After years of student activism and administrative engagement, gender neutral housing at Grinnell has grown from a handful of singles on Loose Second South to encompass 10% of all college-owned housing. To better serve trans, gender non-conforming, genderqueer, and trans ally students, Student Affairs and Residence Life has expanded room draw alongside the growing needs of our community. Next year, gender neutral housing will be offered in Loose South, all of Rawson, Cowles Apartments, Cowles 1st, Lazier 1st, project houses, language houses, and mini co-ops.

Students who feels that living on a gender neutral floor is a necessity for safety, comfort, or other reasons may email Laura Gogg [gogglau1] and request gender neutral housing if they feel uncomfortable outing themselves through the regular room draw process. You also have the opportunity to live on a gender neutral floor if you have an interest in supporting and sustaining a floor community that is safe and affirming of all gender identities and expressions. Choosing to live in gender neutral housing makes a statement about the type of community you want to live in. Student Affairs can only assign physical spaces with a gender neutral label. From there, students must work to create the ethos that drives this safe space.

As gender neutrality becomes further institutionalized on campus, we’re confident a more intentional gender neutral community will develop organically. However, as we continue to learn about what it means to sustain a gender neutral floor and support housing options that are more equitable, safe, and comfortable for all students, it’s essential that we actively engage in this process. We encourage all those interested in living in gender neutral housing to sign up during room draw and to direct questions and comments to [tag], [srcenter] or [ajust].

—AJust Grinnell, the Stonewall Resource Center (SRC), and Transgender Action Group (TAG)