Statement on Title VII
A letter stating that Mount Holyoke will continue to protect transgender students and employees from discrimination and harassment of any kind.
October 5, 2017
To the members of the Mount Holyoke community:
Yesterday, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced to all U.S. attorneys and the heads of all federal agencies that he is reversing the federal government’s stance protecting gender identity as a part of Title VII’s prohibition against sex discrimination, saying that the statute will no longer cover bias based on transgender status.
I want to reassure you that this decision by the federal government applies only to federal law, and in no way changes Massachusetts law nor the College’s own non-discrimination policies. Mount Holyoke will continue to protect transgender students and employees from discrimination and harassment of any kind.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Office of the Title IX Coordinator, currently led by Interim Director Lenore Reilly, at lreilly@mtholyoke.edu or (413) 538-3438.
Sincerely,
Sonya Stephens
Acting President