FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 5, 2016 - North Palm Beach, FL – The National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) along with the American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity (AAAED), the Association of Chief Academic Officers (ACAO), and LGBTQ Presidents In Higher Education stand firmly by the principles of fairness, equity, inclusion and access. Laws that limit protections and have the effect of discrimination against persons on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity are contrary to these principles. We, therefore, oppose any laws which limit the civil and human rights of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community.

We are extremely concerned that in contemporary society unjust laws can target a group of individuals and deny them the rights and privileges that others enjoy. We ask others to join us in this call for equity and to speak out against recent actions that limit the rights of others. We must remember, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Celebrating its 10th anniversary year, the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) serves as the preeminent voice for diversity officers in higher education, leading higher education towards inclusive excellence through institutional transformation. For more information about NADOHE, visit www.nadohe.org.

Founded in 1974 as the American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), the American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity (AAAED) is the oldest operating association of professionals in the Equal Opportunity profession and is a leader in Equal Opportunity, affirmative action and diversity training and advocacy for professionals in higher education, private industry and government. For more information about AAAED, visit www.aaaed.org.

Born out of a group of like-minded academic affairs leaders who gathered in 2012 to discuss the expanding role of chief academic officer on college and university campuses, the Association of Chief Academic Officer (ACAO) was established to respond to a critical need in higher education, a well-supported and equipped chief academic officer is always a better academic officer for her or his institution. For more information about ACAO, visit www.acao.org.

LGBTQ Presidents In Higher Education advance effective leadership in the realm of post- secondary education, supports professional development of LGBTQ leaders in that sector, and provides education and advocacy regarding LGBTQ issues within the global academy and for the public at large. For more information about LGBTQ Presidents In Higher Education, visit www.lgbtqpresidents.org.