MLA Statement on Discrimination against Transgender Individuals
The Executive Council approved the following statement in May 2016.
The MLA condemns state-sponsored discrimination against transgender individuals such as that in North Carolina House Bill 2. Such forms of legislation risk placing in danger a highly vulnerable population that is already subject to increasing violence. The MLA supports the condemnation of this bill by the Attorney General Loretta Lynch. It supports policies and pedagogy in educational institutions that respect the human dignity of the transgender community.
As affirmed in many statements of the Executive Council, in association policy documents, and in resolutions ratified by the membership (see below), the MLA stands in opposition to discrimination in employment and education with regard to race, age, class, gender, disability, religion, or sexual orientation.
Through the years, the MLA membership has approved several resolutions that state the association’s opposition to discriminatory practices. The most recent of these was the third resolution that the 1995 Delegate Assembly considered. The 1995 assembly approved the resolution, and the membership ratified it in 1996. The resolution reads as follows:
Whereas there is currently a movement in U.S. society to dismantle affirmative action programs that have historically sought to redress gender and race discrimination in employment and education; and
Whereas this trend is exemplified by the recent abolition of affirmative action in student admissions to the University of California system; and
Whereas higher education in the United States will be irreparably harmed if university and college faculties and student bodies become less racially and ethnically diverse, and if women faculty and students are discouraged from pursuing careers in all fields; and
Whereas the Modern Language Association has historically opposed racism and sexism in many forms, and has specifically advocated and defended affirmative action policies in relation to faculty hiring and student admissions;
Be it resolved that the Modern Language Association condemn the recent decision of the University of California Regents to abolish affirmative action in admissions; and
Be it further resolved that the members of the Modern Language Association recommit themselves to the defense and extension of affirmative action programs, by supporting affirmative action policies at our respective institutions at all levels, especially with regard to student admissions and personnel decisions (hiring, reappointment, tenure, and promotion); and
Be it further resolved that the Modern Language Association demonstrate its opposition to anti-affirmative action measures and to any discriminatory practices with regard to race, age, class, gender, disability, religious or sexual preference, by encouraging its members to communicate their views to appropriate university and governmental bodies.