Oregon Dean Of Students Promotes ‘LGBTQ Emergency Fund,’ Sex Toy Shop To Students

 The University of Oregon is offering an “emergency fund” for trans-identified students to attain “gender affirming resources,” including sex toys and “trans vocal lessons.”

The public university allows LGBTQ students to request financial assistance to cover transgender treatments, support, and resources under the Gender-Affirming Support Fund. The form is processed through the Office of the Dean of Students in coordination with the Financial Aid Office.

The application describes the fund as “an opportunity for LGBTQIA+ students at the University of Oregon to request emergency funding one time during each academic year to pay for items that impact their sexuality or gender identity.” 

The fund cannot be used to pay for textbooks, tuition, or university fees. Instead, the application points students to a different form. In the application form, students must present their gender identity, the anticipated cost per item, and their circumstances prompting them to apply.

The Gender Affirming Support Fund is but one of the LGBTQ “resources” UO Dean of Students Marcus Langford’s website promotes. The website advertises As You Like It, an “eco-conscious, green, gender-inclusive sex toy shop” in Eugene.

Langford’s website praises the store’s offerings, including packers, binders, gaffs, harnesses, breast forms, and “educational workshops about consent and kink.” The business promotes “healthy and satisfying sex lives by offering a high-quality selection of non-toxic, body safe sex toys, lubes, and many other eco-sexy goodies for everybody and every body.”

In addition to this program, UO also offers services such as, “Letters of support for medical transition procedures and services,” “[identification of] trans-affirming referrals and providers,” “Gender-Inclusive Housing,” and “LGBTQIA Scholarships.”

The webpage promotes the services of Your Lessons Now, who teach transgender voice lessons and whose purpose is to “help you find the voice that is true to yourself.” The company seeks to “help develop [clients’] feminine voice, masculine voice, or androgynous voice.”

 

In addition, UO’s HEDCO Clinic offers “identity-focused counseling support with speech-language services for trans feminine communicators.” According to the website, these “trans feminine voice coaches” also give one-on-one lessons with student instructors.

Langford’s website also instructs faculty to “avoid binary gendered language” in course instruction. The website discourages the use of “sir” and “ma’am,” “Mr.” and “Ms.,” “ladies and gentlemen,” and “you guys” in favor of “folks,” “people,” and “ducks.”