Board of Regents approves transgender bathroom access policy

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The Connecticut Board of Regents has approved a plan allowing students in the state university system access to bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.

The move is designed to comply with an executive order issued by Gov. Dannel Malloy in February that labeled those bathrooms and locker rooms places of public accommodation, making discrimination based on sex or gender identity expression there illegal under Connecticut law.

The board also approved a policy that allows students in the 17 universities and community colleges to use whatever first name they wish on all unofficial documents and records, including student identification cards.

Mark Ojakian, the president of the CSCU system, says the policy is designed to make sure transgender students feel "valued and empowered to pursue their education."

___
Copyright Associated Press. The Gayly - 5/1/2017 @ 2:33 p.m. CST