Congratulations to the University of Michigan!

U of M has - after 10 years of effort by campus activists - added gender identity and gender expression to the university's nondiscrimination policy! The amendment was proposed by President Coleman and approved by the Board of Regents at their meeting yesterday. The vote was 5 in favor, 2 opposed and 1 Regent was absent - but sent a letter supporting the amendemtn. Regents Andrew Richner (R-Grosse Pointe Park) and Andrea Fischer Newman (R-Ann Arbor) voted against the measure.

Congratulations to Jackie Simpson and her team at the Office of LGBT Affairs, Jim Toy, Sandra Cole, Frederic McDonald Dennis, Andre Wilson, Jaya Kalra and many others who have worked on this issue for many years.

Here is the statement Triangle Foundation sent to some of our members this morning:

We wanted to share some exciting news from the University of Michigan. At yesterday's Board of Regents meeting the Regents approved the addition of gender identity and gender expression to the university's nondiscrimination policy!

"This resolution has been a long time coming. Many people over the past ten years have been involved in dialogues, discussions and protests regarding this issue. The inclusion of gender identity and gender expression makes me feel even more proud to be working at the University of Michigan than ever before" said Jackie Simpson, Director of the U of M's Office of LGBT Affairs.

"Congratulations to the University of Michigan students, faculty, staff and alumni whose commitment to transgender inclusion led to this important victory. We hope this pursuit of doing what is right proves to be contagious and that other colleges and universities take this step towards true equality" said Greg Varnum, Triangle Foundation's Director of Youth Initiatives.

Varnum attended the historic meeting and has worked with campus organizers on passage of this amendment as a part of Triangle Foundation's campaign for the passage of similar amendments at Michigan's colleges and universities. The U of M joins Delta College, Eastern Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Michigan State University and Western Michigan University in adopting transgender inclusive policies.

Click here to see The Michigan Daily's article.

Click here to see the article by The Ann Arbor News.