Whatever one's gender identity may be, heterosexual or LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer), employees and students of Santa Monica College have the right to work and study in an environment free of discrimination, including harassment, based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. You cannot be harassed, demoted, terminated, paid less, graded differently or be denied access to resources or otherwise treated less favorably because of your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
Gender is an individual’s self-representation and identification as male or female, regardless of one’s biological classification at birth. It takes into account the cultural and social difference. It may also include people who are not exclusively masculine or feminine (people who are genderqueer)
Gender identity: Refers to one’s sense of oneself as male, female, or transgender. When one’s gender identity and biological sex are not congruent, the individual may identify as transsexual or as another transgender category.
Sex Is the assignment of being male or female based on the physical biology of reproductive organs and structures* present at birth. It also refers to a physical act of a sexual nature.
“Sexual orientation” refers to an individual’s physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction to people of the same and/or opposite gender. Examples of sexual orientation include straight (or heterosexual), lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.
Transgender rights. In November 2017, the California Department of Fair Employment & Housing issued a position poster on Transgender rights. Please click on the the following link to view the poster: Transgender Rights in the Workplace.
For gender-related terminology, see UC Berkeley, Division of Equity & Inclusion, "Definition of Terms" http://ejce.berkeley.edu/geneq/resources/lgbtq-resources/definition-terms
* Merriam-Webster Simple Definition of Sex
Know your Rights - Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination