Rainbow Alliance files revised complaint regarding Pitt’s transgender policy

The students alleging discrimination based on the University’s gendered facilities policy have submitted new paperwork addressing problems raised by Pitt’s response to the initial complaint.

LGBTQ student advocacy group Rainbow Alliance submitted a revised complaint regarding Pitt’s transgender policy to the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations on July 27, about two months after the organization’s initial allegations were disputed by the University.

Rainbow Alliance President Tricia Dougherty originally filed a complaint with the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations on April 25, claiming that Pitt had enacted “discriminatory practices relating to public accommodation” toward transgender students.

The organization objected to the University announcing a policy stating that all transgender students must use gendered facilities according to the sex listed on their birth certificates. The new policy requires that students who wish to use facilities designated for the opposite sex first undergo sex-reassignment surgery, a costly and invasive procedure. Previously, the University had no stated policy governing the use of gendered facilities, allowing for more flexibility in practice.

Pitt responded in June with a motion to dismiss Rainbow Alliance’s complaint because of the lack of any mention of a specific incident or discriminatory act in the allegations, which focused on the larger impact of the policies.

The Rainbow Alliance is now trying again, submitting a reworked complaint featuring specific allegations, as well as arguing against the University’s issue with the lack of identified members.

The new complaint cites academic articles as well as court precedents disputing the need to publicly identify specific individuals injured or discriminated against.

Pitt would be fined a maximum of $300 if the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations rules in favor of Rainbow Alliance.