Beyond the 90s
NYU had a push from the GLU to include trans students in their non-discrimination policy in 2003. At that point, the NYU law school non-discrimination policy did not cover gender expression or identity (16).
A distinction had to be made between sexual orientation versus gender identity and expression. In a letter to the university from the office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Services, various resources were attached, including "Trans 101," an article written by an NYU Law student, and several pieces of information from the Transgender Law and Policy Institute which include: A Press Release from April 2002 when the NYC Council voted to include transgender people in NYC's Human Rights Law.
NYC Press Release from 2002, Including Trans People in its Human Rights Law
At this time at Poly, queer student unions just began forming. In an interview with faculty Peter Li who was also a student and advisor at Poly during this time, and is now faculty at NYU, it was discussed that students began their own self-formed group in around 2007-08. Li was the administrating faculty for the Gay Union at Poly, which then became oSTEM (Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Today, the community participates in conferences, holds meetings, and maintains its own unique identity as oSTEM at Tandon, rather than combining forces with Queer Union at NYU/ other LGBTQIA+ organizations (14).
In the present day, there is still plenty of action to be done, especially under the Trump Administration. Recent events have made clear that hard-won progress remains fragile. In February 2025, NYU Langone Health canceled gender-affirming care appointments for two transgender children following an executive order from President Trump that threatened to cut federal funding to hospitals providing such care to minors (17). Families were left scrambling for alternatives, and the hospital has yet to issue a clear statement or updated policy, leaving many in the community anxious and uncertain about the future of trans healthcare access at NYU.
The executive order is part of a broader wave of anti-transgender policies, targeting not only healthcare but also education and basic recognition of trans identities. The order restricts the use of chosen names and pronouns in schools, bars trans students from using facilities that match their gender identity, and threatens legal action against teachers and staff who affirm trans students. Such measures have been shown to directly harm the mental health and well-being of transgender youth, increasing risks of depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts. The chilling effect of these policies is felt across the university, as students, faculty, and staff worry about their rights, safety, and ability to access necessary support.
In response, NYU students and community members have mobilized, organizing rallies and demanding that the university take a stronger stand in support of its trans population. Protesters have called for NYU to issue clear statements affirming trans rights, increase transparency around healthcare decisions, and ensure that all students have access to affirming resources and allies on campus. The activism echoes the university’s history of student-led advocacy but also underscores the urgent need for continued vigilance and institutional accountability.
Although both NYU and Poly have made significant strides in representing and supporting queer communities since the 1980s, the current climate reveals persistent and evolving barriers-particularly for trans students. This is especially poignant given that trans women, including pioneers like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, were foundational to the LGBTQIA+ movement and fought for the rights and visibility of the most marginalized. Yet, today, trans people-especially youth and trans women of color-remain disproportionately vulnerable to discrimination, violence, and policy rollbacks.
The struggle for trans representation and rights is far from over. Universities must go beyond symbolic gestures and ensure that all students, regardless of gender identity, are protected, respected, and empowered to thrive. This includes providing barrier-free processes for name and gender changes, guaranteeing access to gender-affirming healthcare, and fostering a campus culture where transphobia is actively challenged. As history has shown, progress is never guaranteed and must be defended by both community action and institutional commitment.
Feb 2, 2025 article about NYU Langone denying gender affirming care to children under Trump's executive order.
Reflecting on the period beyond the 1990s, it’s clear that the progress made by NYU and Poly in queer representation is inseparable from the ongoing struggle over whose voices are documented, heard, or left out. As Michel-Rolph Trouillot argues in Silencing the Past, history and archives are not neutral-they are shaped by power, and the act of recording or omitting certain experiences can either amplify or erase marginalized voices (11). Today, NYU stands as a vibrant hub for LGBTQIA+ life, offering a wide array of resources, programming, and advocacy that reflect decades of progress since the 1990s. The university’s LGBTQ+ Center fosters a welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff, and alumni to connect, learn, and build community through educational events, support groups, and leadership opportunities. Recent years have seen NYU students and allies mobilize in response to national policy threats, such as the protests demanding the restoration of gender-affirming care at NYU Langone and calls for stronger institutional support for trans students. Events like the Trans Day of Visibility Roundtable and gatherings uplifting trans and non-binary voices highlight NYU’s ongoing commitment to inclusion and intersectionality(18). Yet, as recent challenges show, the work is far from finished: barriers persist, particularly for trans and non-binary individuals, and the need for vigilant advocacy remains urgent. NYU’s queer community continues to honor its activist roots by standing up for the most marginalized, ensuring that the university not only remembers its history, but actively shapes a more just and affirming future for all.