Senate Passes Gender Identity and Gender Expression Resolution
In its May, 2008 meeting the VCU Faculty Senate passed the following resolution...
Resolution to Support Amendment of VCU’s Reaffirmation Statement of the Equal Opportunity Policy to Include Gender Identity and Gender Expression
Whereas, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) already protects its students, faculty, and staff from discrimination based on age, race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, veteran’s status, political affiliation, or disability, but does not include gender identity or gender expression;
Whereas, gender has come to be understood as an element of identity and expression distinct from physical sex;
Whereas, transgender, transsexual, and other gender-variant students, faculty, and staff have faced discrimination on and off campus, through threats and harassment in such activities such as employment, restroom use, housing, and health care;
Whereas, protecting its students, faculty, and staff is the responsibility of the university;
Whereas, the first step that the university should take to protect these students, faculty, and staff is to add gender identity and gender expression to the VCU Reaffirmation Statement of the Equal Opportunity Policy;
Whereas, it is essential that each student be given an equal opportunity to learn and thrive while at VCU;
Whereas, gender-variant students, faculty, and staff must be free from discrimination or harassment if they are to effectively carry out their duties and the university’s mission;
Whereas, since 1992, 147 universities, including nine of our peer institutions (New York University, Syracuse University, The Ohio State University, University of Arizona, University of Illinois–Chicago, University of Iowa, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, University of New Mexico, and University of Southern California), have implemented a non-discrimination policy including gender identity and gender expression;
Therefore, Be It Resolved that VCU’s Reaffirmation Statement of the Equal Opportunity Policy be amended as follows:
Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution providing access to education and employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, religion, sexual orientation, veteran’s status, political affiliation, gender identity or gender expression.