At a time when the federal government is bent on reducing, if anything, protections for people considered to be "outside the norm," it is important for states and local institutions to step up to fill the void.

In Connecticut the Board of Regents has adopted two new policies in order to implement an executive order issued by Governor Malloy this past February.

The governor's order clarifies that bathrooms and locker rooms in public schools and institutions of higher education are places of "public accommodation" and subject to the state's anti-discrimination laws which include gender identity.

Discrimination of this kind is outrageous and has no place in our society. This shouldn't be a partisan issue — the President's regressive action must be rejected by all compassionate people, regardless of party affiliation.

--Gov. Dannel P. Malloy

The Board of Regents approved a policy that allows all students in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system access to the bathrooms and locker rooms associated with their gender identity.

In addition, the board adopted a policy that allows students in the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities system to identify themselves by their preferred first name, including on student ID cards.

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Our focus is and always will be on developing successful, engaged students and to do that we must continue to provide a learning environment that encourages personal growth for everyone,. Transgender students are part of the CSCU community and we want to make sure they feel valued and empowered to pursue their education. These policies are aligned with our core values and our history as an institution.

Our transgender students will continue to have their fundamental civil rights protected here in Connecticut, regardless of what Washington says.

--Mark Ojakian, CSCU president

Discrimination, harassment, and bullying have no place in our classrooms or at our schools. I applaud the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities for taking this important step.

--Gov. Malloy