Ralliers Demand Trans Equality

“Think that our work is done? Think again! We’re just getting warmed up!” read an advertisement for a “rally for transgender equality” that took place in front of the Science Center yesterday afternoon.

The rally, organized by the Transgender Task Force, occurred a week after Harvard announced that it will include the phrase “gender identity” in its University-wide non-discrimination policy. A crowd of over 200 people attended the event, according to Noah E. Lewis, a co-coordinator of the Task Force.

The event was intended both as a “celebration” of the policy amendment and a “call for concrete changes” said Lewis, a Harvard Law School graduate who spoke at the rally.

Co-coordinater of the Trans Task Force M. Barusch ‘06 said yesterday’s gathering was the “most people that I’ve ever seen at any trans event during my four years at Harvard.”

Barusch added, however, that the campus’ support for transgender people is still lacking.

“I think it is hard to say that the Harvard community is generally supportive of a group of people that are often forced to be hidden or invisible.”

Lewis said that while he thought Harvard was doing the “right thing,” the change was late in coming. Harvard became the 53rd school to amend its non-discrimination policy.

According to Lewis, the policy change is only a small step, and other reforms are necessary. He said the school should create gender neutral bathrooms, provide housing that meets transgender people’s needs, might include coverage for transgender operations.

It is a “huge stigma to say that we respect you but we still think you’re crazy and won’t pay for your surgery,” Lewis said.

The rally, which lasted for about an hour and half, was live-blogged on cambridgecommon.com by Ryan R. Thoreson ’07, co-chair of the Harvard Bixexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, and Supporters Alliance (BGLTSA) and a member of the Trans Task Force.

Reactions to the rally were “really positive,” Thoreson said.

Greg M. Sensing, an administrative assistant in the Harvard University Libraries Office who wished to be identified as a “transgender male,” said he spoke at yesterday’s rally on behalf of transgendered individuals in the Harvard staff.

“I would assume, I would hope, that I am not the only transgender staff member at Harvard,” Sensing said.

“The University and more specifically people at the College have worked very hard to address issues relating to gender identity,” Robert Mitchell, Communications Director for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, said yesterday.

The Trans Task Force was established in 1997 to address transgender issues at Harvard, drawing membership from students, faculty, staff, and alumni.