Tolerance For All

Given that much of society is largely unfamiliar with many of the challenges that transgendered individuals face, Harvard’s decision to amend its University-wide non-discrimination policy to protect “gender identity” is a bold and highly commendable step.

Since the formation of the Transgender Task Force (TTF) in 1997, the group of students, staff, faculty, and alumni who advocate on behalf of issues of gender identity has pushed for such an inclusion in the University-wide non-discrimination code. On Tuesday, the University’s general counsel told the TTF that the Harvard Corporation had decided to change the non-discrimination code to include “gender identity” at its last meeting.

This important amendment to the code harms no one, and it makes an important statement about how the University believes all its community members should should treat each other. Harvard should not discriminate on the basis of any personal attributes or choices that do not adversely affect their job performance or contribution to the wider community. Harvard should follow this broad principle in evaluating its non-discrimination policies, and the Corporation’s decision falls under this reasoning. The choice to live as a man, woman, or to choose not to identify within a traditional gender category is a personal one and in no way negatively impacts an individual’s role at the University.

In terms of numbers, Harvard’s transgender population is small compared to the size of the entire community. This detracts, however, from neither the symbolic value of the statement nor the real impact it will have on those directly affected by the new policy. According to Ryan A. Thoreson ’07, co-chair of the Harvard Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transsgender, and Supporters Alliance (BGLTSA) and a member of the TTF, prevailing societal opinions now make publicly indentifying as transgender extremely difficult. “The change in code signals a willingness on the part of Harvard to think progressively about these issues and recognize that there are trans people at Harvard,” he told The Crimson. “The Corporation recognized the presence of trans folk at the University, and that’s great, even if individual policy changes are a little more complicated.”

The goal of the change in the policy’s wording is to broadly guarantee that members of the Harvard community will not be discriminated against on the basis of their gender identity. However, it does not guarantee any changes in specific policies, such as housing arrangements, bathroom signage, or insurance for gender-related surgery. It will be the responsibility of the TTF to approach each school individually to resolve these issues, and we hope that the new University-wide policy has a positive, proactive impact on changes in school-wide issues that affect transgender individuals.

This change in the non-discrimination code cannot be the end of discussion about issues and tolerance of gender identity. As progressive of a step as this is, there are still many aspects of life at Harvard that are unfairly difficult for transgender individuals, and the various branches of the University must continue to look for ways to mitigate the daily challenges that such individuals face.

Still, the formal addition of this language to Harvard’s non-discrimination policy will have some tangible effects. “The change offers recourse for people who feel they are discriminated against on Harvard’s campus,” Thoreson said. Harvard has taken the crucial first step by opening up the protection of non-discrimination to transgender members of the community, and the Corporation should be praised for its decision.