Morehouse College had adopted a Gender Identify Policy this month that will allow individuals who self-identify as men, regardless of the sex assigned to them at birth, to be considered for admission. The nation’s only historically Black all-men’s school will begin admitting transgender students who identify as men in Fall 2020.

Spelman College, Morehouse’s neighbor and sister school, began accepting individuals who “consistently live and self-identify as women, regardless of their gender assignment at birth” in 2017 - - two years ago. Both historically Black female colleges have similar policies with Bennett College adopting a comparable policy also in 2017.

“In a rapidly changing world that includes a better understanding of gender identity we’re proud to expand our admissions policy to consider trans men who want to be part of an institution that has produced some of the greatest leaders in social justice, politics, business, and the arts for more than 150 years,” said Terrance Dixon, vice president for enrollment management at Morehouse. “The ratification of this policy affirms the College’s commitment to develop men with disciplined minds who will lead lives of leadership and service.”

Once admitted to the College, all students are expected to self-identify as men throughout their education at Morehouse. If a student transitions from a man to a woman, that student will no longer be eligible to matriculate at Morehouse. Exemptions from this rule may be granted by a three-person committee appointed by the President after a written appeal is submitted by the student. In the event that the impacted student disagrees with the decision of the committee, the student may make a final appeal to the President of Morehouse.

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Both historically Black female colleges have similar policies with Bennett College adopting a comparable policy in 2017.

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“Trans men are men, which is exactly why they should be supported in matriculating at Morehouse College,” said David Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NJBC), a civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people “This is noteworthy, that we’re making space for all Black people, especially important in Trump’s America.”

Morehouse, which has an enrollment of 2,202, instituted a policy in 2009 banning its male students from wearing women’s clothes, makeup or high heels in what was called the “Appropriate Attire Policy.”