NEWBERG, Ore. – A transgender student has filed a federal Title IX discrimination claim against George Fox University, a Christian liberal arts college, after school officials said the student could not live in an all-male dormitory.
The sophomore student who goes by the name Jayce (short for Jaycen) is undergoing a transition from female to male. As part of the process, Jayce has been taking testosterone and started gender therapy for more than a year, The Daily Caller reported.
A judge is expected to issue a court order to allow Jayce to change the gender of his birth certificate and Social Security from female to male next week, Charisma News reported.
In a statement, the university acknowledged that the situation was complex, but noted that it made efforts to provide support and accommodation for the student.
“George Fox strives to be a Christ-centered community and our residential facilities are single sex because of our theological commitments,” the statement said. “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.”
“While the university did not grant his request to live on campus with males, the student was not denied on-campus housing,” the statement continued. “He was offered the option of an on-campus single apartment with a commitment from Student Life to ensuring he stayed socially connected to the community.”