Chancellor’s Statement on University’s Commitment to Civil Rights Protections for Transgender Individuals

The following statement was sent to the campus community Oct. 24.

According to a recent New York Times report, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) has proposed a reinterpretation of federal civil rights law that rescinds recognition and protection of transgender people. The Times report, which is based on a leaked internal memo, states that the move would define gender as a “biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth.”

Although it appears that this proposed change to the enforcement of federal Title IX civil rights law is only at a preliminary stage, I want to take this opportunity to state unequivocally that we reject any reinterpretation of Title IX that results in the elimination of protections for transgender individuals, and we remain committed to fostering a campus climate that acknowledges the dignity of every member of our community. Furthermore, regardless of the outcome of this odious DHS proposal, we will continue to vigorously enforce our campus non-discrimination policy, which prohibits discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of gender identity and expression.

—Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy