HB269, prohibiting transgender students from living in student housing aligned with their gender identity, is unnecessary. It’s an excessive response to an issue with a straightforward solution.
I am a mom of four children, including a transgender daughter who currently attends the University of Utah. She lived in student housing her first year and the university handled it seamlessly. She shared a suite with four other young women and they all became good friends, which is an important part of a college experience and what every student and parent hopes for.
My understanding is the university, like most schools, used a questionnaire to make room assignments, and students were able to indicate ahead of time whether they were comfortable with sharing living space with an LGBTQ student. As a result, my daughter was assigned to a suite with others who had already indicated that they were. That’s an easy fix. Instead of segregating and further marginalizing, this issue could be resolved through best practices.
I’m sad that if HB269 becomes law many other transgender students won’t get to have the positive on-campus experience my daughter had, and I’m angry that this perpetuates the belief that transgender people are suspect and should be ostracized.
Because of legislation like this I fear for the safety of my daughter each day.
Helen Anderson, Provo
