When one thinks of LGBTQIA issues, a prominent point is the protracted battle for marriage equality in the United States. In the news these days, after the Supreme Court decision which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, is the response of Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis, who refused to issue the mandated licenses. But that is not the only pressing issue facing the LGBT community today: One of the most important is the fate of transgender people from all across the United States. According to a survey that was sponsored by the National Center for Transgender Equality, over 40 percent of transgender respondents reported attempting suicide.Over 90 percent report some sort of significant mistreatment at work. Many students feel discriminated against in schools. At 11 a.m. Thursday on campus, we will hear from some trans-identified community members and some who work on transgender issues on our campus. The goal of this conversation will be to identify what resources are available for transgender students, what the UT-Austin administration can do to support trans students and finally, what our overall campus community can do to create a more welcoming climate for trans-identified members of our University community.

Fountain is a government senior from Pelham, New York. He is the Forum Editor. Follow him on Twitter @wf_atx.