Genny and Abbie Goldberg’s article on the gender identity and pronouns of incoming trans and nonbinary college students has been published in the International Journal of LGBTQ+ Youth Studies! We found significant differences in students identifying as trans and nonbinary by legal sex and citizenship status and less so by race. In terms of pronouns, more than 90% of the students who went by a pronoun set beyond “she/her” or “he/him” used “they/them.” The full article can be accessed on this website. All of the research findings are available on my website.
Fewer College Students Indicate They Are Nonbinary Amid Backlash
An article that Genny wrote based on their Common App research, “Fewer College Students Indicate They Are Nonbinary Amid Backlash,” was published in The Conversation on Sept. 11, 2024.
What I Would Have Asked Trump & Biden
Genny was one of the higher education people asked by Inside Higher Ed to suggest a question that they would pose at the first presidential debate, if they were given the chance.
Genny’s question: “Because of anti-DEI laws and policies, LGBTQ+ centers at state colleges and universities in Texas and Florida have been closed, and such centers in other states are threatened with closure. How do you respond to LGBTQ+ students who say that these spaces are a lifeline for them—that they likely would have dropped out of school or even attempted suicide if not for these centers and the support they received there?”
Recs for Supporting Trans & Nonbinary Students
Genny worked with colleagues in the Consortium of Higher Ed LGBT Resource Professionals to develop recommendations for colleges and college departments for supporting their trans and nonbinary students. Every higher ed institution needs to be implementing these policies and practices.
Presenting at ACPA
Genny presented their research on the gender identities and pronouns of the more than one million students who filled out the Common App to attend college in Fall 2023 at the ACPA (American College Personnel Association) Conference. Their research findings are available here.
Encyclopedia of LGBTQ+ Studies Published
The 2nd Edition of The Sage Encyclopedia of LGBTQ+ Studies, for which Genny was an associate editor and wrote seven entries, has been published. It is three heavy volumes! (but it will mostly be available as an online library resource).
Trans People as Their Authentic Selves
Genny is one of the individuals profiled in Authentic Selves, a new book and photo exhibit that celebrates trans and nonbinary people and their families. They were also interviewed for a story about the book.
Overwhelming Support for Trans Students at Wellesley College!
In the wake of students at Wellesley College voting overwhelmingly to urge the administration to admit trans men and nonbinary individuals, Genny was interviewed by the New York Times, the AP, and Scripps News Live about the experiences of trans students at historically women’s colleges.
A Guide for Colleges on Gender Identity and Pronouns
For the Common Application, Genny wrote A Brief Guide to Common App’s Name, Sex, and Gender Questions for Member Institutions. Common App is the admissions form used by more than 1,000 colleges in the U.S. In 2021, Common App added optional questions asking gender identity and pronouns, and this guide suggests how colleges should use this information to support their incoming trans and nonbinary students.
Campus Pride Releases a Report of Genny’s Analysis of Data on Incoming Trans and Nonbinary College Students
Genny conducted an analysis of students’ gender identity, race, first-generation status, and pronoun responses on the Common App, the admissions form used by more than 1,000 colleges. Students entering college this fall were the first group to be given the opportunity to indicate their gender identity and pronouns on the form. The Campus Pride report, “The Changing Nature of Gender in the 21st Century: How Trans and Nonbinary Students Applying to College Today Self-Identify,” is available here.