Chancellor's Communiqué

We Stand with Our LGBTQ Community Members, 10-26-2018

Dear CU Denver Community,

We want to assure you that we are closely monitoring the Trump administration’s request to examine a policy change that would more narrowly define the legal definition of gender under Title IX, the federal civil rights law that bans gender discrimination in education programs that receive government financial assistance.

Currently, these remain only policy discussions. They do not alter existing federal or Colorado law that provides discrimination protection for transgender individuals. Regardless of the outcome of the federal policy review, the Board of Regents laws that govern the university preclude discrimination on the basis of gender identity or gender expression. Those provisions would continue to protect transgender students, faculty and staff. 

CU Denver remains unwavering in our commitment to being a diverse, engaged community that supports all of our community members. Our diversity -- in all its forms, including gender identity and expression -- is a great source of pride for our campus, where there is a common belief that diverse identities and viewpoints enrich the learning and professional environment for all of us.

As you know, just this week we held our first-ever Chancellor’s Diversity Showcase that celebrated our comprehensive approach to recognizing historically underrepresented persons and groups in the areas of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, ability status, nationality, socioeconomic status, religion and more.

We understand these recent events can be unsettling, sparking emotions of fear, anxiety and anger. The university offers many support resources, including the Women and Gender Center,  LGBTQ Student Resource Center and maps of gender-inclusive restrooms. 

We continue to honor our university guidelines for Nondiscrimination Policy and Sexual Misconduct Policy . If you witness or are subject to harassment or discrimination, please report the incident to the Office of Equity so the matter can be investigated.   

We remain steadfast in our shared responsibility to put our diversity into action by creating and maintaining an environment that is welcoming, safe, and inclusive for everyone. We will keep you updated, as appropriate, on any federal policy decisions that could impact our campus community.

Dorothy Horrell
Chancellor