University of Washington Non-Discrimination Policy Regarding Gender Identity Clarified

GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION: Clarification of Executive Order No. 31, “Non-discrimination and Affirmative Action.”The Q Center is excited to announce the following clarifications to University of Washington’s Executive Order No. 31, pertaining to Non-discrimination and Affirmative Action. The UW’s non-discrimination, harassment, and retaliation policy now explicitly includes “gender identity or expression” within the list of protected classes. This is a clarification of existing policy, not a policy change.Gender identity and/or gender expression have been protected under the state’s Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD)(RCW 49.60) definition of “sexual orientation” since 2005.  As such, this clarification to Executive Order No. 31, adding the explicit language “gender identity or expression” to the list of protected classes, was proposed by the Q Center to make clear our current non-discrimination, harassment and retaliation policy to members of our UW community. As defined by WLAD, "gender expression or identity" means having or being perceived as having a gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression, whether or not that gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression is different from that traditionally associated with the sex assigned to that person at birth.”(RCW 49.60.040)These revisions to Executive Order No. 31, Non-discrimination and Affirmative Action, have now been posted to the Presidential Orders resource on the UW Policy Directory. Attached is a memo from President Young approving these revisions to Executive Order No. 31. The Q Center would like to thank the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice President/Vice Provost of Minority Affairs and Diversity, and the Office of the Vice President/Vice Provost of Student Life for their efforts to add clarity to this important policy.  If anyone has any questions regarding this policy clarification please contact the Q Center!HUB 315 Box 355838, Seattle 98195 206.897.1430  |  206.221.2863 (fax)uwqcenter@gmail.com