Transgender student files housing complaint against Christian university

NEWBERG, Ore. — A transgender student has filed a discrimination complaint against a Christian university, alleging the school is discriminating against him by not allowing him to live in the men’s dormitories.

The student, identified only as Jayce, said he was told by officials at George Fox University that allowing him to live in on-campus male housing would interfere with the school’s efforts to “be a Christ-centered community,” reported Campus Reform.

School officials said its Christian theology makes it necessary for their residential facilities to be single gender.

Get the Daily Brief

The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you:

Subscribe to our Newsletter

“George Fox strives to be a Christ-centered community and our residential facilities are single gender because of our theological commitments,” the school said, in a statement. “The student’s request to switch from female-only on-campus housing to male-only on-campus housing is one that many institutions would struggle with.”

Article continues below

According to the complaint, filed with the U.S. Department of Education on April 3, Jayce’s attorney alleges that the college is violating Title IX regulations which require equal treatment of the sexes at schools that receive federal money.

The school responded that Jayce could live with other male students off campus or in his own on-campus apartment.

Jayce’s mother has also launched an online petition demanding that the school allow Jayce’s to live in the men’s dorms.