Inclusive Recreation: The State of Campus Policies, Facilities, Trainings, and Programs for Transgender Participants

Abstract

This study served to examine the environment for transgender participants in campus recreation. Research questions examined 1) policies, 2) facilities, 3) programs, 4) trainings in place at recreation centers to create an inclusive environment for transgender participants, and 5) how departments assess their transgender-inclusive practices. Findings indicate the majority (79%, n = 123) of institutions do not have policies related to transgender participants. Sixty-three percent of responding schools have gender-inclusive bathrooms while 44% have similar locker rooms. Over half (57%) collaborate with diversity offices for staff training with only 13% of those schools ( n = 18) providing transgender-specific trainings. Finally, despite only 21% of respondents having transgender policies in place, the majority of respondents (79%) moderately or strongly agreed their department's mission, vision, or values addressed diversity in some manner and disagreed that their departments had shown resistance to implementing transgender policies.