Here I am, at 64, returning to University of Utah through HB60, to audit a Spanish class. How lucky am I?
So, you can imagine my surprise when I was figuratively assaulted in the stairwell of one of the classroom buildings by multiple signs stating that “The Transgender Movement Harms Women.”
Well, last I looked, I am a woman and I have never felt harmed by the transgender movement but I most definitely felt harmed by these signs. These multiple signs, sanctioned by the university, were posted under glass and under lock and key.
When I called to complain to the Office of the Dean of Students, I was told they had received multiple complaints but the signs remain. They also said some complaints were because people were removing the signs themselves.
Well, of course signs that endorse bigotry should be removed. But if the University won’t do it, why shouldn’t students? I can only imagine how unsafe a transgender student would feel walking down this stairwell, how hurt, how unaccepted for only trying to be who they are.
On the Dean of Students webpage, you can file a complaint with one of the reasons cited as discrimination based on gender identity. This is not about freedom of speech. It is about posting a very clear discriminatory statement against our transgender citizens. Yet, the university has sanctioned these signs which, I will reiterate, are clearly stating discrimination based on gender identity.
I call for the university to immediately remove these signs. Shame on you that they went up in the first place. We need to do better!
Doreen Bianchi Kulikowski, Cottonwood Heights
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