The current state of gender in higher education is awash in trans* oppression, be it through attitudes, behaviors, policies, and/or hiring practices. This trans* oppression doesn’t just exist at the institutional level, but is (re)enforced socially. For example, 11 states sued the Obama administration for the right to determine which public restrooms trans* people can use. As such, the time to explore gender expansive practices in higher education, and how to implement in meaningful ways that positively influence the life chances for people with diverse genders is long overdue.

In this program, presenters discuss the current realities surrounding gender on campus, particularly as it relates to compliance with Title IX and other federal laws. Given these realities, they provide an emerging model from a recent empirical study that examined practitioner/educator attitudes regarding gender inclusion in sexual violence prevention work. Presenters also discuss the ways this model can be used to create broader thinking about what it means to be ‘gender inclusive’ on our campuses, and how we can be more effective advocates for transformation of our institutions by moving beyond a ‘culture of compliance’ and into a framework of gender expansive praxis.