UCSD LGBT Resource Center

Frequently asked questions and answers regarding transgender issues

What is the transgender community like at UCSD?
Is there a non-discrimination policy regarding gender identity?
I have heard of a group called Queering Gender. What is it?
In what ways can I get involved?
Do you have any counselors on campus that know about transgender issues?
Are there gender neutral restrooms on campus?
Is on campus housing transgender friendly?
What if my roommate(s) freak out?
Where can I find transgender friendly roommates?
Are athletic facilities transgender friendly?
How can I change my name on campus records?
How can I change my gender on campus records?
Is Student Health Services knowledgeable about transgender health issues?
Does the Undergraduate Student Health Insurance Program (USHIP) or Graduate Student Health Insurance Program (GSHIP) cover services for transgender students?
Are the police on campus transgender-friendly?
Are their academic programs that focus on transgender issues?

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.

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 are:

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; and

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.

I have heard of a group called Queering Gender. What is it?

Queering Gender 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.

Queering Gender has met in different forms and styles since 2001 at UCSD. The group is currently meeting regularly on Tuesdays from 3:30-4:30pm in the LGBT Resource Center Heriatge Room. If you are interested in joining the group, please contact Jan Estrellado, Assistant Director of Education, at jeestrellado@ucsd.edu.

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 meetings section 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, just click here.

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.

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 here.

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.

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 Leanne Besachio, the Residence Life Liaison, at (858) 822-1782, lbesachio@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. For the 2008-2009 year, the priority deadline would be before August 1, 2008. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Is Student Health Services knowledgeable about transgender health issues?

The LGBT Resource Center had very productive meetings with staff from Student Health Services in November of 2006. There is an ongoing dialogue with Student Health Services regarding LGBT health issues. Many staff have been through training to provide them with cultural competency around transgender issues, and two staff can serve as primary points of contact for the transgender community. Contact the LGBT Resource Center for these referrals.

Dr. Brian Murray, Director of Student Health Services, has assured the staff that transgender students are treated with respect, and will receive appropriate medical care for any illness or health issue regardless of transgender identity. Healthcare regarding transgender issues is specifically included in the health insurance policy coverage. See below.

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

Yes. The policy change as of the Fall of 2007. The full policy can be accessed through the Student Health Services website at http://studenthealth.ucsd.edu/. The LGBT Resource Center has been in continued dialogue with Student Health Services regarding the processes and procedures that will facilitate transgender student’s access to these benefits. Because the benefits are new, and may be complex to access, students are strongly encouraged to work with the LGBT Resource center to assist in navigating the processes.

The relevant sections of the policy addressing services include:

p.3 “Changes… Coverage for sexual reassignment surgery (according to transgender medical necessity criteria) up to a $25,000 maximum per plan year”

p.6 “The Covered Person is responsible for the pre-certification requirement of this plan for the following…Surgery: The Covered Person, Doctor or Hospital must contact the Utilization Review Organization prior to surgery or as soon as reasonably possible following emergency surgery.” – Note: This would include pre-certification for sexual reassignment surgery.

p.7 “UCSD Providers - Benefits are provided for Eligible Expenses and are payable up to 100% of the contracted rate when utilizing the UCSD Doctors and affiliates, UCSD Thornton Hospital and UCSD Medical Center (Hillcrest).” – Note: there are, as of Winter 2008, no surgeons associated with UC San Diego able to provide the necessary surgeries. This may change, so please contact Student Health Services or the LGBT Resource Center for the most up-to-date information.

p.13 “Exclusions… Treatment and/or surgery to change the characteristics of the body to those of the opposite sex, according to transgender medical necessity criteria, in excess of $25,000 per Plan Year.”

p.15 “Medically Necessary means a treatment, drug, device, procedure, supply or service that is necessary and appropriate for the diagnosis or treatment of Sickness or Injury in accordance with generally accepted standards of medical practice in the United States at the time it is provided.” - Note: In addition, UC San Diego has received the following information regarding the transgender medical necessity criteria from Personal Insurance Administrators, Inc. for UCSD’s insurance coverage:

_____ 1. Member is at least 18 years old; and

2. Member has met criteria for the diagnosis of "true" transsexualism, including:

_____ Life-long sense of belonging to the opposite sex and of having been born into the wrong sex, often since childhood;
_____ and A sense of estrangement from one's own body, so that any evidence of one's own biological sex is regarded as repugnant;
_____ and Wishes to make his or her body as congruent as possible with the preferred sex through surgery and hormone treatment;
_____ and A stable transsexual orientation evidenced by a desire to be rid of one's genitals and to live in society as a member of the other sex for at least 2 years, that is, not limited to periods of stress;
_____ and Does not gain sexual arousal from cross-dressing;
_____ and Absence of physical inter-sex of genetic abnormality;
_____ and Not due to another biological, chromosomal or associated psychiatric disorder, such as schizophrenia; and

3. Member has completed a recognized program at a specialized gender identity treatment center as evidenced by all of the following:

_____ The member has successfully lived and worked within the desired gender role full-time for at least 12 months (so-called real-life experience), without periods of returning to the original gender;
_____ and Unless medically contraindicated, member has received at least 12 months of continuous hormonal sex reassignment therapy recommended by a mental health professional and carried out by an endocrinologist (which can be simultaneous with the real-life experience);
_____ and 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**;
_____ and Psychotherapy is not an absolute requirement for surgery unless the mental health professional's initial assessment leads to a recommendation for psychotherapy that specifies the goals of treatment, estimates its frequency and duration throughout the real life experience (usually a minimum of 3 months);
_____ and Member has undergone a urological examination for the purpose of identifying and perhaps treating abnormalities of the genitourinary tract, since genital surgical sex reassignment includes the invasion of, and the alteration of, the genitourinary tract;
_____ and Member has a recent negative HIV test;
_____ and Member has signed a consent of understanding the proposed Male to Female or Female to Male sex reassignment surgery with its attendant costs, required lengths of hospitalizations, likely complications, and post surgical rehabilitation requirements prior to the planned surgery. If the member is married, the physician may not require divorce but may also require the spouse to sign a waiver of liability form.

* 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.).

Note: Evaluation of candidacy for sex reassignment surgery by a mental health professional is covered under the member's medical benefit, unless the services of a mental health professional are necessary to evaluate and treat a mental health problem, in which case the mental health professional's services are covered under the member's behavioral health benefit. Please check benefit plan descriptions.

** Either two separate letters or one letter with two signatures is acceptable.

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.

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.