LGBTQIA

Inclusive Restrooms on Campus

Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) is committed to a learning environment that is inclusive of all students, employees, and visitors. We have several restrooms that are single occupancy. Meaning, they have a non-gender specification. We are also working hard to increase the number of inclusive restrooms on our campusInclusive Restrooms are located in the following areas:

• East Building, E199 and E199T
• Technology Center, T317A & T317B
• Early Learning Childcare Center, S1

Furthermore, in accordance with WAC 162-32-060, LWTech affirms the right of individuals to access campus facilities. This includes restrooms and locker rooms, based on their gender identity and/or gender expression. Under no circumstances will any member of the LWTech community be required to provide proof of medical procedure or government identification as proof of gender in order to access restrooms and locker rooms. Any person who believes they have faced discrimination and/or harassment in violation of this policy is encouraged to contact:

Meena Park, Vice President, Human Resources
Affirmative Action Officer/Title IX Coordinator
11605 132nd AVE NE
Kirkland, WA 98034
(425) 739-8251
711 (Washington Relay)

Student Success Initiative

We are committed to promoting a safe and inclusive learning environment for LGBTQIA students at LWTech. In order to do this, we need your help!

Collecting data will allow us to know more about our students. THis will allow us to be better prepared to design and develop curricular and co-curricular programs that reflect students' diverse perspectives and experiences.

We believe the implementation of this new process will serve as a testimony of our commitment to diversity, academic achievement and student success.

The Student Success Initiative program examples include:

• Campus safe zones projects and training
• LGBTQIA student clubs
• Student, staff, and faculty professional development
• Funding and scholarships

Questions on Registration Forms

What is your sexual orientation?

Sexual Orientation: A person's inherent tendency to form emotional, physical, spiritual and sexual relationships with people of the same gender, the opposite gender, or either gender.

• Bisexual: A person who has emotional, physical, spiritual and sexual attractions to members of either gender.
• Gay: A man whose emotional, physical, spiritual and sexual attraction is to other men.
• Lesbian: A woman whose emotional, physical, spiritual and sexual attraction is to other women.
• Queer: A person who is not heterosexual.
• Straight/heterosexual: A person whose emotional, physical, spiritual and sexual attraction is to members of the opposite gender.

What is your gender identity?

Gender Identity: A person's private sense of, and subjective experience of, their own gender. It is generally socially constructed. However, it is made up of both socially-defined and biologically-created factors.

• Feminine: Gender identity of a person who has attributes, behaviors, and roles generally considered typical of, or appropriate to, a woman.
• Masculine: Gender identity of a person who has attributes, behaviors, and roles generally considered typical of, or appropriate to, a man.
• Androgynous: Gender identity of a person who does not fit cleanly into the typical gender roles of their society. The person may identify as beyond gender, between genders, moving across genders, entirely genderless, or any or all of these.
• Gender neutral: Gender identity of a person who believes policies, language, and other social institutions should avoid assigning roles to a person based on reproductive organs.
• Transgender: Gender identity of a person who identifies socially with the sex opposite of birth assignment.

These questions are optional. However, we encourage students to provide this confidential information. This will allow us to design and implement programs and services that provide meaningful and rewarding learning opportunities for all students.

For more information on the initiative, check out the LGBTQ Student Initiative FAQ. 

RISE Center

The RISE Center: Resources for Inclusion, Support, and Empowerment aims to build an equitable and inclusive campus community for all students. The center is also a support service for students from traditionally underrepresented and underserved backgrounds. This includes members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) community. Examples of RISE Center programs related to this community include the quarterly LGBTQ+ Student Lunch Hour and LGBTQ+ Leadership Conferences. 

Primary Name

LWTech is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming learning environment for all students, including members of the LGBTQIA community. Currently, students are able to request that the college update their LWTech email address and Canvas display name to reflect a primary name. More information regarding LWTech’s primary name procedures can be found on the Registration and Enrollment Services webpage. 

More About Primary Names