Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Resources

• Humanities and Social Sciences Building (HS) - Room 027A
• Student Affairs and Science Building (SA) - Room 290
• Child Care Center - Room 102

• Campus Center (CC) – Room 028, 017C, 014F, and 109E
• Computer Science (CS) – Room 129A & 129B
• Gordon and Marilyn Macklin Tower (MT) – Room 104B & 104C, 302B & 302C, 401 & 402, 500A & 500B, 600A & 600B, 227B, 227C, 001D, 001E, 022
• Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center (PA) – Room 115 & 117
• South Campus Instruction Building (SB) – Room 018
• Theatre Arts Building (TA) – Room 116 & 117
• Technical Center (TC) - Rooms 253 and 254
• Science Center (SC) - Room 121
• Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong Student Services Center (SV) - Rooms 110, 210, 410, 007B, and 010

• Cultural Arts Center (CU) – Room 108
• North Pavilion (NP) – Room 120 and 236
• Pavilion Four (P4) - Rooms 205 and 308

• Rooms S203 and S204
• Rooms S303 and S304
• Rooms S441 and S442

Individuals use a broad range of gender identifiersnew window that go beyond the binary categories of male/female. This list of definitions is provided to help individuals understand some of the most commonly used terms:

• Sex refers to a person's biological status and is typically assigned at birth, usually on the basis of external anatomy. Sex is typically categorized as male, female or intersex.
  
  
• Gender is often defined as a social construct of norms, behaviors and roles that varies between societies and over time. Gender is often categorized as male, female or nonbinary.
  
  
• Gender identity is one's own internal sense of self and their gender, whether that is man, woman, neither or both. Unlike gender expression, gender identity is not outwardly visible to others.
  
  For most people, gender identity aligns with the sex assigned at birth. For transgender people, gender identity differs in varying degrees from the sex assigned at birth.
  
  
• Gender expression is how a person presents gender outwardly, through behavior, clothing, voice or other perceived characteristics. Society identifies these cues as masculine or feminine, although what is considered masculine or feminine changes over time and varies by culture.
  
  
• Cisgender, or simply cis, is an adjective that describes a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth.
  
  
• Transgender, or simply trans, is an adjective used to describe someone whose gender identity differs from the sex assigned at birth. A transgender man, for example, is someone who was listed as female at birth but whose gender identity is male.
  
  Cisgender and transgender have their origins in Latin-derived prefixes of "cis" and "trans" — cis, meaning "on this side of" and trans, meaning "across from" or "on the other side of." Both adjectives are used to describe experiences of someone's gender identity.
  
  
• Nonbinary is a term that can be used by people who do not describe themselves or their genders as fitting into the categories of man or woman. A range of terms are used to refer to these experiences; nonbinary and genderqueer are among the terms that are sometimes used.
  
  
• Agender is an adjective that can describe a person who does not identify as any gender.
  
  
• Gender-expansive is an adjective that can describe someone with a more flexible gender identity than might be associated with a typical gender binary.
  
  
• Gender transition is a process a person may take to bring themselves and/or their bodies into alignment with their gender identity. It's not just one step. Transitioning can include any, none or all of the following: telling one's friends, family and co-workers; changing one's name and pronouns; updating legal documents; medical interventions such as hormone therapy; or surgical intervention, often called gender confirmation surgery.
  
  
• Gender dysphoria refers to psychological distress that results from an incongruence between one's sex assigned at birth and one's gender identity. Not all trans people experience dysphoria, and those who do may experience it at varying levels of intensity.
  
  Gender dysphoria is a diagnosis listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Some argue that such a diagnosis inappropriately pathologizes gender incongruence, while others contend that a diagnosis makes it easier for transgender people to access necessary medical treatment.
  
  
• Sexual orientation refers to the enduring physical, romantic and/or emotional attraction to members of the same and/or other genders, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and straight orientations.
  
  People don't need to have had specific sexual experiences to know their own sexual orientation. They need not have had any sexual experience at all. They need not be in a relationship, dating or partnered with anyone for their sexual orientation to be validated. For example, if a bisexual woman is partnered with a man, that does not mean she is not still bisexual.
  
  Sexual orientation is separate from gender identity. Transgender people may be straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual or queer. For example, a person who transitions from male to female and is attracted solely to men would typically identify as a straight woman. A person who transitions from female to male and is attracted solely to men would typically identify as a gay man.
  
  
• Intersex is an umbrella term used to describe people with differences in reproductive anatomy, chromosomes or hormones that don't fit typical definitions of male and female.
  
  Intersex can refer to a number of natural variations, some of them laid out by InterAct. Being intersex is not the same as being nonbinary or transgender, which are terms typically related to gender identity.

To foster a College environment that is inclusive and that encourages self-expression, Montgomery College has established guidelines whereby any current student or employee may use a chosen first name on campus. We strive to have this name used wherever a legal name is not necessary.

Montgomery College recognizes that faculty, staff and students may use names other than their legal name to identify themselves. These may include, but are not limited to, people who use their middle name instead of their first name, people who use nicknames of a legal name, people who use an anglicized name, or people who use a name that affirms their gender identity.

It is the practice of the College that students, faculty, staff, and administrators may use whatever chosen first name they want, regardless of whether they have legally changed their name, except where their legal names are required by law, industry standard, or strong business need.

A student or employee may designate a Chosen Name in College information systems only when such systems allow for such designation.

Legal name: The name the individual is given at birth and which appears in a birth certificate recognized by a government or other legal entity, or the name on a marriage certificate or government issued document (e.g., court order) on which a legal name change is recorded.

Chosen name: A first name other than the student’s legal name by which the student prefers to be identified.
Chosen names will be used or made available in the following systems and records:

• MC Class and Grade Rosters (for students and employees taking courses)
• Online Classes - Blackboard
• MC Student/Employee ID cards
• MC College Directory and email (employees only)

Official/Legal names will continue to be used in official College records, including but not limited to the following:

• Legal documents and reports produced by the College
• Student Account Statement (bills)
• Financial Aid and Scholarship documents
• Transcripts and diplomas
• Enrollment Verifications
• Student employment documents
• Employment Verifications
• Employment documents
• Paychecks, W2s, and other payroll documents
• Benefits enrollment

Students and employees may request a chosen name that they want to be known by in College systems. The College reserves the right to approve or disapprove chosen name change requests.

An individual shall not use a Chosen Name for the purpose of misrepresentation, avoiding legal obligations, or otherwise in any manner that violates College policies or federal, state, or local laws. Inappropriate use of a chosen name may result in a violation of the
Student Code of Conduct and/or Board Policy and may result in disciplinary action.

a.    For students:
i.    Complete the Student Chosen Name Request Form (PDF, )
ii.    Submit the form, along with a photo ID, to the Office of Records and Registration, campus registrar.
b.    For Employees:
i.    Complete chosen name change request in Workday, within the “Personal Information” widget located under “Applications.”.

The campus registrar (or designee) will approve or deny student requests. An approved request will be entered into the system and will remain in effect until the requestor asks that it be changed.

The requestor will be notified upon approval or denial of a chosen name request. Notification will include the reason for the denial and be will be provided in writing via certified, return receipt requested mail to the address that is kept on file at the College, or via email to the requestor. Chosen Name Request Forms are retained as part of a student’s education file indefinitely.

Setup for preferred pronouns and display name in Zoom is simple and requires a few short steps. Users will go into their profile page, enter their preferred pronouns and/or display name in the custom field text, and then choose when and how they are shared during Zoom meetings and webinars:  

Zoom pronoun instructionsnew window

Zoom display name instructionsnew window

Montgomery College remains committed to cultivating an inclusive culture of belonging for everyone. The use of pronouns is not required but participating helps to nurture stronger self-expression and mutual respect.