Fight brewing over transgender person in Evergreen College locker room

BY Tim Haeck  on November 2, 2012 @ 7:41 am (Updated: 3:01 pm - 11/2/12 )

A new legal fight is brewing over Evergreen State College's decision to allow a transgender person to use the women's locker room.

A group that takes on legal issues surrounding religion has sent a letter to the college in Olympia.

It complains about the 45-year-old student with male genitals, who dresses as a woman.

The letter claims there has been a problem for years of men using the women's locker facilities, particularly the sauna.

Jeremy Tedesco, an attorney for some of the families who say the behavior is inappropriate, say the school needs to put a stop to the policy immediately.

"They're saying that their non-discrimination policy, which prohibits gender identity and gender expression discrimination, doesn't require them to leave the locker room and not come back," Tedesco told the Dori Monson Show. "It's just non-discrimination gone wild. It shows the problem with these expanding non-discrimination policies, which are very popular nowadays."

In response to complaints, the college has put up screens to shield the adults from children who use Evergreen's pool and locker room.

Installing curtains and requesting "that young girls change behind the curtains does not solve the problem," wrote David Hacker, Senior Legal Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom.

Critics say the school, police, and prosecutors are ignoring indecency laws. The college says it's following its non-discrimination policy.

Tedesco explained that a person is allowed to define whether they're protected by his gender identity, gender expression discrimination prohibition simply by declaring what they are.

"As long as they make that declaration, they have to be able to use the women's locker room at a college or anywhere in the state. I don't think that's the way these policies should work out, but that's how Evergreen is saying they're going to imply theirs."

Tedesco said they've sent a letter to the school requesting they put a stop to the policy immediately, but they have not yet had a response from Evergreen.

Stephanie Klein, MyNorthwest.com Editor, contributed to this report.

Tim Haeck, KIRO Radio Reporter
Tim Haeck is a news reporter with KIRO Radio. While Tim is one of our go-to, no-nonsense reporters, he also has a sensationally dry sense of humor and it will surprise some to learn he is a weekend warrior.
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Comments (83)


  • Add A Comment

  • BeenThere wrote...
    This is yet another sign..... the end is near.
    November 3, 2012 1:16 am
    Just by "identifying" with women he then gets to "hang" out in their locker room......buck naked. I'm white but if I identify with a minority group can I then claim minority status? Where is the freedom of choice for all the ladies there who didn't identify with him and didn't want to see this guy's package? Did they know he was transgender? Was he wearing a sign? ESC is not exempt from State law and cannot create policy that allows rights for some at the expense of others. Catering to one group while violating the rights of others. Defund ESC.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • judaidragon wrote...
    Colleen Francis, new American idiot!
    November 3, 2012 11:30 am
    This has nothing to do with lesbians or gays. This is just the actions of one truly selfish idiot! "She" spit on others idea of common courtesy and put others in greater risk for "her" own selfish point of views. "She" felt uncomfortable with the idea of changing in the locker room for men, I got that since "she" believes "her" self to be female, but did not take the same embarrassment that the young girls would feel in front of "her". Instead of talking to the staff first to work out a solution that would be best for all, "she" took matters on "her" self, not even considering of the possibility of someone using the same excuse to get a chance to take advantage of a child. For these reasons I nominate Colleen Francis to be this years biggest, selfish, American idiot! Thank you for making the US look so horrible! It truly make me proud as an American. Colleen Francis, you need to get your selfish head out of your rear-end and apologize for your reckless stupidity. People born of both genders have it harder than you and yet they've never (to my knowledge)handled it as badly as you. You are a retard! (someone with the sense to know better but doesn't use it = retard).
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bloodsurf69 wrote...
    Nice
    November 3, 2012 2:52 pm
    Wow all I gotta do is say i'm feeling like a girl and I get to go (Hang Out) in the girls locker room. Gotta love it!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bloodsurf69 wrote...
    Abuse
    November 3, 2012 2:58 pm
    For those that are trulely cross gender I(we) don't see the problem. It's the creeps that want to exploit the law in order to see young girls in the locker room that I (we)have a problem with.The cross gender people should be upset also.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    I'm white but if I identify with a minority group can I then claim minority status?
    November 4, 2012 9:52 am
    Uh..no. The left would surely label you a "racist". You see, the left wants their cake, yet they wish to eat it too. They are the most hypocritical group on the planet.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cash wrote...
    Anyone
    November 4, 2012 1:17 pm
    Who still thinks this is okay is a creep. Sorry but just calling it as I see it. These unlucky ladies have more right to be offended than this freakshow. Lets think about their rights before freakshow man from here on out.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tlmbrt wrote...
    Why
    November 4, 2012 9:17 pm
    are we trying so hard to eliminate gender? Why must everyone be considered EXACTLY the same? No matter how hard they try, they CANNOT change the fact that there are biological differences between men and women. When we bend over backwards to appease a small minority, we infringe on everyone else's rights! I don't care if HE considers HIMSELF a woman. He IS A MALE, with male genitalia, and should use the MEN'S ROOM. PERIOD.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sir wrote...
    sex is one thing, gender is another.
    November 5, 2012 9:27 pm
    You can be a woman in a man's body, but you are still in a man's body. when you take that extra step, feel free to use the appropriate facilities.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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