HBCU Law Schools Non Discrimination Policies

While researching the Houston area back to school post I stumbled across the inclusive non-discrimination policy of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University that includes gender identity and expression 

Not only was I deliriously happy to see it, I was curious to discover if the same applied to the other five American Bar Association accredited  HBCU law schools since I have African descended trans friends who are in college right now who are considering applying to law school.

These six law schools started because African-American students were denied opportunities to study law at white dominated campuses.  These historic institutions educated many of our nation's most distinguished African-American judges, legal scholars and attorneys, and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.  

I'm happy to report that many of these HBCU law schools are more forward thinking than their main campuses in terms of having inclusive non-discrimination statements and employment policies.

So let's start with the aforementioned Thurgood Marshall School of Law at TSU in my hometown which passed this policy to my pleasant surprise in 2011.

Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, age or disability in the administration of its academic or employment policies, or other school-administered rights, privileges, programs or activities. 

Texas Southern University's main campus does not have an inclusive non discrimination statement that includes sexual orientation or gender identity. and expression..


North Carolina Central University School Of Law 

North Carolina Central University is committed to equality of education opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, veteran's status, sexual orientation or identity, or disability. Moreover, North Carolina Central University is open to people of all races and actively seeks to promote racial integration by recruiting and enrolling a larger number of white students.

The North Carolina Central University does not have a non-discrimination statement that includes sexual orientation or gender identity. and expression..


Howard University School of Law  policy was adopted by Faculty Resolution in February 1991

Howard University School of Law is committed to a policy against discrimination in the interviewing or employment of its students based on race, sex, religious creed, marital status, national or ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, handicap, or political affiliation.

Howard University main campus, unlike the School of Law doesn't have a non-discrimination statement i could find on their website, but with the school being located in Washington DC is under the 1977 DC Human Rights Law that was expanded in 2005 to cover transgender people 

Southern University Law Center  

The Southern University Law Center (SULC) is committed to ensuring equal opportunity without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, actual or perceived gender, age, religion, creed, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, or parental, marital, domestic partner, civil union, military, or veteran status.

Southern University main campus statement does not include sexual orientation, gender identity and expression language in its non discrimination statement. 

Florida A&M University College of Law

Florida A&M University College of Law does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, and veteran status as protected under the Vietnam Era Veteran’s Readjustment Assistance Act in the administration of its education policies, admissions and placement policies, and other school administered programs.

Back in February a student referendum passed seeking to add sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida A&M's non-discrimination policy.. 

University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law

In accordance with federal law and the Human Rights Act of 1977 (DC Law 2-38), the University of the District of Columbia—David A. Clarke School of Law does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibility, matriculation, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, source of income, or place of residence in its programs, activities, and employment practices. In addition, the school complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1973.

As for the University of the District of Columbia,

It is the policy of the University to prohibit discrimination of members of the University community on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, marital status, personal appearance, genetic information, familial status, source of income, status as a victim of intrafamily offense, place of residence or business, status as a covered veteran, as provided for and to the extent required by District and Federal statutes and regulations.

HBCU's, time for y'all to emulate these six distinguished law schools and get busy protecting the trans and SGL students not only currently matriculating on your campuses, but future ones as well.

You need to handle your academic business HBCU's because Black LGBT students exist, aren't going away and it's the right thing to do.

Have A Great 2012-13 School Year Houston TBLG Students!

While I was enroute back to Houston on Monday the 2012-13 school year kicked off in the various school districts in the area, at Houston Community College, Texas Southern University, Prairie View A&M University and at the University of Houston.  Rice started classes on August 20.

I hope you rainbow students matriculating in HISD schools and those college campuses I mentioned got your school year off to a wonderful start

Wanted to point out for you TBLG students in the area that in HISD the anti-bullying and employment non-discrimination policies have gender identity and sexual orientation language in them, so for you rainbow community kids matriculating in HISD schools, know you are covered if people start jacking with you.

Unfortunately the other school districts in the area have yet to follow HISD, the largest school district in Texas and seventh largest in the country's lead, but a statewide anti-bullying law takes effect September 1..

On the local college front, HCC has gender identity and expression language in its non-discrimination policy along with Rice University, which has had it since 2006.  The San Jacinto College system along with UH-Clear Lake also has gender identity and expression language in their non-discrimination policies. 

On February 15 Texas A&M's President R. Bowen Lofton added sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression to the yearly TAMU-College Station employment memo. 

"...It is our policy to not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Furthermore, we will maintain a work environment free from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression."


Although my alma mater as of yet has not yet incorporated gender identity and expression language into their nondiscrimination statement, in January 2010 the UH Vice Chancellor of Legal Affairs, Dona H. Cornell issued a memo stating that transgender individuals are protected from discrimination at the University of Houston based on the analysis of the court case Lopez v. River Oaks Imaging & Diagnostic Group.

Unfortunately neither area HBCU has sexual orientation or gender identity language in their non discrimination policies, but interestingly TSU's Thurgood Marshall School Of Law does.

Hopefully TSU and Prairie View A&M will see fit to join other local colleges and universities in the Houston metro area and the TSU Thurgood Marshall Law School to expeditiously add sexual orientation and gender identity language in their non-discrimination statements.

It would be nice for these HBCU's to set a sterling example in the SWAC and other HBCU campuses in this region and around the country of being leaders on this issue just as they have for decades produced outstanding leaders in their classrooms.  The SGL and trans students who matriculate on your historic campuses deserve it.

Houston area rainbow community students, keep working to get that education and hope you will have a fantastic 2012-13 school year.