Shane L. Windmeyer
Nationally recognized LGBT leader in higher education; bestselling author; executive director, Campus Pride
Gender-Neutral Housing: No Excuses for UNC-Chapel Hill
Posted: 03/ 8/2012 3:02 pm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shane-l-windmeyer/unc-chapel-hill-gender-neutral-housing_b_1324981.htmlSafety for transgender college students needs to be a priority. According to Campus Pride's 2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People, less than 7 percent of institutions of higher education have inclusive nondiscrimination polices with regard to gender identity and expression of transgender students, faculty, and staff. More than a third of all transgender students, faculty, and staff fear for their physical safety, and over half attempt to hide their transgender identity to avoid intimidation and harassment on campus.
On Feb. 7, 2012, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Chancellor Holden Thorpe rejected a student- and faculty-led proposal to adopt a gender-non-specific housing program. At the time national organizations like Campus Pride noted concern and displeasure at Thorpe's decision and its failure to meet the safety needs of UNC-Chapel Hill's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) student population.
