housing environment.

Learn More

Local Services

Affirming Healthcare Map – a project of Garden State Equality

Callen-Lorde

Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey

Planned Parenthood – Spring Valley Center of Spring Valley, New York 

Planned Parenthood – Yonkers Center of Yonkers, New York

PROUD Gender Center of New Jersey

Virtual Services

FOLX Health

Plume

Drop-In Hours with Elena

Every Wednesday during the semester from 2-3 pm, Elena Yee, LPC, holds Drop-In Hours in C-217 (across from the Women’s Center). Elena is the LGBTQIA+ liaison for the campus. A Psychological Counselor with Ramapo’s Counseling Services, she is passionate about increasing access to counseling for LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and other marginalized populations. Sessions are:

• free for Ramapo College students
• offered first-come, first-served (no appointment necessary)
• typically about 20-25 minutes in length
• informal, and not a substitute for counseling
• not appropriate for urgent concerns or mental health emergencies.

Please email Elena at eyee@ramapo.edu with any questions.

Lifelines

The Trevor Project

Counselors trained to provide free, confidential, and secure crisis care for LGBTQ+ young people struggling with issues such as coming out, identity, depression, and suicide.

Hours: 24/7

• Call (866) 488-7386
• Text 678-678

Trans Lifeline

Hours: Monday – Friday, 1 PM – 9 PM (Eastern)

Run by and for the trans community, Trans Lifeline connects trans people to the direct emotional and financial support necessary to survive and thrive.

• Call or Text (877) 565-8860

Trans college students have diverse experiences that impact their academic success and wellbeing. While many thrive, others face challenges such as mental health issues, harassment, and discrimination. Supportive faculty and inclusive classroom practices can help reduce these barriers and create a more positive learning environment for all students.

Below are tips to help foster inclusion and support trans students:

Set Classroom Expectations

Start the semester by establishing clear expectations for respect and inclusion. A simple statement like, “Everyone is expected to respect each other’s identities, names, and pronouns,” sets a positive tone and creates a foundation for a respectful classroom culture.

Be a Role Model

Model inclusive behavior and language:

• Introduce yourself with your name and pronouns (e.g., “Hi, I’m Professor Tyler. My pronouns are she/her.”) and invite students to share theirs if they feel comfortable.
• Add your pronouns to your email signature and syllabus to show support for gender inclusivity.
• Use gender-neutral greetings like “Hi everyone,” “folks,” or “class,” instead of “guys,” or “ladies and gentlemen.”
• Use inclusive terms like “partner” instead of “boyfriend/girlfriend,” or “people” instead of “men and women.”

Respect Used Names and Pronouns

Not everyone identifies within the gender binary, and some people identify as transgender. To affirm a person’s identity, it is essential to respect their used name and pronouns, regardless of what was assigned to them at birth. This helps create a safer, inclusive learning environment.

• Always use the name and pronouns a person shares, regardless of what’s listed on the roster.
• Don’t assume gender based on appearance or name — this can lead to misgendering.
• Never use someone’s previous name or pronouns; this can be harmful and unsafe.
• Ask for names/pronouns if unsure; use a sign-in sheet instead of roll call.
• Encourage students, if comfortable, to share names and pronouns during introductions.
• Practice using gender pronouns.
• Mistakes happen — briefly apologize (e.g., “I’m sorry, I meant to say…”), then move on with the conversation, making sure to use the correct name and pronouns in the future.
• Calmly correct others if they misgender someone or use exclusionary language. If the misgendered person isn’t present, still correct the mistake to model inclusivity.
• Only refer to someone’s identity if they’ve made it public; never out someone without their consent, as it can put them at risk.

Update Your Syllabus

• Include Ramapo’s Non-Discrimination Policy and Campus Resources to emphasize your commitment to a safer, respectful learning space and to make support accessible to all students.
• Add your pronouns to your syllabus to normalize their use and support transgender and nonbinary students.