[nagdu] Anti-discrimination or diversity policies of guidedogschools

[Linda Gwizdak]

Thanks, Jenine!  I'll pass this along to the person.

Oh, just for your clarification, gender identity is NOT the same as sexual 
orientation.  As I heard someone put it, gender identity is what's in your 
head and sexual orientation is what's between the legs.  In other words, 
gender identity is how you feel your gender is. Sexual orientation is who is 
your love object.  You, Jenine, have a female body and you identify as a 
female person.  Your sexual orientation can be heterosexual, homosexual, or 
bi sexual. Transsexual people's gender identity and their birth sex don't 
match up.  It's called Gender Dysphoria and people deal with this in many 
ways including surgically and hormonally change to the gender they are.

I am glad that GDF hasn't had a problem with what a person is except that 
they are suitable for a guide dog. Boy, I wish the world saw things that 
way!  Life would be a whole lot pleasanter for folks who differ from what 
our society calls "normal"!  I liked how you stated the "policy" and I will 
pass this on to my friend - she'll appreciate that!

Regards,

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jenine Stanley" <jeninems at wowway.com>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 21, 2010 9:46 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Anti-discrimination or diversity policies of 
guidedogschools


> Lyn,
>
> GDF has had at least one transsexual grad/student that I'm aware of over 
> the
> past 20 years that I've been associated with the school.
>
> We do not have a formal diversity policy as such, primarily because we
> accept anyone who was otherwise qualified to receive a dog and goes 
> through
> our application process. Sexual orientation really is a private matter and
> has nothing to do with one's qualifications for getting a dog at GDF.
>
> I believe the person I'm aware of got her dogs back when GDF had double
> rooms and she stayed in the women's wing. I do not know if she had a
> roommate or not during that class.
>
> The instructors left it up to her if she wanted to explain or discuss her
> gender and related matters. It was very matter-of-fact to them as I 
> recall.
> She got her dogs in the '90's and unfortunately passed away around 10 
> years
> ago now.
>
> Currently at GDF we have single rooms and unisex public restrooms. I know
> that transsexual and transgender people have applied to our school and 
> I've
> assured them that we leave any discussion of one's sexual orientation up 
> to
> that person. We care about how someone works with the dog.
>
> If problems do occur between the students, we advise people to bring them 
> to
> the instructors on class or the Consumer Services staff and we will try to
> help work things out.
>
> As with any school, we give that standard lecture about how your fellow
> students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, etc.. And we ask that 
> you
> respect one another. We also note that you are only on class for so long 
> and
> urge everyone to get along with your fellow classmates.
>
> Hope that helped answer your questions. If there's anything this person
> wants to know, please have her contact me off list at jenine at guidedog.org.
>
> Jenine Stanley
> jeninems at wowway.com
>
>
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