Trans Resources

All Gender Restrooms

Penn has over 85 buildings with all gender restroom options across campus and the LGBT Center is continuously working to increase that number.

Campus Housing

On your housing application, you can select “gender inclusive.” It functions as a third gender category and means you will be placed in a room with others who selected gender inclusive, regardless of their genders. Also, there are many single rooms available in the dorms.

Changing Name Records

The previous name change process for transgender/nonbinary/gender nonconforming/non-cis/gender variant students was sunset with the implementation of Path@Penn in Spring 2022. Students can now change their own names, list their pronouns, and select their gender identity via Path@Penn.

Leslie Townsend Fund

The Leslie Townsend fund supports students making a gender transition during their time at Penn. Grants from the fund may be used for expenses related to making the transition, such as hormones, therapies, surgeries, legal matters, or for school-related costs.

Recipients are eligible for grants up to $500. Students can receive the award once if in a program of two years or fewer, or twice — in two different academic years — if their program is three years or more.

Student Organizations

Penn Non-Cis is a student run organization serving trans students (graduate and undergraduate), faculty, staff, community members, and others in the Philadelphia area. They promote discussion about issues around gender identity and expression. Non-Cis is short for Non-Cisgender, which is a term they use to encompass trans, gender non-conforming, and questioning people.

Non-Discrimination Policy

The Policy of Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination At the University of Pennsylvania states “The University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.” More information can be found in the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs website.

The federal Title IX Policy extends to trans students; it states “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” More information can be found on the Associate Vice President for Equity and Title IX Officer’s website.