In response to more trans* discrimination at Smith

An Open Letter

To all who are concerned about the latest iteration of this issue:

I just wanted to write as an alum in support of trans* rights at Smith. As I have said in other places Smith needs to be more clear about gender identity in our discrimination policy and that clarity *must* include protections for trans* students. It is, to me, irresponsible of Smith to accept trans* students (which I believe that we should) and not have a clear stance on gender identity discrimination.

I would encourage people to read Smith's Notice of Nondiscrimination (which in many ways is very forward thinking) but which is speciously absent of any language about gender identity. Link: http://www.smith.edu/global_nondisc.php

While I can understand that Smith has to be careful in its language about nondiscrimination on the basis of gender because of our primary identification as a women's college (a designation that I am proud of), I think that we can and should (if we purport to be an institution engaged in a feminist education) challenge ourselves to consider ways of supporting and protecting trans*, intersex, and gender non-conforming students. I gather from my time at Smith that many were afraid to take this issue to its fullest extent and require that Smith's Board of Directors would respond with language that was more exclusive of trans* students. I think that this is a legitimate fear (not because of any particular claims against the Board of Directors) but instead because we would in essence be loosing any 'wiggle room' that having ambiguous policies affords. As I see it however, at the moment that the ambiguity of policy language, becomes a tool of discrimination we have to reexamine our stance.

Our policy is to "[maintain] an atmosphere of mutual respect and appreciation of differences." Discrimination against trans* students, faculty, and staff be it during the application process, during their tenure with the college, or beyond compromises that atmosphere. Regardless of whether any individual or group hold a belief that trans* students do not belong on campus, actions that support a hostile environment of *any* student or group of students is in my mind in direct violation of the Notice of Nondiscrimination and should be dealt with accordingly.

I hope that this helps and I want to wish the members of TG and anyone else organizing good health. Especially for students, remember, that you have multiple priorities (and one of them is academics) and that you are allowed to set those for yourself. Too often marginalized students are expected to take on the majority of the organizational work and emotional weight of activism at the direct expense of their own academic and economic stability. Don't let anyone tell you you need to compromise either of those things to be a good activist. Take care of yourselves, get some rest, have some laughs, and if you're commencing this year enjoy it.

Jocelyn '08