U-M: Prohibition against sex discrimination includes gender identity

"The University of Michigan is strongly committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our community," Provost Paul N. Courant wrote in a memo to faculty, staff and students.

To that end, he wrote, the Task Force on the Campus Climate for Transgender, Bisexual, Lesbian and Gay (TBLG) Faculty, Staff and Students was formed and charged with collecting information and making recommendations for improving the campus climate for TBLG persons. Among the task force recommendations issued last year was an amendment to the University's non-discrimination and equal opportunity policy to include gender identity within its protections. A Feb. 8 resolution by the Michigan Student Assembly sought the same action.

University attorneys have issued a legal opinion that the court's ruling is binding on the University. "Accordingly, from this point forward, the University will interpret and apply the prohibition against sex discrimination in its equal opportunity and non-discrimination policies to include discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression," Courant wrote.

The report of the TBLG task force can be found on the provost's Web site: http://www.umich.edu/~provost/reports/tblg/index.html. For the text of the provost's letter, see: http://www.umich.edu/~provost/news/Non-Discrimination%20Stmt.html.

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