Gender-Inclusive Housing Options

Housing and Residential Life is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and supportive experience for all students. We offer a variety of inclusive housing options to ensure that students of all gender identities and gender expressions have a comfortable and supportive living space, including but not limited to:

  • Transgender students*
  • Gender queer students*
  • Gender non-conforming students*
  • Students transitioning*
  • Students who do not conform to society’s imposition of their assigned gender at birth
  • Students exploring their gender identity
  • Students who appreciate and respect people with the above identities and lived experiences, and who would prefer to live in a community composed with such gender diversity 

We recognize that same-gender roommate pairings do not meet the needs of some students. Our Gender-Inclusive Housing (GIH) options allow students who identify as transgender*, gender non-conforming*, cisgender* and similar, to have the ability to choose a roommate of any gender or gender expression. 

Gender-Inclusive Housing is voluntary; the default housing criteria is that students will be assigned a same gender roommate unless the student submits the GIH application in MyHousing. Only students who submit a GIH application will be assigned to GIH housing.

To apply for GIH, you must first complete your housing application. The GIH application is an additional, optional application that can be completed after filling out the housing application.

*Please visit the Human Rights Campaign glossary of terms to learn more about gender identities.

Gender-Inclusive Rooms

Gender-Inclusive rooms allow students to live with people of diverse gender identities with whom they feel comfortable. First-year and continuing resident students can be placed in a gender-inclusive room in any of our residence halls. Students who are interested in this option need to complete the GIH Supplemental Application.

Gender-Inclusive Bathrooms

A gender-inclusive bathroom can be used by students of any gender, gender identity or gender expression. Our residence halls with community style bathrooms have gender-inclusive community bathrooms available. All single use private bathrooms in our halls are designated as gender-inclusive.

LGBTQ Friendly Roommate Matching

Our LGBTQIA+ Friendly Roommate Matching system is for LGBTQIA+ students and allies who want to live together. This housing option is open to students in all class years. Students indicate their interest in our matching system by answering questions within their housing application.

Please visit the Human Rights Campaign glossary of terms to learn more about gender identities.

Students are interested in gender-inclusive housing for a variety of reasons. We encourage you to make the best decision for you.

We respect and honor the privacy of our students, so current procedures do not require you to disclose your reason for seeking gender-inclusive housing or your roommate requests. 

If you have any additional questions or wish to discuss your interest or preferences with a member of the HRL staff, please send an email to Deborah Bergner, Coordinator of Educational Programs debbergner@uri.edu