North Carolina Community College battles Transgender student over alleged discrimination

Central Piedmont Community College

By Matt Comer | CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Qnotes) – Several dozen students and community members gathered Friday afternoon to protest alleged discrimination at Central Piedmont Community College, calling on the college to apologize to a transgender student who says she was mistreated and harassed at the school.

Andraya Williams, 22, alleges CPCC security officers questioned her gender, escorted her off campus and suspended her from classes as she was exiting a restroom and heading to the campus’ library before a class on March 18.

Williams said a female campus security officer stopped her and asked her if she is male or female. Williams said she was female, to which the officer laughed, she says.

“I don’t understand why I was suspended and escorted off campus,” Williams says. “They were really just treating me like I had just robbed a bank or like I was a real criminal.”

Additionally, Williams and her attorney, Sarah Demarest, say that campus officials worked to prevent her from filing a complaint regarding the incident. Williams says she met with Dean of Student Life Mark Helms on March 19.

Helms, Williams maintains, said she was suspended for refusing to show her ID, but Williams and Demarest insist she did so immediately when the first officer asked for it. Williams also says Helms told her she must use gender-neutral restrooms, of which she is aware of only two on campus.

Helms also allegedly told Williams that she needed to provide the school “medical proof” she is female.

“I’m confused because everyone involved in the situation knows I was suspended for being a transgender person using a female restroom and they put it on paper that I was suspended for not showing my ID,” Williams says.

On Thursday, the school also released its first formal, written statement on the incident;

“The College has examined its policies and procedures, and we are certain that they are in compliance with current laws. The College will work to ensure those policies are followed and clearly communicated,” CPCC spokesperson Jeff Lowrance said.

Lowrance had no comment on the protest Friday afternoon. He did say, however, that the school intends to begin reaching out to and planning meetings with LGBT community groups and leaders next week.

The college has also fired back against reports that Williams was suspended. The school has denied she was suspended and said she is in good standing as a current student.

“True suspension from the college can come only through the student discipline process,” Lowrance said Friday afternoon. “There is no suspension on the student’s CPCC record. She is in good standing with the college.”

More in-depth coverage on this developing story here.

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