At the University of Washington, we are committed to making our campuses and communities a welcoming environment for ALL of our community members, including our transgender and gender nonconforming students and employees. News reports about a federal Department of Health and Human Services memo suggest that there may be an attempt underway to withdraw protections for transgender and gender nonconforming people under Title IX. This would be a grave injustice.
Support and resources
Q Center
Professionally-supported resource, advocacy and mentoring center for queer students and concerns at the UW
SafeCampus
Service to connect anyone with concerns about safety with the right resources
UW Counseling Center
Multiple options for students seeking help coping with stress and mental health concerns
Let’s Talk
Free, confidential, informal drop-in counseling service
Hall Health Center
Hall Health Center’s page on trans health resources
Bias Incident Reporting Tool
For reporting threats or other bias-related activity, online or in person, that may impact the UW community
We are closely monitoring the situation, but I want to be clear: the reported changes in Title IX federal policy will in no way affect UW policies or practices supporting our transgender and gender nonconforming community members.
We can and will continue to implement our policies on preferred names and make gender inclusive restrooms available. We can and will continue to address discrimination or harassment against transgender and gender nonconforming students under our own conduct code as well as our nondiscrimination code.
Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is unwavering. I recognize that, regardless of our commitment to fair and humane policies, this is still a profoundly difficult and unsettling time for our trans and gender nonconforming friends, colleagues and students. If you need support, please ask for it – your community is here for you and you can find counseling and support resources in the sidebar.
At the UW, diversity, equity and inclusion are core values, both in how we treat each other and how we approach our exploration of the world we share. From the award-winning research by psychology professor Kristina Olson to understand the experiences of transgender and gender nonconforming children to UW Medicine’s recognition by the Human Rights Campaign for leadership in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality, we are united in recognizing trans rights as human rights.
I urge all of us to practice empathy, to care for each other and to do all that we can to ensure that our community feels welcoming and safe – for everyone.