October 16, 2003                                                                    59LCB#11 Transgender Inclusion

 

Sponsored by:                                      Jessie Ulibarrí                                       Representative

 

Authored by:                                        Jessie Ulibarrí                                       Representative

 

 

A Bill

Bill History

 

Currently, the University of Colorado at Boulder focuses its efforts to accommodate students who fit into the gender normative dichotomy standards of U.S. society and those of non-binding familial status.  Individuals who do not fit into the masculine/feminine gender dichotomy, or in other words, transgender, gender queer and/or gender deviant individuals, along with students with families, are denied the privileges of their hegemonic counterparts, and therefore are hindered in their educational pursuits. 

 

One such example of this exclusion is the issues of restrooms.  Transgender, gender queer, and/or gender deviant individuals are often barred access from male/female restrooms and other similar facilities (i.e. locker rooms) because they are not identified as “belonging” in said space.  The process of finding a suitable space to maintain daily activities, like bathrooms and locker rooms, causes undue stress on the students and shifts energies from educational endeavors.  Likewise, students with children must struggle to find facilities that accommodate their needs as parents and are unable to fully focus on their studies.

 

Further, some educational opportunities outside of the classroom exclude non-traditional students.  Educational and informative conferences and events oftentimes do not have adequate facilities to accommodate transgender, gender deviant, and/or gender queer students, nor students with families.  This in turn prohibits the participation, and therefore advancement of education, of these students.

 

Bill Summary

 

This bill works to eradicate the systematic exclusion of transgender, gender queer and/or gender deviant individuals, in addition to non-traditional students in all facets of student life.

 

THEREFORE BE IT ENACTED by the Legislative Council of the University of Colorado Student Union, THAT,

 

SECTION 1:  This bill mandates that all UCSU buildings must have gender neutral, unisex and/or family facilities, which are readily accessible, but not limited to, restrooms on every floor.