Gender identity, expression and bathrooms at CSU Office of Institutional Equity (OIE)

1. Gender identity, expression and bathrooms at CSU Office of Institutional Equity (OIE)

2. General Guidelines for the Workplace and Customer Service 1. CSU is comprised of a diverse group of students, alumni, faculty, staff and visitors. 2. The University strives to treat all members of our community and one another with courtesy and respect. 3.Members of the University community strive to avoid sending messages to one another and to customers (through verbal or non-verbal language) that respecting everyone is a burden. 5. Avoiding words and phrases that students, alumni, faculty, staff and visitors may interpret as discriminatory is an extension of what the University already does well.

3. Federal/State Laws Prohibit discrimination and harassment based on: • Race • Sex • Pregnancy • Religion • Color • Age • National Origin • Veteran/Military Status • Genetic Information • Disability • Sexual Orientation • Marital/Parental Status • Gender Identity/Expression

4. Identity - some definitions • Gender: Complex relationship between physical traits and one’s internal sense of self as a male, female, both or neither (gender identity), and the outward presentation of gender. • Sex: Conveys physical attributes and characteristics that make one “male” or “female” at birth. • Cisgender: People whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth. • Gender-expansive: A wider, flexible range of gender identities or expressions than those associated with the binary gender system. • Transgender:A person whose gender identity is different from their sex assigned at birth. • Gender Nonconforming: A person whose behaviors or gender expression falls outside that considered typical for their assigned sex at birth. • Gender Expression: The expression of gender through outward presentation and behavior, such as name, clothing, hair style, body language, and mannerisms. • Sexual Orientation: A person’s romantic or sexual attraction to people of a specific gender or genders. • University staff don’t need to know these definitions, but should understand that some members of the campus community identify with concepts.

5. Keep in mind… • Gender identity is based on the person’s perception of their gender • Gender identity can be different from gender assigned at birth • Gender identity and sexual orientation are not the same. A person can identify as a female (gender identity) and seek men or women as sexual partners (sexual orientation). • Physical appearance is not determinative of gender identity. A person can identify as a female, but anatomically appear male (muscles, “adams apple”, mustache, etc.)and choose not to take measures (surgery, hormones, etc.) to change their appearance.

6. Pronouns (she/her/hers, he/him/his, cisgender, etc.) Viking Cards and other identification Harassment and Discrimination Bullying Restroom Use Young people with nonbinary gender identity and/or expression are at a greater risk of suicide, depression and other concerns. Gender Identity – when does it come up at CSU

7. All employees, students and visitors including transgender individuals should have access to restrooms that correspond to their gender identity.This is the law.

8. CSU Provides Gender Neutral Restrooms • Julka Hall - JH 189 (By the electric closet North West Entrance) • Main Classroom Building -  MC 130 (By African Cultural Studies- North Elevator Lobby) • Middough Building - MB 113 (Next to the scene shop in the garage)   • Music & Communication - Ground Floor   MU G10 (Close to East 21st street entrance)   • Science & Research Center - SR 158 (Inside the McNair Scholars area)  • Student Center -  SC121 & SC 203   • Recreation Center - RC 117A  • Center for Innovation in Medical Professions (IM) - IM 130,  IM 230 &  IM 318   • Viking Vets, LZ 53 - Trinity Commons 2254 Euclid Avenue Trinity Commons • The Galleries at CSU - AG 16 • Washkewicz Hall - WH 311

9. What should you do if you see someone in the “wrong” bathroom? Be respectful; don’t make assumptions Treat the person like any other patron. Remember, there is no WRONG bathroom. If you are not comfortable, leave and return after the person in the bathroom has left. If you are not comfortable, leave and use another bathroom. Persons with nonbinary gender identity and/or expression are NOT required to use gender neutral restrooms.

10. Important Guidelines - Gender • On the Basis of Gender, Never… • Make unsolicited remarks about a person's appearance, even if they seem like compliments • Use words relating to female stereotypes: "honey", "darling", "cute li'l thang” • Use derogatory language directed at one gender or another, even if a specific person is not targeted. • Avoid the term "ladies" - It is either fawningly patronizing or disrespectful, depending upon the context, and especially when spoken by a male. • Call attention to another person’s appearance. (“So, you work out a lot?” “She is so hot!”) • Tell a woman she should be wearing pants or looks “androgynous.” • Speculate or question marital or relationship status, marital or sexual relations, parental status, body parts, and mechanical or drug-related body part enhancers.

11. Respectful Interactions with Transgendered Students and Staff • Treat Trans People as You Would Anyone Else • Sometimes people get apprehensive or nervous around trans people. Trans people are just people who want to be treated respectfully. • Use the Correct Name and Pronoun • Most names and pronouns are gendered. Be considerate of others’ gender identity by using the person’s preferred pronouns or gender-neutral pronouns. • Names are extremely important for trans people; names are part of a person’s identity. Using the wrong name is disrespectful and can cause a trans person to recall atime and experience of being trans when they couldn’t express who they really are. • State your pronouns to communicate that you are open to using their preferred pronouns.

12. Respectful Interactions with Transgendered Students and Staff • If You Make a Mistake with a Pronoun or Name, Move On • Do not continually refer to your mistake. It’s best to apologize for the mistake and continue moving forward, trying to remember preferred names and pronouns. Harping on the same mistake can begin to sting and focuses attention on a trans person’s incongruence of sex and gender assigned at birth and how they identify.Use the Correct Name and Pronoun • Don’t Say, “I’ll Never Get That Pronoun/Name Right.” • This implies that the person’s identity is burdensome and that you’re unwilling to commit to honoring their identity as a trans person. Instead, simply apologize and ensure them you’re trying to be conscious of their name/pronoun choice.

13. Respectful Interactions with Transgendered Students and Staff • Don’t Ask Personal Questions Unless You are Invited to • Personal questions are a sensitive issue for anyone. • Be respectful of privacy, especially around topics directly involving sex or genitalia. • Don’t ask a question that you wouldn’t want someone to ask you. • If you must ask a personal question, ask permission andwait for it to be granted before delvinginto someone’s private life. • Don’t Make Assumptions • Gender identity/expression does not always match physical appearance or sex assigned at birth. • Use Terms Like “Cisgender” Instead of “Normal.” • Saying “normal” implies that trans people are in fact not normal. Contrasting “trans” and “normal” exposes a superiority complex. If trans isn’t “normal,” then it has to be some of the other antonyms of normal: weird, strange, freaky.

14. Through a thoughtful consideration of the uniqueness and validity of every person’s experiences of self, we can develop greater acceptance for all. Not only will this create greater inclusion for individuals who challenge the norms of gender, it will create space for all individuals to more fully explore and celebrate who they are.

15. Thank You You can find University policy and procedure on the OIE and Title IX website: https://www.csuohio.edu/institutional-equity/institutional-equityor https://www.csuohio.edu/titleix/titleix You can call OIE at 216-687-2223; email at OIE@CSUOHIO.edu; visit in AC 236