Summer Fun for Everyone : Transgender Inclusion

Summer Fun for Everyone:Transgender Inclusion Nathan Triplett Director of Public Policy Equality Michigan

Why are we here? “Any agency that is not specifically addressing the needs of its transgender user may be obstructing participation without knowing or intending to do so.”

Today’s Agenda • Terminology / Trans 101 • A few words on the law • Best practices for interacting with transgender patrons • Access to restrooms, locker rooms, and changing facilities. • Q&A / Discussion

Let’s start with a few terms… • Gender Identity • One’s internal, deeply held sense of one’s gender – a deep understanding and knowledge of who we are. • Most people have a gender identity of man or woman (or boy or girl). • For some people, their gender identity does not fit neatly into one of those two choices. • For transgender people, their own internal gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. • Important: gender identity and sexual orientation are different.

Let’s start with a few terms… • Sexual Orientation • Describes an individual’s enduring physical, romantic and/or emotional attraction to another person. • Transgender people may be straight, lesbian, gay, or bisexual. • Gender Expression • External manifestations of gender, expressed through one’s name, pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics. • Typically, transgender people seek to make their gender expression align with their gender identity, rather than the sex they were assigned at birth.

Let’s start with a few terms… • Transgender • (adj.) An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. • NOT OK: transgender(ed) Being transgender is not something that has happened or been done to you. • NOT OK: transgender(s) • Transgender man • Transgender men are men who were assigned female at birth but identify and live as a male. • Transgender woman • Transgender women are women who were assigned male at birth but identify and live as female.

Let’s start with a few terms… • Gender transition • The process of aligning ones physical body, social or legal role, and/or gender expression with one’s gender identity. • May include health care treatments, legal proceedings (name change, gender marker correction, etc.), switching pronouns or salutations, or a shift in social group or role. • Many transgender individuals who possess the means to do so, do not find it necessary or desirable to transition surgically.

Some terms to avoid • He-She • Shemale • Transvestite • Tranny • Cross-Dresser • “Choose”

A Word about the law

A Word about the law • Impact of 2016 presidential election (ex: rescission of ED/DOJ guidance on the rights of transgender students. • Rapidly evolving legal landscape in federal courts: • Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College • Whitaker v. Kenosha

Interacting with Trans Residents • Always use an individual’s preferred name and pronouns. • Consider how registration documents, class lists, identification requirements, etc. may inadvertently “out” transgender individuals and adjust accordingly. • Respect the privacy of transgender individuals at all times. • Publicize and enforce existing nondiscrimination laws/policies or adopt appropriate policies to govern your facilities and programs. • Integrate information about expectations and legal requirements related to access for transgender patrons into staff training.

Access to the restrooms, locker rooms, and changing facilities • Transgender individuals should have access to facilities that corresponds with their gender identity. • Some non-transgender members of the public may feel uncomfortable with a transgender youth or adults using the same facilities. This discomfort is not a reason to deny access to a transgender individual. • Where available, a single stall bathroom and/or changing room should be available to any person, transgender or not, who desires increased privacy, regardless of the underlying reason. • The use of a single stall bathroom and/or changing facility should be a matter of personal choice. No person should be compelled to use such a bathroom and/or changing facility.

Access to the restrooms, locker rooms, and changing facilities Ideally, universal signage should be installed on all single stall facilities to make it clear that transgender individuals are welcome.

Access to the restrooms, locker rooms, and changing facilities • Ensure that all bathrooms include stalls that have doors with functional locks for the privacy and safety of all patrons. • Similar steps should be taken for locker rooms and other changing facilities. • Cost effective measures: Hang shower curtains in shower and changing areas to provide more privacy for all patrons. • Do a facilities audit. Work with local advocates or interested transgender patrons. • Remember: Transgender people, like all people, have their own sense of modesty and take steps to protect of their unclothed bodies from exposure when they change their clothes.

Access to the restrooms, locker rooms, and changing facilities Source: “Dear Colleague Letter on Transgender Students” U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Justice (2016).

Access to the restrooms, locker rooms, and changing facilities Source: “Model District Policy on Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students” GLSEN (2016).

8 tips for creating a more equitable environment for transgender individuals - Parks & Recreation, October 2015 • Put it in writing! Include gender identity in your nondiscrimination statement wherever it appears in your written and online materials. • Talk to the local members of the transgender community. Invite members of the community to sit on an existing advisory board or create an advisory committee that specifically addresses LGBT issues and includes transgender members. • Create formal partnerships with the transgender organizations in your community. • Get out of the gender policing business and institute explicit policies that allow individuals to determine which facilities and programs are most appropriate for them.

8 tips for creating a more equitable environment for transgender individuals - Parks & Recreation, October 2015 • Train your staff about your policies and procedures and give them the tools they need for positive and welcoming interactions. Bring in outside expertise if you feel that you need it. • Do an assessment of facilities. How private are they? Sometimes the fix is relatively inexpensive: for example, adding a shower curtain or a door on an existing stall. • Check your forms! Do you require people to choose M/F? You should consider doing it this way instead: Gender _________ • Ensure that all of your programming in trans-inclusive and provide some trans-specific programming. Linda Oakleaf, Assistant Professor, Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department, Missouri Western State University.

Additional Resources • “Building a Pathway to Parks & Recreation for All: Reducing Barriers for Trans* & Gender Variant Community Members” –Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation (2014) • “Examples of Policies and Emerging Practices for Supporting Transgender Students” – U.S. Department of Education (2016) • “State Board of Education Statement and Guidance on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Students” – Michigan State Board of Education (2016)

Questions? Nathan Triplett Director of Public Policy Equality Michigan 517-719-6499 ntriplett@equalitymi.org

Summer Fun for Everyone : Transgender Inclusion