Recent news coverage has implied that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may be leading an effort to establish a legal definition of sex under Title IX. The proposal, as quoted from a leaked memo, defines sex as either male or female, and gender as something determined by a person's genitals at birth rather than on the gender a person identifies with. As part of this effort, 卫生与公众服务部呼吁主要政府机构采用统一的性别定义, “这是由生物学基础决定的,这是显而易见的, grounded in science, objective and administrable."
In light of this coverage, we wish to clarify that University of Denver's Equal Opportunity Policy and Procedures expressly prohibit harassment, 基于性别对任何人的歧视或暴力, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. 这些保护也适用于我们的变性人, non-binary, 性别不符合和双性学生, staff, faculty, alumni, visitors, and community members.
Additionally, DU complies with the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act's prohibition against harassment and discrimination on the basis of sex, 延伸到性取向和性别认同.
This development does not impact DU's commitment to create a safe and inclusive campus environment, 也没有承诺提供一个彻底的, prompt, 以及对性骚扰指控的公平回应, 基于性别认同或性别表达的歧视或暴力. DU was among the first higher education institutions to include both gender identity and gender expression in its non-discrimination policy and continues to prohibit harassment and discrimination against any person on the basis of sex, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation.
The suggested changes, even if not enacted, 可能会引起我们对变性人的关注, non-binary, 性别不一致和双性人社区成员, and reminds us of the vulnerability marginalized people experience on a regular basis. We encourage our community members to seek care and support whenever necessary through the other resources offered by the University.
If members of the community experience gender-based harassment or discrimination at any time, they are encouraged to contact the Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX, or the 倡导、预防和赋权中心(CAPE).