SALEM — A transgender student has accused Salem State College of housing discrimination after being refused a request to live in a dorm with female students.
The unidentified student met with college President Patricia Meservey this week, and also has spoken with a statewide transgender support group about the case. It is not known if any legal charges have been filed against the college.
Salem State officials have received protest letters after an appeal for action was posted on a website for Join the Impact MA.
"A transitioned female student and member of Join the Impact MA is being discriminated against regarding equal rights to housing," the Internet posting begins.
"After applying for school housing at Salem State, she was denied fair entrance into female housing on campus, and forced to provide unnecessary documentation. This is blatant discrimination and an attack on her privacy."
Visitors to the website were urged to call or e-mail Meservey, Executive Vice President Stanley Cahill and Kathy Neville, the head of residence life at Salem State.
Karen Cady, a college spokeswoman, confirmed that the college has received calls and e-mails about the issue.
"Student Life is very aware of the situation and has really gone to the mat to try to accommodate this student," she said.
The student is currently living in "gender-neutral" housing, Cady said.
Asked about that housing option, Cady said: "In an effort to show sensitivity to individuals who have a change of gender expression, we have established what we call gender-neutral housing."
Salem State has had one gender-neutral apartment, which accommodates several students, on campus for two to three years, she said, and is adding another next school year.
The Salem News spoke with the student off the record last week but has not been able to contact the student again.
The protest e-mail said that earlier this month, during housing selection at Salem State, the college "refused her the ability to apply for housing recognizing her legal sex. Salem State's commentary that she 'accurately (indicated her) biological sex ... as male' is outright unacceptable."
Cady said the college feels it has been fair with this student.
"Given what we know and what the guidelines are for reassigning housing within Salem State College, we feel we have offered the best possible solution," she said. "... Our rules state that housing is assigned based on biological sex."
She said the college is limited in what it can say because it is trying to respect the privacy of the student and be sensitive to the student's needs. However, she added, "we have to be equally sensitive and fair to the rest of our students."
Gunner Scott, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, a group actively supporting a transgender rights bill now before the state Legislature, said he has spoken with the Salem State student and is familiar with the situation.
Scott said he laid out options and is waiting to hear back from the student.
"We would be more than willing to support her in whatever decision she makes, and provide technical assistance and training to the school, if they wanted to have that," Scott said.
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