Transgender students and staff are now specifically protected from discrimination under a recent change to the University’s non-discrimination policy.
The permanent rule change — which allows transgender people to file grievances alleging they were discriminated against because of their gender expression or gender identity — went into effect Sept. 14.
The policy forbids denying educational or professional opportunities to students and University employees on grounds other than intellectual merit.
General Counsel to the University Melinda Grier said the change was the result of concerns from members of the University community who did not feel protected by the existing language of the University’s Prohibited Discrimination, Discriminatory Harassment and Sexual Harassment policy, which also forbids discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, race, religion and other characteristics.
“There was a sense that some folks didn’t have the level of protection they wanted,” Grier said.
Before the new policy was effected,
University Law Professor Dominick Vetri wrote a memo to the Standing Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns advising it about possible policy changes. He agreed that transgender people were not adequately protected by the old policy.
“(The change) came about because of a real need that existed in the University community that I think is a result of changed times,” Vetri said. “It seems more and more transgender people are coming out in the University community.”
Vetri said he learned about
discrimination toward transgender individuals when he sat on a Eugene committee that looked into the
possibility of amending the city’s non-discrimination policy in a
similar way. Although he said
the city didn’t adopt the changes, Vetri continued to research
non-discrimination codes used throughout the country to protect transgender people. He later
recommended that the University make a change.
“We thought it would be an appropriate thing to do for the University,” he said.
Vetri said he was not aware of specific problems that necessitated the change, adding that it is a forward-thinking measure that will alleviate future potential for discrimination.
“I’m immensely pleased,” he said. “It’s better to deal with this affirmatively before problems crop up.”
Chicora Martin, director of LGBT Educational and Support Services, who also helped facilitate the rule change, said the policy met with little opposition.
“I think it’s going to be a fabulous addition,” Martin said. “It will formalize our commitment not to discriminate.”
Martin said she hopes the change will spur other departments to look for areas where they may unknowingly discriminate against people on an arbitrary basis.
She also emphasized that University members who want more information on the policy can contact the LGBT Educational and Support Services office, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Alliance office or the Standing Committee on LGBT Concerns.
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