Transgender Information

What does transgender mean?

As the name implies, someone who is transgender is someone who transgresses gender boundaries.  Transgender behavior encompasses everything from a boy wearing fingernail polish to someone having surgery to change their sex. Transsexuals are people whose gender identity is opposite of their anatomical sex. Many (but not all) transsexual people take hormones and/or undergo sex reassignment surgery. Female to male (FTM) people were born physically female but see themselves as partially to fully masculine. Male to female (MTF) people were born physically male, but see themselves as partially to fully feminine.

FAQ’s & Answers Regarding Transgender Issues

1. What is the transgender community like at UCSD?

There are a number of folks who frequent the LGBT Resource Center who are non-gender conforming.  Identities and labels are fluid, and some have identified as gender queer, transgender, MTF trans (pre-op and post-op), FTM trans (pre-op and post-op). A number of staff across campus identify as post-operative transsexual, and although they are living full time as their understood sex, they are still connected with our community. 

The staff and communities of folks who frequent the LGBT Resource Center provide a warm, welcoming family for everyone, including and especially our transgender family.

The transgender community at UCSD is small, and fluctuates from year to year, as people start and leave UCSD, through transferring, graduating, finding new jobs, etc. The transgender community at UCSD has been integrated into the significantly larger lesbian, gay and bisexual community at UCSD and specifically at the LGBT Resource Center. The center provides a home for everyone in our community, regardless of (and especially because of) their gender identity or sexual orientation.

2. Is there a non-discrimination policy regarding gender identity?

Yes. On December 18, 2003, the University of California nondiscrimination policies were revised to clarify that discrimination on the basis of gender identity is prohibited. The affected policies and statements:

 
• University of California Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action Policy Regarding Academic and Staff Employment
 
• Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action Policy Statement for University of California Publications Regarding Employment Practices
 
• Nondiscrimination Policy Statement for University of California Publications Regarding Student-Related Matters
 
• Personnel Policies for Staff Members 12, Nondiscrimination in Employment
• Academic Personnel Policy 035, Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment.

The changes incorporate the addition of "gender identity" as a protected status under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, which became effective January 1, 2004.

3. I have heard of a group called the Transgender Intersex Alliance. What is it?

The Transgender Intersex Alliance is a safe supportive environment to discuss gender, the gender/sex matrix, sexuality, female/male dichotomy, transgender identities, and anything else that comes to mind. All identities are welcome.

The Transgender Intersex Alliance has met in different forms and styles since 2001 at UCSD. The group is currently not meeting regularly, but if there is interest expressed by a core group of people, the group often reforms itself for periods of time. If you are interested in re-invigorating the group, please contact Jan Estrellado, Assistant Director of Education, at jeestrellado@ucsd.edu

4. In what ways can I get involved?

All of our student organizations are open and inclusive of the transgender community. For a listing of those organizations and contact information, click on the word meetings to the left. Our Women’s Peer Counseling Group and Men’s Peer Counseling Group are open to trans women and trans men, respectively. Of course, bio women who are non gender conforming are welcome in Women’s Group, and bio men are who are non gender conforming are welcome in Men’s Group.

In addition to the groups and organizations, the UCSD LGBT Speakers Bureau is a powerful way to educate the broader UCSD community regarding gender identity and sexual orientation. If you are interested in joining the UCSD LGBT Speaker’s Bureau, go to Join the Speakers Bureau page.

5. Do you have any counselors on campus that know about transgender issues?

The LGBT Resource Center has excellent relationships with the staff of Psychological and Counseling Services. Training with the staff has been regular and recurring.  Specific counselors on staff have lived experiences with the LGBT community that provides them with specific insight into our community. Certain individuals are excellent resources for our transgender student community, and contacting the LGBT Resource Center for connections will ensure the best quality service possible.

Counseling may be helpful for a range of issues affecting transgender students, such as adjustment to UCSD; identity expression and transformation; coping with stress, depression, or anxiety; relationship issues; and family concerns.

However, the services provided of Psychological and Counseling Services would not meet the requirements set about by the DSM IV to diagnose and treat Gender Identity Dysphoria, and therefore, students interested in hormone treatments and surgical transitions would need to seek services off campus. The staff of Psychological and Counseling Services can make excellent referrals to local physicians and counselors who are sensitive to transgender people.

6. Are there gender neutral restrooms on campus? 

In the Fall of 2003 the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Issues partnered with the staff of Building Services to provide a list of all the single-stall, lockable restrooms on campus. Several accessible, single-occupancy restrooms are located throughout the UCSD campus. Specific locations of these men's, women's, unisex, and wheelchair-accessible restrooms are listed. The list is extensive, and is organized by College and major University area. The list can be reviewed at http://blink.ucsd.edu/Blink/External/Topics/Policy/0,1162,13561,00.html

These facilities also help families with children--such as mothers bringing sons, or fathers bringing daughters, to a restroom--and people with disabilities who need the assistance of an attendant of a different gender.

7. Is on-campus housing transgender-friendly?

Transgender students are valued members of the on-campus living community at UCSD. In order to provide support for the needs of incoming and current transgender students, all Residence Life offices at the six colleges and Housing & Dining Services strongly encourage students to contact the Residence Life Liaison, at (858) 822-1782, reslifeliaison@ucsd.edu.

On-campus housing at UCSD is gendered in all colleges, and co-ed housing is only available for selected continuing (not first year) students in the Muir College Apartments.

New, first year incoming students are encouraged to contact the Residence Life Liaison before arriving to UCSD. In meeting the needs of the incoming student, UCSD will recognize and respect the gender identity the student has established with Housing. Staff will not ask for any more information than is required to meet the student’s housing needs, and all disclosed information will be kept strictly confidential.

The Residence Life Liaison will, through conversation and specific knowledge regarding the living environments of the colleges, and in coordination with the Resident Deans, provide students with the options available to them, given their college. There are significant responsibilities that all students have when applying for housing, including active engagement in finding roommates, selecting living environments, etc. However, at no time will Housing force a transgender student, who has followed Housing procedures and met the above responsibilities, to have to find a comfortable, welcoming housing assignment on their own.

All Residence Life professional staff, including the Resident Deans and Assistant Resident Deans, have received extensive training regarding transgender issues. Resident Advisors/Hall Advisors (RA/HA’s) also receive training from both the LGBT Resource Center and through their own Residence Life Office.

On-campus housing at UCSD is gendered in all colleges, and co-ed housing is only available for selected continuing (not first year) students in the Muir College Apartments.

New, first year incoming students are encouraged to contact the Residence Life Liaison before arriving to UCSD. For the 2006-2007 year, the priority deadline would be before August 1, 2006. In meeting the needs of the incoming student, UCSD will recognize and respect the gender identity the student has established with Housing.  Staff will not ask for any more information than is required to meet the student’s housing needs, and all disclosed information will be kept strictly confidential.

The Residence Life Liaison will, through conversation and specific knowledge regarding the living environments of the colleges, and in coordination with the Resident Deans, provide students with the options available to them, given their college. There are significant responsibilities that all students have when applying for housing, including active engagement in finding roommates, selecting living environments, etc. However, at no time will Housing force a transgender student, who has followed Housing procedures and met the above responsibilities, to have to find a comfortable, welcoming housing assignment on their own.

All Residence Life professional staff, including the Resident Deans and Assistant Resident Deans, have received extensive training regarding transgender issues. Resident Advisors/Hall Advisors (RA/HA’s) also receive training from both the LGBT Resource Center and through their own Residence Life Office.

8. What if my roommate(s) freak out?

If students have a conflict with a roommate because of their gender identity or expression, students should see their Resident Dean or Assistant Resident Dean first. The Resident Deans and Assistant Resident Deans have taken part in training specifically on gender identity/expression issues. If talking with the Resident Dean or Assistant Resident Dean brings no resolution, a student can discuss the matter with the Dean of the College, the Campus Ombudsperson, or the Director of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center.

9. Where can I find transgender-friendly roommates?

The LGBT Resource Center provides a bulletin board specifically designed to facilitate roommate matching amongst our community. There is no screening of the posts on the board, so anyone utilizing the information is encouraged to make safe, reasonable and cautious decisions in selecting and evaluating potential roommates.

10. Are athletic facilities transgender-friendly?

The LGBT Resource Center has been actively engaged with the staff at all athletic facilities to determine the best ways to meet the needs of transgender students given the gendered locker rooms at all of the on-campus facilities. The training and conversations are ongoing as of Spring 2006, and policies and procedures will hopefully be in place by Fall 2006.

Currently, no specific training has been done with the front-line staff at any of the athletic facilities regarding transgender issues. None of the athletic facility locker rooms are designated as gender neutral. Transgender students have been confronted by patrons in the gender restrooms in the past.

11. How can I change my name on campus records?

Names can be changed on campus records by completing the Name Changes & Corrections form available from the Academic Records Staff in the Registrars Office. The Registrar is located at the corner of Gilman Drive and Meyers Drive, across from the Financial Aid Office. 

Having a name and gender change through the Registrar effectively changes the student's information when that information is accessed in the future (such as for course registration, the directory listing, and transcripts). No one outside of the Registrar's Office would know that any information in your record has been changed.

12. How can I change my gender on campus records?

There is no easy official way to change your gender on your campus records. However, changing your gender through the Social Security Administration and the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will make the process as simple as changing your name. See “How can I change my name on campus records” above. 

• Social Security
  • To change your name with the Social Security Administration, you will need your old Social Security card, proof of your old identity, your temporary or newly issued driver’s license, and proof of your new identity. Take these materials to a Social Security office, fill out an SS-5 form (available online at www.ssa.gov), and request that they change your name.
  • While Social Security officially requires that you have already completed, or at least started, surgery in order to get your gender marker changed, this policy is not universally enforced. Often, people who have not started surgery, but who have a letter from their health care provider stating that they are undergoing treatment get the marker changed.
• Driver's License
  • The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has created a form (DL 328) for requesting a change to your name and/or gender. You can pick up a copy of the form at any DMV location - usually at the information desk. (Changing your name and/or gender on your Driver's License, does not create a legal name or gender change. It simply creates identification that matches your name usage and gender presentation.)
  • You do not need a court order to change your name. However, to change your gender marker, a licensed California physician will need to document the fact that you are transgender by signing the DL 328 form. Once you have completed the form, take it back to the DMV and pay the fee (currently $12). You will receive a temporary license with your new information.
  • Your permanent license will not be issued until the DMV runs a check against your Social Security records. Therefore, in order to get your permanent license, you'll need to also update your Social Security records (see above). If you have any on-going problems with this procedure, call the main DMV office in Sacramento (916-657-4484). An analyst can assist you in dealing with local officers who may be confused or uncooperative.
  • Special note: If you are under 18 years of age, you will need a signature from a parent or guardian to request a name and/or gender change on your license. Use form DL 44 for this signature.

13. Is Student Health Services knowledgeable about transgender health issues?

Yes. There are specific physicians and nurse practitioners that have worked without transgender community at UC San Diego. For specific referrals to UC San Diego health care provides available to UC San Diego graduate and undergraduate students, contact Dr. Shaun Travers at stravers@ucsd.edu, the Director of the UC San Diego LGBT Resource center, or the Director of Student Health Service, Dr. Regina Fleming, rflemingmagit@ucsd.edu.

Student Health Service, as an organization, understand that there are transgender people at UC San Diego, and has trained their entire staff regularly since 2007 regarding these issues. Your experience is important, and hopefully you will be treated with respect and informed care as you interact with Student Health Service. You should expect this from them, and if you do not receive this degree of service, please contact the Director of Student Health directly so the issue can be addressed. Her name is Dr. Regina Fleming and her e-mail is flemingmagit@ucsd.edu.

14. Does the Undergraduate Student Health Insurance Program (USHIP) or Graduate Student Health Insurance Program (GSHIP) cover services for transgender students?

Yes, up to $25,000 annually per student. If students access hormones and surgeries at UC San Diego medical facilities, it is covered 100%. However, at this time, only hormones are available at UC San Diego medical facilities. Surgeons experienced in transgender procedures are not part of the UC San Diego medical community. Surgeons that are in network are covered at 80% of costs. Surgeons that are out of network are covered at 60% of costs. You can find out if a surgeon is in network by calling 1 800 334-7341, or at http://cfmcnet.org. Currently, we are aware of no surgeons experienced in transgender procedures are in network, either. So the true costs of accessing surgeries are 40% out of pocket.

For example, if a typical top surgery for an FtM person costs $10,000, a student would have $6,000 covered, and would need to pay $4,000. Surgery costs vary greatly depending on many, many issues, and this number is only used as an example to illustrate cost purposes.

Students who have currently accessed surgeries have had to pay for the total costs out of pocket to their surgeon, and then have submitted the medical bills for reimbursement. It has taken 4-6 weeks for the reimbursement to go through. Access to credit has been a valuable asset for these students to front the money to get the surgery.

Details regarding accessing coverage regarding hormones, surgery and other health related issues are address below in the following FAQ’s.

15. What is the process for UC San Diego students to access medical and mental health services for issues regarding transgender identity, hormone therapy and surgery?

For students who identify as part of the transgender community, and have begun, or are beginning, their transition, there are a number of processes that can be followed. Major points of contact include the UC San Diego’s LGBT Resource Center, Student Health Services, and Psychological & Counseling Services. All of these agencies should have an understanding of the health insurance policies that come into play, the competency to address the needs of transgender students, and the ability to communicate to each other regarding the services you may be seeking. These processes are set forth as a way of understanding the way you may access the health services you need.

• LGBT Resource Center

  Students who are transitioning/transitioned and are beginning to live/living full time in their appropriate gender expression may begin by accessing the LGBT Resource Center to connect with other community members, as well as gather information about the competency levels of other units within the institution regarding transgender issues.

• Student Health Services

• Hormones

Students who are interested in beginning hormones may begin by accessing Student Health Services. Medical practitioners at Student Health Services may be able to continue courses of hormones that have been previously proscribed by other medical professionals that the student has secured hormones from in the past. Students who have never been on hormones may need further diagnosis and evaluation. Medical staff at the Student Health Service can assist with this.

• Surgery

  Students who are interested in surgery are currently unable to receive any necessary surgeries at an UC San Diego medical facility. However, in order to be able to seek our insurance coverage for surgery through the policy currently in place, students needs written support from two medical and/or mental health professionals. Student Health Insurance is underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company. They have established a number of procedures and protocols that are required to access surgeries. The entire insurance policy, with highlighted sections, can be accessed via this link. The transgender medical necessity criteria that the policy follows is provided by a third-party administration office, Personal Insurance Administrators (PIA). There criteria regarding UCSD’s insurance coverage is available at this link. The criteria indicates that:

  • A qualified mental health professional* who has been acquainted with the member for at least 18 months recommends sex reassignment surgery documented in the form of a written comprehensive evaluation; and A second concurring recommendation by another qualified mental health professional * must be documented in the form of a written expert opinion**;
    
    * At least one of the two clinical behavioral scientists making the favorable recommendation for surgical (genital and breast) sex reassignment must possess a doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D., Ed.D., D.Sc., D.S.W., Psy.D., or M.D.).
    
    ** Either two separate letters or one letter with two signatures is acceptable.
• Pre certification for surgery

In order to access surgical services, transgender students need to go through the Utilization Review Organization, which is a part of the insurance process related to PIA (see above) and the insurance underwriter, National Union Fire Insurance Company. The medical professional at Student Health who you are working on hormone therapy should suffice to provide one of the two required signatures to move forward with a pre-certification request to the Utilization Review Organization. The letter which the provider will write follows the same processes as described below, although only needs to document the issues related to the medical treatment (i.e. hormone therapy). You can provide a timeline of hormone treatment and attending medical professionals if the hormone therapy has been occurring in multiple locations .

A mental health professional also needs to provide “a written comprehensive evaluation” as indicated above from the transgender medical necessity criteria provided by PIA. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health specifies exactly what needs to be in a letter:

The Mental Health Professional’s Documentation Letter for Hormone Therapy or Surgery Should Succinctly Specify:



1. The patient's general identifying characteristics;

2. The initial and evolving gender, sexual, and other psychiatric diagnoses;

3. The duration of their professional relationship including the type of psychotherapy or evaluation that the patient underwent;

4. The eligibility criteria that have been met and the mental health professional’s rationale for hormone therapy or surgery;

5. The degree to which the patient has followed the Standards of Care to date and the likelihood of future compliance;

6. Whether the author of the report is part of a gender team;

7. That the sender welcomes a phone call to verify the fact that the mental health professional actually wrote the letter as described in this document.

The organization and completeness of these letters provide the hormone-prescribing physician and the surgeon an important degree of assurance that mental health professional is knowledgeable and competent concerning gender identity disorders.

See pp 7-8 of the entire Standards of Care which are available here.

The standards of care appear to require a diagnosis of gender identity disorder, but it is not completely clear. You may be particularly uncomfortable with a diagnosis regarding a disorder. However, the Sample Letters for Hormone Therapy, available here provide a helpful starting place for language that may be appropriate for the letter.

• Psychological & Counseling Services

Students who are struggling with their gender identity, or issues related to gender identity, may access Psychological & Counseling Services as a first point of contact. Students who have significant issues that can only be addressed with care beyond the length currently available through Psychological & Counseling Services may be referred to on off campus provider that is knowledgeable about transgender

16. Are the police on campus transgender-friendly?

The University of California Police Department at San Diego is in the process of coordinating training with the LGBT Resource Center. The Chief of Police, Orville King, and members of his senior staff have been to the LGBT Resource Center and we have excellent relationships with them.

If there are any problems or concerns with the UCPD, please contact the LGBT Resource Center. The Community Service Officer’s (CSO) are a program of the UCPD. CSO’s are not trained in transgender issues at this time. The Residential Security Officers (RSOs) are also a program of the UCPD. RSO’s are not trained in transgender issues at this time.




17. Are their academic programs that focus on transgender issues?

Critical Gender Studies is an interdisciplinary program at UCSD offering students the opportunity to study gender, race, class, sexuality, and nationalism as intersecting categories of analysis and experience. The program’s curriculum is designed to move students beyond popularized accounts of gender to consider its complex constructions over time and in a variety of cultural, scholarly, and global arenas. Students can expect to encounter a rich spectrum of theoretical and methodological approaches in studying these complex constructions—approaches which all share, despite their differences, a critical orientation in their analyses of gender relations.