With Transgender Locker Room Controversy Ignited at Evergreen, Where Does UW St

[Shana A]

With Transgender Locker Room Controversy Ignited at Evergreen, Where Does UW Stand on the Matter?
By Matt Driscoll Fri., Nov. 9 2012 at 9:00 AM

http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2012/11/transgender_locker_room_controversy_university_of_washington_evergreen.php

Earlier this week on The Daily Weekly we reported on the controversy brewing at The Evergreen State College in Olympia centering on a transgender student's use of the female locker room at the college's recreation center. Colleen Francis was born a man, but has been living as a female since 2009 - and uses the female locker room and sauna based on her current gender identity. Evergreen says this is her right under state RCW 49.60.040, and the school's policy of allowing transgender students to use the gender-specific locker room that they identify with is in accordance with this. An Arizona-based religious group, Alliance Defending Freedom, has vehemently criticized the policy, saying it puts young girls at risk.

Considering the fact Evergreen's policy is based on a state law but similar controversies haven't erupted elsewhere, it seemed worth asking: Does the University of Washington have a similar policy regarding transgender use of locker room?

[...]

"In my estimation, I really don't know a lot of transgender students interested in using a locker room they don't identify with," Sekins says.

According to John Pariseau, Director of Recreational Sports Programs at the UW, the university is making strides to protect the civil rights of transgender students when it comes to locker room usage. That's one of the main reasons the school is in the process of constructing a "universal shower-dressing room" which will soon be open for use by transgender students and others, and is intended to provide the same privacy afforded to students who use traditional male and female facilities. Pariseau says he coordinated the construction of the new shower-locker room facility with the UW's Q Center.

[MeghanAndrews]

Wow, I really would have expected Evergreen to be one of the most liberal institutions in the US. It's Olympia! They are supposed to be trendsetters. Can't someone get Kathleen Hanna and Courtney Love and that whole crew to do something? Summon the gender armies!

[Kelly-087]

I'd really love for Colleen to stop giving the world these controversies. I've been in male locker rooms and even they don't walk around with their parts hanging out like this, usually.