On July 30, 2025, Brown University announced that it had come to an agreement with the United States of America in order to reinstate all federally paused funds to the University. In doing so, Brown has agreed to numerous provisions including offering same-sex housing that Residential Life already offers and private locker rooms for female students, which are technically available, despite the perpetual locker room closure announcements. Another provision the University agreed to falls under the fifth provision regarding compliance with Title IX which states, “The University will not perform gender reassignment surgery or prescribe puberty blockers…”
This section of the agreement particularly captivated me and I found myself questioning the sanctity of the institution I attend. Even more, questioning my peers and their sick choices. How dare this University that I have called home for nearly three years defile so many of its students in this way? How dare those whom I once called my friends be aware of this situation? How DARE Brown University offer gender reassignment surgery…
…and I not know about it!?
The questions I have are endless. How many of you have managed to get appointments with Health Services for gender reassignment operations while I can barely get seen for a cold if I’m lucky? Are you happy with the results? Did they offer both top and bottom surgery? Was it like an underground speakeasy situation in Wellness where you had to request a “double shot of testosterone” and get whisked away through a bookcase to a secret operating room?
Leave it to Brown to have gender affirming surgeries gatekept and limited to only the most elite. Just to be clear, I’m not mad that Brown has to get rid of its surgical offerings; I am mad about the fact that it was never offered to ME. At this point, I’d take literally any surgery from Health Services. A tonsillectomy. A vasectomy. Remove my appendix just for the hell of it! But no. That’s reserved for the lucky one-percenters.
Anyway, I’ll be in the Wellness waiting area asking about my post-op compression binder and a Claritin. Let me know if the surgery line moves faster than the flu shot lines do this year. And if anybody has some leftover hormone blockers, meet me outside behind Andrews at dusk. I will be bringing syringes and a dream.
Gender Reassignment Surgery? At Brown?? And Nobody Told Me???
