Alabama universities lead the way in transgender access

by Rob Howard
Associate Editor

In the national furor over whether transgender people can use bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity, there are plenty of examples where schools take the coward’s way out, require trans students to use bathrooms that comply with the gender on their birth certificate, or file lawsuits they hope will go to the Supreme Court.

So it is interesting when you find schools that are protecting and serving their transgender students, by saying they should use bathrooms that conform with their gender identity. And it is even more interesting when that happens in a place most of us consider unlikely – Alabama.

While Alabama’s “Attorney General Luther Strange has the state involved in a 13 state lawsuit pushing back against federal guidance,” says AL.Com, the state’s public and private universities are following a different course.

According to AL.Com, “The issue on college campuses was highlighted last week when the University of South Alabama in Mobile, in an email to all faculty and students, introduced a new bathroom policy that allows students to use whichever restroom aligns with their gender identity.”

The USA email said:

• The policy was initiated because of the federal action, and that it was important to have in order to ensure that USA is "an inclusive space for all employees, students, staff and visitors."
• If someone is harassed for using the restroom or changing facility consistent with gender, that person is encouraged to contact the University Police Department at 251-460-6312 or local law enforcement. Non-emergency situations are to be directed to the Title IX Coordinator or by emailing titleix@southalabama.edu.
• The campus has a list of single-stall and unmarked bathrooms on the main campus.
• If a community member is uncomfortable with the policy, they are encouraged to locate the nearest single-stall restroom. Questions about policy compliance are to be directed to the Title IX Coordinator via email.

USA’s Gender Inclusion policy says, “The University of South Alabama is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse campus community in which our students can confidently pursue their academic and extracurricular experiences. The University continually monitors relevant developments related to policies on gender identity.

“Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in schools and other educational programs that receive federal funding. Sex discrimination occurs when persons are excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, any educational program or activity on the basis of their sex, including employment. Sex discrimination includes materially adverse treatment or action based on a person’s biological sex, pregnancy status, gender, gender expression, gender identity or sexual identity and/or failure to conform to stereotypical notions of masculinity and femininity (so called “gender stereotyping”). Title IX prohibits sex discrimination based on sexual identity.”

Most universities in Alabama are following suit. AL.Com writes, “At the University of North Alabama, concerns about the lack of gender-neutral bathrooms were raised last year by the student government association.

“The group urged a policy change, approved by university officials, requiring at least one gender-neutral or family restroom within each building on campus. The costs, according to the Flor-Ala student newspaper, were $500 to convert each restroom.

"’It went forward with no fanfare,’ Bryan Rachal, the university's spokesman, said about the policy that was instituted before the start of the 2015-2016 school year. ‘They just did it.’

“UNA isn't alone. Most of the state-run colleges and universities have already taken action to address gender-neutral access to locker rooms and bathrooms on school properties.”

AL.com notes that Troy University and Auburn are doing the same. “Other universities already have similar policies in place. At the University of Alabama, more than 100 single-user facilities are located across the Tuscaloosa campus.

"’The University has for two years, incorporated language in its policies prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression,’ said Monica Greppin Watts, associate vice-president for communications in the Division of Strategic Communications.

“Auburn University also has a listing of buildings that have gender-neutral facilities, and spokesman Mike Clardy said all new buildings are being built ‘to meet the unisex standards.’"

Human Rights Campaign said in an email, “As state leaders fight and defy federal guidance on the issue, administrators and students view allowing people to use restrooms consistent with their identity as simple common sense. Hopefully, through their example, ‘politicians can see that facility usage is no big deal,’ says HRC Alabama’s Eva Kendrick.”

Copyright 2016, The Gayly – September 1, 2016 @ 2:05 p.m.