Students will likely not notice a two-word change when they crack open the first page of their 2007-2008 Bulletin, but these two words are groundbreaking ones for transgender rights at Stanford. The phrase “gender identity” has been added to Stanford’s Statement of Nondiscriminatory Policy — a change many in the transgender rights community celebrate, even though its practical impact remains unclear.

The Statement of Nondiscriminatory Policy prohibits discrimination in the “rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the University.” The statement also forbids discrimination “in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarships and loan programs, and athletic and other University-administered programs” consistent with “its obligations under the law.”

“Gender identity” is specifically listed in the second sentence.

Vice Provost for Student Affairs Greg Boardman said that a committee of senior administrators convened to propose this policy revision, which President John Hennessy recently accepted. Boardman said that the phrase will be added to the Administrative Guide and “applies to students, staff and faculty alike.”

“Regarding the ramifications of the policy,” Boardman added, “I believe that the revision sends a strong message that Stanford is interested in addressing and supporting the needs of the transgender community.”

The policy change comes about thanks to a group of transgender students and allies who geared up a campaign for transgender rights during the 2006-2007 academic year. Harriet ‘07, a transgender student and movement organizer who asked not to be identified by her real name, estimated that the University is home to “several dozen” transgender students, faculty and staff.

With the backing of the LGBT-CRC, a LGBT law student group called OUTLAW and Safe and Open Spaces at Stanford, the students calling for a policy change began meeting with top-level administrators. LGBT-CRC Director and Assistant Dean of Students Ben Davidson ‘04 said administrators were willing to learn more about gender identity issues and ways for their offices to be more responsive.

“I think the change will send a strong message to current and prospective students — as well as to faculty and staff — that Stanford takes the needs of the transgender members of our community seriously,” he said. “I imagine it will be especially encouraging to those who are closeted or questioning their gender identities.”

According to Harriet, the central issue of the transgender rights campaign was healthcare discrimination. Harriet said that the student and faculty health insurance plans contain clauses that deny care for transgender-related issues, such as hormone level monitoring.

“[Vaden administrators] were very receptive,” she said. “They said they’d start looking into making changes. The clauses weren’t there because of malicious intent — it’s just common for any health insurance plan.”

Although Harriet celebrated gains for the transgender community, such as the addition of gender-neutral bathrooms to Old Union, she said that transgender students face a number of other obstacles besides healthcare — such as roommate pairing.

“If a student is in transition or they have transitioned, it can be hard getting them paired up with a roommate who is accepting of them,” she said. “In the past, Stanford has had single-sex rooming only.”

But exactly what changes the new Nondiscrimination Policy will bring about remains unclear. Director of the Diversity and Access Office Rosa Gonzalez said she didn’t know of any subsequent policy revisions in the works.

“Even with this change of language, [transgendered persons] were already protected by California law,” she said. “We’re more than anything being explicit — it says that Stanford is a very welcoming and diverse place. Students, staff, they can make a request and it would go through the same channels; it doesn’t mean that now there’s a change in policy.”

Executive Director of Student Housing Rodger Whitney said that issues related to making housing sensitive to the needs of transgender students are “under review” by Housing, Residential Education and the office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs.

“We have already been working with a group of students and members of the ASSU both to explore some of these issues in support of transgender students,” Whitney said in an email to The Daily. “[We hope to] determine any impact and possible change to any housing programs or policies going forward as a result of the recent revision in University policy.”

But some students and faculty said Stanford still has a long way to go in ensuring transgender rights. Biological Sciences Prof. Joan Roughgarden expressed concern about the phrasing of the Statement of Nondiscriminatory Policy.

“The second sentence, in which ‘gender identity’ is mentioned, says only that Stanford will do whatever is required by the law,” Roughgarden said. “The first sentence is where the principle of non-discrimination is stated, and ‘gender identity’ is conspicuously missing there. This revision is an evasion of responsibility.

“Only Stanford of all the major Ivies and leading public universities is silent on the issue of equal rights and privileges with respect to gender identity,” she added.

Harriet also noted that the city of San Francisco provides health insurance coverage for transgender issues and that the University of California (UC) system has adopted a similar policy for faculty and staff.

“Stanford is behind the UC system,” she said. “Stanford has taken a step forward with the nondiscrimination clause, but they’re still behind in many respects.”

.