Harvard University Transgender Task Force -- Harvard TTF

Creating a better campus for Transgender students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

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History & Past Successes

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On this page:
2005 Resolution on Creation of Non-Gendered Restrooms
TTF In the Media
List of Past Supporters

In 2005, the TTF had several successful rallies on campus and also convinced Harvard to change its non-discrimination policies.

Resolution on Creation Non-Gendered Restrooms

President Matt Mahan '05

Rep. Andrew Stillman (Pforzheimer '06)

Jordan Woods '06, BGLTSA Political Chair

WHEREAS for people whose gender identity or gender expression differs from their perceived gender, or are not always perceived as male or female, entering bathrooms labeled for men or women could result in discrimination, harassment, and embarrassment.

WHEREAS many people avoid using bathrooms to escape the fear of discrimination, harassment, and embarrassment. People change their eating and drinking habits to avoid bathrooms, which increases the risk of dehydration. Urinary infections, kidney failure, and other numerous health risks could result from avoiding bathroom use.

WHEREAS many classroom buildings that do not have gender non-specific bathrooms contain single occupancy bathrooms that specify a particular gender. Changing these bathrooms to gender non-specific would ensure bathroom accessibility for all students, faculty, and staff.

WHEREAS not all current gender non-specific bathrooms on campus are clearly marked as bathrooms. This makes it easy to confuse bathrooms with janitorial closets and storage spaces.

WHEREAS changing single occupancy bathrooms to gender non-specific is more efficient for all people. Bathroom lines would be shorter and people would not have to wait outside unoccupied single occupancy bathrooms simply because a bathroom is already occupied by someone of the same gender.

WHEREAS gender non-specific single occupancy bathrooms offer privacy to parents with small children without making gender a consideration while entering bathrooms.

WHEREAS the following student groups support our bathroom accessibility goals:

* Radcliffe Union of Students
* Girlspot
* Queer.
* Harvard Social Forum
* Black Students Association Political Action Committee
* Coalition Against Sexual Violence
* BAGELS
* Contact
* Harvard College Greens
* Office of Sexual Assault Prevention + Response

BE IT RESOLVED that the council urge the University to make the following changes:

1) All single occupancy public bathrooms shall be open to all genders. They shall not be labeled for men or women.

2) All public bathrooms shall be labeled as bathrooms.

3) All newly constructed Harvard buildings shall contain at least one accessible gender non-specific public bathroom.

4) The college shall recognize the rights of transgender and gender variant people to use the bathroom that they deem appropriate for their gender identity or expression without disciplinary action or affecting staff and faculty employment status.

In The Media

Theorist Questions Gender Emphasis, Harvard Crimson, 11-23-1992 - Kate Bornstein Performed on campus in 1992!

Council Debates Transgender Discrimination, Harvard Crimson, 2-24-1997 - UC supports protection of transgender students from discrimination, using the Harvard non-discrimination code.

Transgender Activist Speaks, Harvard Crimson, 10-15-1997 - Nancy Nangeroni speaks at Harvard. Alex Myers outlines his goal of including trans people in Harvard's non-discrimination code.

Harvard Mulls Including Transgendersim in Non-Discrimination Policy, Harvard Crimson, 11-6-1997 - In 1997, Harvard was in the same place we are now.

Students Protest Transgender Deaths, Harvard Crimson, 12-11-1998 - one of the first articles about Trans Day of Remembrance at Harvard

Lympdick: Standing Tall, Harvard Crimson, 5-5-2000 - it mocked the Vagina Monologues. (See article on the 2006 performance of a trans piece in the VM.)

Remember the Transgendered, Harvard Crimson, 11-20-2002

BGLTSA Petitions For Housing Policy Change, Harvard Crimson, 11-20-2002

Our Vaginas, Not Ourselves, Harvard Crimson, 2-13-2003 - Endes in "Eve, stay out of my vagina."

RUS Redefines Face of Feminism, Harvard Crimson, 2-19-2003 - Oussama Zahr discusses trans issues.

Fake IDs for Social Justice, Harvard Crimson, 8-1-2003 - Stephanie Skier worked for the Sylvia Rivera Law Project.

Trans Activism and Mourning, Harvard Crimson, 11-20-2003 - Nico Carbellano, Yumi Lee and Jess Rosenberg call for queer and progressive activists to recognize their own transphobia and to take trans activism seriously.

Transgender Supporters Mark Remembrance Day, Harvard Crimson, 11-21-2003

BGLSTA Bathroom Study Released, Harvard Crimson, 4-29-2004 - these propoals were ultimately adopted a couple of months later. Noteworthy is also the UC endorsement.

Bathroom Gender Segregation at Harvard, Harvard Crimson, 5-3-2004 - an explanation about why bathroom needs to be done differently.

Council Pushes Restroom Access, Harvard Crimson, 5-10-2004 - Undergraduate Council passes legislation supporting safe bathroom use (bill text will be posted on this website soon.)

Going Gender-Neutral: The University should adopt BGLTSA's recommendations on transgender bathrooms Harvard Crimson, 5-12-2004, The Harvard Crimson Staff endorses the BGLTSA bathroom initiative.

Amendments to Bathroom Bill Fail, Harvard Crimson, 5-17-2004 - In the Undergraduate Council, an ammendment designed to "strike a clause from the bill that allowed people to use the bathroom that they deem appropriate." In a victory for trans students on campus, this ammendment was defeated and the bill was passed.

I am a transsexual, written by a student at Harvard Law School, HLS Record, 4/28/05.

LAMBDA lawyer discusses challenges facing transgendered, HLS Record, 4/28/05

Words, Words, Words, The Crimson, 12-14-2005 - Ryan Thoreson explains that gender-neutral pronouns are not silly.

Bringing Everyone into the Fold, Harvard Crimson, 3-1-2006 - Another Piece about the trans piece in Harvard VM. , Harvard Crimson, 12-14-2005 - gender-neutral pronouns are defended as not silly.

Laughter, Tears Erupt From 'Vagina', Harvard Crimson 2-27-2006 - Trans Piece included in Harvard Vagina Monologues.

Gender Bent, Harvard Crimson 3-22-2006 - an article about gender identity and expression non-discrimination at Harvard

Undergraduate Council Calls for Non-Discrimination, Harvard Crimson, 4-10-2006

University to Include Gender Identity in Non-Discrimination Policy, Harvard Crimson, 4-11-2006

Our Supporters

So far, the proposal to change Harvard's non-discrimination code to protect people from discrimination on the basis of "gender identity and expression" has been endorsed by the following groups:

  • Harvard Trans Task Force
  • Harvard BGLTSA
  • Lambda at HLS
  • Faith for All at HDS
  • Girlspot
  • BAGELS
  • Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
  • Radcliffe Union of Students
  • Cornerstone
  • Community Church of Boston
  • Association of Black Harvard Women Action Committee
  • Association of Black Harvard Women
  • Diversity and Distinction Magazine
  • Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition
  • Kinsey 2-to-6ers (at HMS)
  • Progressive Jewish Alliance
  • Harvard Gay and Lesbian Caucus (alumni)
  • ACLU at HLS
  • Society of Arab Students
  • GLBT Health Access Project, a Program of JRI Health
  • Queer Caucus at Northeastern University School of Law
  • Socialist Alternative
  • LBGGS (GSAS)
  • Harvard College Unitarian Universalists
  • Student Labor Action Movement (SLAM)
  • Reform Minyan at Hillel
  • Mental Health Advocacy and Awareness Group (MHAAG)
  • Harvard LGBT Faculty & Staff Group
  • Harvard Queer Asian Forum
  • Undergraduate Council
  • Quench.
  • Greater Boston PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian, Gays, Bisexual, and Transgender People)