PURCHASE COLLEGE NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

Our official nondiscrimination policy protects all of our campus community members’ right to “equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to service, programs, and activities” and prohibits discriminatory behavior towards anyone based on “sex, gender identity, sexual orientation.”  Click here for the complete policy.

GENDER-INCLUSIVE HOUSING
ALL-GENDER RESTROOMS
PREFERRED NAME
COUNSELING
HEALTH SERVICES
CAMPUS CLUBS
ATHLETICS AND ATHLETIC FACILITIES
OFF-CAMPUS RESOURCES
FOR ALLIES

GENDER -INCLUSIVE HOUSING

Purchase College has many housing options available for the transgender student population. The gender-inclusive housing program provides housing accommodations that allow for students of any gender to occupy the same living space. There are gender-inclusive housing options available in all of the eight living areas on campus. To inquire about this housing option, please visit the Gender Inclusive Housing Resource Page or contact the Office of Community Engagement at ceg@purchase.edu.

Gender-Inclusive Housing Locations:

Certain apartment units in The Commons, The Olde and Alumni Village, as well as locations in:

Outback and Fort Awesome
Big Haus – 3rd Floor AB wing corridor – upperclass and transfers
Crossroads – 3 current suites in building
Farside – Basement and 1st floor F-wing – suites and corridor

 ALL-GENDER RESTROOMS 

An all-gender restroom is a restroom that can be used by any person regardless of birth-assigned sex, gender identity or expression. These restrooms can benefit many individuals including those individuals that may identify as either transgender, gender nonconforming, or any other identity. The all-gender restrooms can also prove beneficial for those individuals who identify as alter-abled and may require the accompaniment of an attendant of a different gender.   Click here for more information and the complete list of all-gender restrooms in campus housing.  Below is the list of all-gender restrooms in non-residential campus buildings:

CAMPUS CENTER NORTH
-Two on the first floor by main entrance from the Mall (enter building and take two quick left turns)

DANCE
-Basement hallway to the right of the main dance office

FORT AWESOME
First Floor:
-Next to vending machines 
-Outside of classroom #142

HUMANITIES
 -First floor #1031D inside the theatre
 -First floor #1035 & 1036
 -Second Floor #2039  & 2040
 -Basement #0032 & 0033 (inside Dressing Rooms)

MUSIC
-Second floor bathroom
-The two bathrooms off the Recital Hall

THE NEUBERGER MUSEUM OF ART

-Two restrooms on the second floor 

THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
-All PAC dressing room bathrooms 
-The PAC lounge bathroom 
-The two PAC upper lobby bathrooms 
-The bathroom in the hallway of the D dressing rooms in the PAC 
-The PAC stage bathrooms A and B, and two bathrooms in C

VISUAL ARTS
-First floor #1008
-Second floor #2009

PREFERRED NAME

Purchase College recognizes that, as a community, many of its members use names other than their legal names to identify themselves.  As long as the use of this different name is not for the purpose of misrepresentation, the college acknowledges that a person’s preferred name can and should be used when possible in the course of college business and education. At the college’s discretion and as may be required by law, certain official correspondence will use your legal name.  The preferred first name will appear on the class list, Snapshot, Faculty Feedback student email, Moodle, and, upon request, the official purchase.edu email account name.  For more information, click here.

COUNSELING

Purchase College Counseling Center:

Services are free, voluntary, and confidential: (914)251-6390

The Counseling Center provides services to matriculated students and referrals for nonmatriculated students who may be experiencing psychological stress.  We provide individual therapy and weekly support group to transgender students and referrals to gender therapists in the community as needed.  Please contact us for more information on the support group or to make an appointment to speak with a counselor on staff.

The following are off-campus 24/7 hotlines  for connecting you to supportive people to talk with at any time:

24/7 Trevor Lifeline: 866-488-7386

Trevor Project
“Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.”

24/7 Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860

Trans Lifeline:
“This line is primarily for transgender people experiencing a crisis. This includes people who may be struggling with their gender identity and are not sure that they are transgender. While our goal is to prevent self-harm, we welcome the call of any transgender person in need. We will do our very best to connect them with services that can help them meet that need. If you are not sure whether you should call or not, then please call us.”

HEALTH SERVICES

Purchase College Health Services has had the honor of welcoming and caring for transgender students for over 25 years. It is our mission to provide a sensitive, thoughtful and nonjudgmental approach to the special issues and health concerns in the transgender community. Our staff are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to enhance their knowledge and expertise in transgender health care. For students requesting and/or needing more specialized care, Health Services provides referrals to healthcare providers specializing in transgender medical care in the Westchester/NY Metro area.
We have taken specific measures to create a climate and environment that is inclusive and affirming of transgender students. Our bathrooms are gender neutral, and preferred names and gender pronouns are entered into students’ medical charts so that staff may honor students’ individual preferences. At the suggestion of Health Services, as of August 2015, the college’s student health insurance plan was modified to include benefits for hormonal therapy and surgical procedures for transgender students.

We welcome students at all stages of transitioning to visit Health Services, and we invite suggestions and comments on how we can better serve the transgender community at Purchase.

Off campus healthcare providers specializing in transgender care:

Dr. James Hellerman
Tarrytown, NY
914-631-9300
-He will see patients for follow-up care; including writing prescriptions. 

Dr. Irene Weiss
Westchester Medical Center Endocrine Clinic
877-962-3627

Dr. Marvin Lipman
Scarsdale Medical Group
600 Mamaroneck Ave.
Harrison, NY 10528
914-723-8100
-Hormone treatment; local and LGBT friendly

Dr. Nancy Dodson, MD
141 South Central Ave, Hartsdale
(Also at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, 3415 Bainbridge Avenue, Bronx, NY 10467)
for appts: (718) 741-2450
for questions: 718-920-2021
ndodson@montefiore.org
-Adolescent medicine and gynecology; experience with transgender youth; serves up to age 25

Dr. Michael Goldberg, MD
APS Multi-Specialty Medicine
Bradhurst Avenue, Suite 3060N
Hawthorne, NY 10532
Ph 914-0372-7887
914-372-7884

Dr. Uri Belkind
Callen Lorde
356 West 18th St.
NY, NY 10011
212-271-7200
Also location in the Bronx
-LGBT friendly clinic, will start and manage transgender hormone therapy

Dr. Hullinsky, endocrinologist
762 Lindley St., Bridgeport CT (about 45 min drive from Purchase)
203-576-5131
or
755 Campbell Ave, West Haven, CT 06516
Phone:(203) 374-4490

CAMPUS CLUBS

The LGBTQU Student Club works to provide a safe space for students from the LBGTQ community to express themselves openly and honestly. The group holds regular meetings that allow for students to speak about their life experiences, and they host workshops and lectures that focus on the education and support of students within the LGBTQ community. To learn more about this club, you can visit the campus Club and Organization resource page or visit the Purchase Student Government Association website.

Planned Parenthood at Purchase works closely with the local branch of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Planned Parenthood Hudson-Peconic (PPHP). They work to provide comprehensive and inclusive sex education for students at Purchase, and are a resource for LGBTQ+ students looking for sex ed centered around them.  Like/Follow our Facebook page to hear about our events.

ATHLETICS AND ATHLETIC FACILITIES

Purchase College Athletics values and celebrates diversity and equal opportunity for all student athletes, personnel and coaches within all our athletic programs.  See our Transgender Athlete Student Inclusion Policies for more information.

OFF-CAMPUS RESOURCES

Westchester Area:
Center Lane LGBTQ Youth and Community Education Center  is Westchester’s only lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth and community education center. Designed to reduce the isolation that many LGBTQ young people feel and promote a community culture that is supportive of LGBTQ youth, the center provides an opportunity for socialization, enhanced self-esteem and personal growth in a safe place where they can be themselves without the fear of harassment. 

The Loft LGBT Community Center (White Plains)
The LOFT’s mission is to further the cause of inclusion, diversity, and pride through education, advocacy, and celebration.  Founded in 1983 and incorporated in 1993, The LOFT provides a safe gathering place for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and supportive community of Westchester County, NY and surrounding areas.

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley – LGBTQ Project 
This firm does pro bono work protecting human rights and promoting social justice for LGBTQ people in the Westchester area.

New York Metro Area:
List of Resources for LGBT Youth

New York State:
List of Trans* Youth Resources in New York State

On the Web:
Trans Student Educational Resources 
Trans Student Educational Resources is a youth-led organization dedicated to transforming the educational environment for trans and gender nonconforming students through advocacy and empowerment.