'Transgender Student Fights University Over Housing'

Transgender Student Fights University Over Housing
Complaint Filed Against Miami U.

POSTED: 6:14 pm EDT March 19, 2012
UPDATED: 6:32 pm EDT March 19, 2012


OXFORD, Ohio -- In just about every way, Kaeden Kass is a typical college guy. But his birth certificate identifies him as a female.

"Although it doesn't match with what I've been told based on my birth certificate and that, it's my identity, it's what I feel and I can't fight it," said Kass.

The Miami University student is fighting school officials for not allowing him to serve as a resident assistant in an all-male residence hall. Instead, he was offered a position in a suite living with female students.

"The problem is, I'm a male-identified person, and as soon as I'm in a space that is all female, my identity gets erased," Kass said.

He has filed a complaint against the dean of students and the university council.

A university spokeswoman said a privacy act forbids her from discussing the case, but she said the university does address the needs of transgender students.

"The university does offer gender-neutral housing for those students who feel more comfortable living with students of a different biological gender," said spokeswoman Claire Wagner.

She said three students were approved this year to live in those suites, but Kass said that's not acceptable to him.

"I have to fight for my identity every day, and it's just exhausting and it's frustrating, and it hinders my mental health, I think," Kass said.