*Morehouse College, the all-male and historically Black institution in Atlanta, announced over the weekend that it will begin accepting transgender males as students in fall 2020.
A statement from college officials on Saturday noted that the new policy, approved by trustees, would not allow “individuals who identify as women regardless of the sex assigned to them at birth.”
Transgender women who transition or begin to self-identify as female while enrolled at Morehouse will not be eligible to graduate.
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Today, along with our brothers, Morehouse history Club members travelled to Montgomery, Alabama. On this trip the young men visited the Black Lynching Memorial and Museum, as well as the former residence and church of our Morehouse Brother Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. pic.twitter.com/FoqDpgxJlk
— MorehouseHistoryClub (@MHCGriots) November 11, 2018
“I think Morehouse having the courage to speak to issues of masculinity in today’s environment is important,” Morehouse College President David Thomas told the Associated Press. “For 152 years, the world has, in some way, seen Morehouse as the West Point of black male development.”
Thomas noted that “It wasn’t an easy process, but by the time we got to the vote, we were in a position where everyone was on the same page.”
Morehouse boasts famous alumni such as Martin Luther King Jr., Spike Lee and Samuel L. Jackson, and is the neighbor of Spelman College, the HBCU dedicated to educating Black women. The college adopted a similar gender identity policy in 2017, and its first transgender woman graduated last year, msn.com reports.
Wonderful to experience the legacy of excellence at Morehouse College this afternoon. So many incredible opportunities for young men! @RavenscroftNC @Morehouse pic.twitter.com/nIarany2do
— RavenscroftColleges (@CroftColleges) April 9, 2019
“In a rapidly changing world that includes a better understanding of gender identity, we’re proud to expand our admissions policy to consider trans men who want to be part of an institution that has produced some of greatest leaders in social justice, politics, business and the arts for more than 150 years,” Dixon said in a statement. “The ratification of this policy affirms the College’s commitment to develop men with disciplined minds who will lead lives of leadership and service.”
Dixon also noted that the college will spend the next year educating and discussing the new gender policy with students, staff and others, per ajc.com.
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