A diverse set of voices from trans men is deeply lacking in most LGBT discourse and communities. This event is truly a great example of how trans men’s actual voices and opinions are ignored. Admission of trans men into a historically women’s colleges is, at best, a divisive topic in the trans community.

The best argument I have heard for a policy that allows trans men to apply is that women’s colleges have always been a haven for “gender minorities”. I can admit this argument has some merit. However, there is something to be said about the language of our policies. Explicitly including trans men and not cis men is misgendering. If trans men are allowed to apply, then GNC cis men need to be allowed as well. And furthermore, not just “allowed”, but actively recruited like any other student. It’s really a matter of principle for me. Otherwise, the language of these policies opens the door to the development and enablement of TERF ideology (i.e. viewing people based on the assigned gender at birth, not the gender they are).

This policy is invalidating to many trans men by its mere existence. I’m tired of allowing my erasure for the convenience of others. This move would have created an uncomfortable precedence with larger implications to trans men that cannot be ignored.

I find the general political climate at your university concerning. If you want to write good policy, you should invite a diversity of opinion and welcome dissent. A quote from the following NPR article summarizes it nicely. https://www.npr.org/2023/03/15/1163733442/wellesley-students-vote-for-the-school-to-accept-trans-and-nonbinary-applicants

SMITH: I spoke to one who had qualms about changing the character of Wellesley as an all-women’s college. She also felt it’s wrong to be drawing a line between cis men and trans men in admissions. She says that doesn’t help the cause of equity and inclusion. But she didn’t want her name or her voice being used on the air because she didn’t want to be accused of being transphobic. And even though students in favor of admitting trans men acknowledged the risk of that, here’s how one student I spoke to, Gabrielle Shell, put it.
GABRIELLE SHELL: We don’t have a lot of dissent. We don’t really allow it. People that are out of the majority are ostracized. So I wouldn’t expect someone, even if they truly feel that way, to even want to talk.