Harvard University is just one of a number of schools to add anti-discrimination policies that include gender identity and expression so far this year. Occidental College (California), Parkland College (Illinois), Brandeis University (Massachusetts), Western Michigan University (Michigan), Princeton University (New Jersey), Vassar College (New York) and Evergreen State College (Washington State) have also done so.

Some schools are also making progress on critical issues such as health insurance coverage for transgender students and access to gender neutral restrooms. Suffolk University in Massachusetts just announced that they have made changes to their insurance coverage, which will take effect August 15, and will give trans students coverage for hormones and appropriate mental health treatment. When students brought the issue to the attention of administrators, the school took steps to address their policies and make the necessary changes. You can read more about it in an article in The Suffolk Journal at Suffolk Journal.

Transgender students and their allies at Grinnell College took action late last month to raise awareness on campus of the lack of gender-neutral bathrooms at the Iowa school. The Transgender, GenderQueer and Allies Discussion Group led the action. In their statement in the school paper, the group cites the work done by the Transgender Law Center in their resource, “Peeing in Peace.” You can find the resource at www.transgenderlawcenter.org.

For more information about the climate at colleges and universities, check out the Transgender Law & Policy Institute’s website at www.transgenderlaw.org, and click on “College and School Policies.” This excellent and informative website has been maintained for many years by Brett Genny Beemyn and contains a list of schools, links to their policies, plus information about issues like housing, restrooms and health care.

Click here for the next article: GLSEN Releases Report on Climate in Schools