Hi everyone,
I'm not sure that this is correct, and if anyone here has legal experience maybe they can correct me. Recently the US Justice and Education Departments have interpreted Title IX as applying to transgender individuals. Thus, if one is a student in any school and is transgender or gender non-conforming, they should have the following rights (I apologize, this is copied and pasted from a website):
1) You have the right not to be bullied or harassed because you are transgender or gender non-conforming. If school administrators become aware of bullying or harassment they must take action to end it.
2) You have the right to equal educational opportunities regardless of your gender identity or expression or your race, nationality, or disability. This includes not being punished or excluded from school activities or events because you are transgender or gender non-conforming.
3) You have the right to present yourself in a way that is consistent with your gender identity, so long as you follow rules for how to dress that apply to all students.
4) You have the right to use restrooms and other facilities that are consistent with your gender identity, and can't be forced to use separate restrooms.
5) You have the right to privacy concerning your transgender status and gender transition. Any such information kept in school records must be kept private and not shared without your permission.
6) You have the right to join or start a Gay-Straight Alliance or Pride Alliance, and to have your group treated like other student groups.
Could anyone confirm or deny this? I've spent the past two weeks talking to various administrators about my University's policies, and no one seems to know them. They told me that they're preparing to relabel some of the restrooms to be gender-neutral, but from what I understand of Title IX, I can simply use the women's restroom regardless as a trans woman, even after the incorporation of gender-neutral restrooms.
Thanks!
