Gender Inclusive Housing

A person whose gender identity is the same as the sex they were assigned at birth.

Gender Identity* gender is a spectrum, and someone’s gender identity may be anywhere within, along, or outside the gender spectrum. It is their sense of being a woman, a man, both, neither, or anywhere in between. A person’s gender identity may be the same as or different from their birth-assigned sex. Gender identity is fundamentally different from a person’s sexual orientation.

It is how a person publicly presents their gender. This can include behaviour and outward appearances such as dress, hair, make-up, body language and voice. A person's name and pronouns are common ways of expressing gender.

An umbrella term for individuals whose gender identity is different than the sex they were assigned at birth that falls between, across, off, or within the gender binary. The term trans* represents transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, agender, genderfluid, two-spirit, and others whose identities fall inside or outside of gender paradigms.

An umbrella term that falls under that umbrella term Transgender (Trans*) for individuals whose gender identity is different than the sex they were assigned at birth that falls between, across, or off the gender binary spectrum. The term gender diverse may also represent non-binary, genderqueer, agender, genderfluid, two-spirit, and others whose identities fall outside of cisgender paradigms.

Sex* is the classification of people as male, female or intersex. Sex is usually assigned at birth and is based on an assessment of a person's reproductive system, hormones, chromosomes and/or other physical characteristics.

Gender Inclusive refers to a housing assignment that does not use gender identity as a criterion during the room assignment process for single and multi-occupancy rooms and is located in an area where an all-gender washroom is available within the alcove, floor, suite or unit.

Co-educational (Co-ed) is a term widely used to describe housing where a floor, building or townhouse accommodates all genders, however, multi-occupancy rooms and washrooms are gendered. Students assigned to multi-occupancy spaces will be assigned based on the gender they disclose in their application. Co-ed residences may be gendered by alcove, floor, or suite based on the location of a gendered washroom.  For example, South Residence is a co-ed residence, but each alcove is gendered and the washroom within the alcove is gendered.

Single Gender Housing refers to a building or self-contained unit (apartment, suite, or townhouse) assigned to a specific gender identity, and washrooms within the space are identified for single gender.

All Gender Washrooms are washrooms (which may include a toilet, sink and/or shower) that are available for use by any gender identity and may be private or shared communal facilities. All Gender Washrooms are identified by signage in all residences.

Gender Specific Washrooms are washrooms (which may include toilet, sink and/or shower) that are specified for use as either male or female-identifying students.  Gendered Specific Washrooms are identified by signage in all residences. Washrooms within a suite (Lambton or East Residences), townhouse (East Village and West Residences), or an alcove (South Residences), do not have signage.

• Pronouns: all pronouns
• Caleb is the Sexual and Gender Diversity Advisor supporting and advocating for LGBTQ2IA+ students at the University of Guelph.  As a queer individual, Caleb understands the importance of creating welcoming spaces for gender diverse students.  They supervise OUTline staff and work collaboratively with other departments across campus to unlearn and relearn how we can better support our LGBTQ2IA+ community.  Read more about Caleb and the role of the Sexual and Gender Diversity Advisor.
• You can contact Caleb at sgd@uoguelph.ca about all the resources available to LGBTQ2IA+ students.

• Pronouns: she/her/hers
• Kristin is responsible for the education, training, and supervision of the Residence Life Staff and Residence Life Management Team who will support you through your experience in residence.  Kristin's team works to create an inclusive and welcoming culture in all of our residence communities.
• You can contact Kristin at lennank@uoguelph.ca to talk more about moving into residence, residence life supports, education about LGBTQ2IA+ issues, or questions about living in a GIH space on campus.

• Pronouns: she/her/hers
• Leanne's team is responsible for processing residence applications and deposits, residence room and suitemate assignments, and other accommodation needs.
• You can contact Leanne at lcaron@uoguelph.ca to talk more about the residence application, assignment placement, roommate pairing, residence move-in, or room transfer processes.

SHS will take every opportunity to provide students with their top preferences. GIH will be offered based on demand, and all students will be placed based on their application preferences.

No, selecting GIH on your residence application is optional.

No, we will not openly share the specific location of our GIH rooms with those outside of Student Housing Services. Only the building they might be in.

GIH was created to help reduce the barriers trans and gender-diverse students face when accessing housing on campus. We strongly encourage students in a romantic relationship with one another not to request to live together. We may be unable to modify room assignments should the relationship status change and a partner wishes to move out.

Requests to receive a specific room assignment based on gender identity do not require the completion of an Accommodation Request Form. Applicants who require GIH should indicate it as their first choice on both pages of preferences in the residence application.  However, if there are other needs related to room type (e.g., requires a single room) for medical or other reasons, you should complete an Accommodation Request Form for reasons other than gender identity.

No. Only students who request Gender Inclusive Housing will be assigned to those spaces, however, you may be assigned to a building which includes a GIH community.

Co-ed residence is a living situation where a floor, building or townhouse accommodates all genders, however, multi-occupancy rooms (e.g., doubles, triples, quads) and washrooms are gendered. GIH does not consider gender in the room assignment process, meaning that multi-occupancy rooms may have students of any gender identity with access to an all-gender washroom.

No. GIH will use all room types to complete assignments, however, gender is not a factor when finding a roommate. You may be assigned to a multi-occupancy room with someone who has a different gender identity.

Absolutely! Roommate requests are added to your application after the June 3 deadline once you have received a confirmed offer of residence. Learn more about the roommate process here. It is important that both roommates have the same location and room type preferences on their application, including a desire to be assigned in GIH.