Campus rated a top friendly school for transgender people

UMass Amherst is among the nation’s top 10 friendly colleges and universities for transgender people, according to Campus Pride, a national nonprofit organization for student leaders and campus groups working to create safer, more friendly learning environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students at higher education institutions.

The list, which does not rank the 10 schools, says UMass Amherst in the past five years “has gone from having almost no trans-supportive policies in place to being at the forefront of trans inclusiveness, including developing a policy that supports the participation of trans students in campus sports. The Stonewall Center, the campus LGBT center, produces many resources for trans students, most notably a resource guide of area trans-supportive service providers — everyone from therapists and physicians to cosmetologists and attorneys.  UMass Amherst also created the country’s first LGBT and ally residence hall community, which is marking its 20th year this fall.”

Genny Beemyn, director of the Stonewall Center, co-authored an article about Campus Pride’s list for Advocate.com.