Gender-Inclusive Housing
University Housing is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and supportive experience for all students. We offer a variety of gender-inclusive housing options to ensure that University Housing is a supportive space for residents of all gender identities and gender expressions. We also house the Gender Inclusive Living Experience (GILE), a cluster of rooms in East Quad that focuses on community, support and learning. When sharing a residence, students who identify as transgender and gender non-conforming can specify the preferred gender of their roommate.
If you are interested in a gender-inclusive room, apartment space or the Gender Inclusive Living Experience, we can provide you with a personal and confidential assessment of the available options. To discuss your interest or preferences, please contact Patty Griffin or Josh Peipock in Housing (734-763-1452) or Will Sherry in the Spectrum Center (734-763-4186).
Residence hall assignments may include:
- Single or double rooms with a private bath
- Single or double rooms with a gender-inclusive bathroom in close proximity
- Single or double rooms with an attached bathroom (shared with another single or double room)
Apartment assignments may include:
- One-bedroom apartment with a kitchen and private bath
- Two-bedroom apartment with a kitchen and shared bath
This list of gender-inclusive restrooms and bathrooms is provided for your reference. If you have further questions regarding University Housing and the on-campus environment or if you need additional support, please contact Josh Peipock or Patty Griffin.
Gender Inclusive Living Experience
The Gender Inclusive Living Experience (GILE) is one of several gender-inclusive housing options offered at the University of Michigan. GILE is intended to be a safe, inclusive, comfortable and supportive community for people of all gender identities and expressions. This community supports students who identify as a transgender and gender non-conforming in choosing (or being placed with) a roommate of any gender. Completed applications are due by 11:59 pm on May 7, 2013.
Have questions about this experience? Check out the Gender Inclusive Living Experience FAQ for more details.
Questions?
If you have questions regarding gender-identity, gender-expression, gender non-conforming, or transgender student support, feel free to contact the Spectrum Center at spectrumcenter@umich.edu. The Spectrum Center offers education, outreach, advocacy and support to U-M LGBT students. Please visit the Spectrum Center website for more information.
Definitions
For the purpose of gender-inclusive housing, gender non-conforming is a term for individuals whose gender expression is different from societal expectations related to gender.
Gender expression is how a person represents or expresses one's gender identity to others, often through behavior, clothing, hairstyles, voice or body characteristics.
Transgender is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity, expression or behavior is different from those typically associated with their assigned sex at birth, this includes but is not limited to transsexuals, crossdressers, androgynous people, genderqueers, and gender non-conforming people. Transgender is a broad term and is appropriate for non-transgender people to use. "Trans" is shorthand for "transgender."
Definition Source: National Center for Transgender Equality; Mara Keisling, Executive Director, http://transequality.org.
