Gender identity and expression could soon be included in ASU's non-discrimination policy.
ASU's Office of the General Counsel recently agreed to meet with the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Tran-sgendered/Queer Coalition to consider adjusting the policy.
If LGBTQ gets what it's asking for, the policy will protect against the discrimination of transgendered people, who identify themselves or behave outside of stereotypical gender norms.
If the General Counsel approves the amended policy, ASU would be the first university in the state to prohibit discrimination against transgendered people.
ASU's Equal Opportuni-ty and Affirmative Action policy only protects the LGBTQ community by prohibiting discrimination according to sex and sexual orientation.
"The new policy will make clear the commitment to non-discriminate on the basis of gender identity and expression," said Kathie Gummere, director of public affairs at the Arizona Human Rights Fund. "People who are transgendered, or express their gender in ways that are not traditional, should not be discriminated against."
In fall 2003, several bias-related incidents against the LGBTQ community prompted the undergraduate student body to write a proposal petitioning the University to address their discrimination concerns in its current policy.
Last week, LGBTQ facilitator Samuel Holdren sent a letter to ASU President Michael Crow petitioning for the policy to be accepted.
Several universities, including Brown University and the University of Washington, have adopted "gender identity and expression" in their policies.
For more information about the LGBTQ Coalition, call (480) 965-8690.
Reach the reporter at lynda.cruz@asu.edu.
