Transgender Rights

 

Transgender Rights at Northeastern University –

An Update for Interested Members of the Law School Community

 

Thanks to everyone who attended the Trans 101 discussion that Queer Caucus hosted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005. The event was a huge success and we appreciate the large turnout from members of the law school community.

 

Both before and after the Trans 101 talk, many of you spoke with Queer Caucus members about your support of individuals’ rights to gender self-determination and your concern with Northeastern University’s pattern of discrimination against trans people on campus.  This memo is intended to provide interested individuals and organizations at the School of Law with an update about Queer Caucus’ ongoing efforts to encourage the University to respect the dignity of transgender people and comply with Boston’s Human Rights Law.  Additionally, we’ve attached a link to a terminology and resource list created by the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition for those of you who couldn’t make it to last week’s talk.

 

Queer Caucus’ recent activism is in response to the Department of Public Safety’s removal of a trans woman from the women’s locker room in early February.  After this incident, Queer Caucus, joined by the Women’s Law Caucus, NURF, NUBiLAGA and NUASC, sent a letter to President Freeland, the Department of Public Safety and the Marino Center.  The main message of our letter and the point that we continue to convey is that all people, including transgender individuals, should be granted access to sex-segregated facilities such as locker rooms in accordance with their gender identity.  Such a policy respects everyone’s right to gender self-determination and is required by Boston’s Human Rights Law.  Our letter was supported by a memo articulating why concerns of autonomy, safety, privacy and equality necessitate fair and equal access to sex-segregated facilities. NU News, the University’s weekly newspaper, ran weekly stories about the issue and remains interested in our efforts.

 

Despite several follow-up calls, the only response we have received from the recipients of the letter is an email from the Department of Public Safety saying that the University’s counsel is working on a reply to our concerns.  We are deeply troubled that the administration is not taking students seriously as we seek to ensure the University’s compliance with Boston’s Human Rights Law.   

 

Queer Caucus is now working to develop a long term strategy in order to ensure that trans students, staff and faculty are treated justly.  An integral part of this ongoing strategy is to build a coalition of student groups from throughout the University to stand in solidarity with trans people and in support of human rights for all.  We also welcome the support of faculty and staff committees and individuals.  If your group, or you as an individual, would like to be a part of our efforts, please contact Laura Langley at langley.l@neu.edu or Sam Senft at ssenft82@yahoo.com.

 

The Transgender Task Force

 

The Transgender Task Force is a confidential working group chartered to implement strategies for making the law school environment more comfortable for gender-variant students, staff, and faculty. The Task Force is comprised of students, administrators and faculty, and usually convenes at a student's request.  Past student members of the Task Force have identified as transgender, transsexual, genderqueer, and gender questioning.  Gay and straight students who are gender non-conforming to varying degrees are also welcome to attend. For more information, please contact Professor Libby Adler at l.adler@neu.edu.