Transgender students still strive for equality

Nov 18 2009 - 12:23am | Imelda Vergara

Texas State is not among the 280 colleges and universities in the United States that have non-discrimination policies including gender identity and expression.

Texas State students have worked toward implementing gender identity into the anti-discrimination policy recently, but have been unsuccessful.

Fernando Gomez, vice chancellor and general counsel of the Texas State University System, said the Board of Regents allow each individual campus to decide whether to include the poliy statements.

“We did discuss it and the decision was made to not add it,” said Joanne Smith, vice president for Student Affairs.

Smith said she believes non-discrimination policy already protects transgender students with issues they may face, like harassment. Smith said without legal backing, there would be no transgender identity and expression addition.

“If you’re going to adopt the policy you’ve got to have legal protection,” Smith said.  “Instead the university intends to work on a case-by-case basis and accommodate them to the best of its ability.”

In the last couple of years gender-neutral restrooms have been discussed. Smith said a decision was made to have family restrooms that were gender neutral in addition to female and male restrooms on campus. A list can be found on the Texas State Allies Web site.

A transgendered student, who prefers to remain anonymous, said he fears harassment and possible violent retaliation if his choice to transition was made public.

“It would be more reasonable to tell my classmates if this was a more accepting campus or state,” he said. “We are humans like everyone else. Why should we not get the same rights and opportunities?”

ASG President Chris Covo said students in support of transgender rights should make their opinion appeal to the University President’s Cabinet. Covo said they should come to the ASG senate and ask for help.

“I hope any student who feels like they are misrepresented or have an issue with student life can come to us,” Covo said. “Our slogan is ‘Bobcats for Bobcats.’ No matter what you look like, we’ll do our best to figure something out.”

Kyle Hennings, president of Lambda, said he would like to see more appropriate housing accommodations for LGBTQ — in particular the transgender community.

“The university does not take into account individuals’ true gender identity when placing them in on-campus housing,” Hennings said. “It is hard to say how to go about making sure this sensitive issue is addressed, but currently the issue is completely ignored.”

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