Domaine Javier, California Baptist University Transgender Student, Expelled After Applying As Female

A California nursing student claims she was expelled from a private Christian university after revealing herself as transgender on an MTV reality program.

As The Riverside Press-Enterprise is reporting, 24-year-old Domaine Javier, who has identified as female since she was a toddler, said California Baptist University officials told her she was expelled for falsely claiming on her application form that she is female. Letters sent to Javier from university officials say she was expelled for "committing or attempting to engage in fraud, or concealing identity" in university judicial processes.

"I didn't do anything wrong," Javier, who was to be a transfer student from Riverside City College (RCC) and had initially been awarded a $3,500 academic scholarship, is quoted as saying. "They said, 'On your application form you put 'female.' And I was like, 'Yeah, that's how I see myself.'" Javier will now return to RCC but cannot enter the nursing program until next fall. "This totally ruined my career path," she added.

Javier said she appeared on an April episode of "True Life" entitled "I'm Passing as Someone I'm Not" in an effort to raise awareness on transgender issues. "I am a girl trapped in a guy's body," Javier said on the show, which also showed a segment of her on a date with a man who cut off the relationship after she told him she is transgender.

Although California law prohibits employment, housing, government, insurance and other types of discrimination based upon gender identity, private universities like California Baptist University do not fall under such legislation. A university spokesman told the paper that the school doesn't comment on student disciplinary matters.

Comments

[Johnathanphd]

04:30 PM on 11/16/2011

This is absolutely horrifying. I understand University Policy. However, what places them in a position of authority to dictate how someone see's themselves. I was under the impression that the Holy Bible is adamant about loving others as you love yourself. Obviously, California Baptist University only wants to love those that they deem socially acceptable for their school. This sickens me! Maybe, they should look at themselves in the mirror and take a look into their own soul.

[Delphi Omally]

05:31 PM on 11/19/2011

You're exactly right. Despite we transgender females abiding by medical and legal guidelines that must be met before commencing a medical and legal transition, in 2011 it is shameful that our mere presence is so threatening that no ex post facto violation need be committed prior to punitive treatment. Per Domaine's admission, the online app required an answer to "gender" not ""sex". Since she has been living for years in the female gender full time, she answered the question correctly. In California, the only requirement that must be met to change ID "sex" on the ID is a doctor's affirmation of the gender change...despite what is "down there".

This is an example of overt gender discrimination by a private institution. Just as criminal laws extend onto private property, I am hopeful that federal anti-gender discrimination laws do so as well. Being "private" isn't carte blanche authority to circumvent ALL laws.

[houseofvespucci]

10:52 PM on 11/15/2011

unfortunately, this university could have been in trouble for inaccurate documentation. gender markers is a standard set in America on ID cards and other certificates that biological males and females have to document. the article really doesn't suggest that the student decided to follow through with updating documents, but rather verbally suggested to others her gender. yet gender markers are a requirement for everyone in America and can be legally changed.

[Delphi Omally]

10:40 PM on 11/05/2011

I see four critical issues here: (1) gender: Domaine lives as a F and so she answered honestly. (2) TG status: the school has no such prohibition, based on news sources. (3) public defamation---since she in fact honestly expressed her gender as F, has her public expulsion for "dishonesty" resulted in slander? The answer is clear. (4) Castigation for her exercise of constitutional 1st Amendment (free speech). Was Domaine penalized for exercising her right to free speech? The answer is also appallingly clear. Not no or ever should this be a country where any institution rationalizes a "private right of expulsion" for the public expression of free speech.

While the transphobic among us try to intimidate us into silence I continue to be public with my own bias: I have two horses in this race. (1) I have been terminated from employment because of my otherwise legal transition. If this hadn't happened I wouldn't be so vocal. It's not my style. On the other hand I will NOT refuse my calling to speak against transphobia until my last breath. (2) I specifically committed six years of my life by subjecting myself to be under the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) both as subservient and enforcer, I was a "boot on the ground" in defense of our nation and what it stands for. I wasn't afraid then and I'm not afraid now to stand up or sacrifice for what is right. Now you know why.

[etherboss]

10:04 PM on 11/03/2011

Why should the univ. care whether this person is biologically male or female? Clearly they gave her admission and a scholarship because they felt that she was deserving. Ridiculous!

[Delphi Omally]

09:29 PM on 11/03/2011

http://wp.me/pnQPn-kD READ ALL ABOUT IT!

[LintLass]

09:51 AM on 11/02/2011

Insisting a class of people doesn't exist doesn't give you the right to make accusations of 'fraud' or label them as dishonest.

[Valerie Keefe]

04:38 AM on 11/18/2011

This comments page is so wonderful... it's like the opposite of the treatment Andrea Jones is getting.

[Valerie Keefe]

04:40 AM on 11/18/2011

Also, I hope you don't mind, but I'm definitely flagrantly stealing that line for later.

[womensan]

07:51 PM on 11/01/2011

If I "feel" like I'm still a kid, do I have a right to get in the movies and theme parks at kids' price? If I "feel" old can I get the cheap housing meant to help the elderly, or if I "feel" more Native American than the actual amount of blood in me, does that give me a right to take a position on the tribal board or get on the role? Of course not; all these things have requirements to be met. This person applied for a scholarship for females and was not one. It has nothing to do with how he "feels." He claimed to be entitled to something he wasn't, and therefore stole a scholarship from the women who it was supposed to be helping.

[jeremiah K]

09:42 PM on 11/01/2011

"Transgender" is not just a "feeling." it is a real disconnect between a person's anatomy and self identity. If she was living as a female since childhood then she, most assuredly, was a female. Unfortunately either this particular person is not very eloquent or the author of the article did not do her justice is recounting her story. Also, it was an academic scholarship. the article says nothing about gender playing a role in her being awarded the $3,500.

[tainteddr34ms]

02:53 PM on 11/02/2011

How do you know the scholarship was only for women? It's referred to as an academic scholarship in the article.

[nydayzee]

07:48 PM on 11/01/2011

Disgusting!! Today, when there is a nursing shortage........

[skittle]

09:48 PM on 11/01/2011

Why isn't the lack of honesty the disgusting act, nurse shortage or not. If I were white, and applied as black, would you say that was acceptable?

[chris11hex]

03:29 AM on 11/02/2011

Because transgender people do not identify as transgender but as male or female. Since she has always identified herself as female and will always appear female, that would be more accurate.

[Delphi Omally]

10:08 PM on 11/05/2011

Because unlike race, under law, supported by a medical professional's affidavit, whether one agrees or not, gender (and sex) can be updated. Since this is both medical and legal fact in the state of CA, where both Domaine and I reside, the only dishonesty here is from the school, not Domaine. Domaine's gender, not birth history or reproductive organs, was honestly expressed when she marked off female. A student's privates are well...private. An exercise of one's 1st amendment rights on public TV as Domaine bravely exhibited was punitively "rewarded" by a no-less-public expulsion.

Although an institution might be private, under no circumstances should this privilege have resulted in public castigation for a public coming out. Coming out or being transgender is not illegal, whether or not medically verified. Her public coming out, notwithstanding its wisdom or lack of such, should NEVER have resulted in her expulsion. Remember, this school has NO prohibition against transgender students. Their only option was to state that she was expelled for "dishonesty". Rubbish.

[Joseph Glackin]

05:20 PM on 11/01/2011

And, no matter how you dress, speak or walk, your statement reveals you will always be a bigot.

[skittle]

09:46 PM on 11/01/2011

There are two genders...male and female. Why do you find the truth bigotted. If I call myself the opposite gender, it doesn't make it true.

[VelenoSangue]

05:51 PM on 11/01/2011

If it walks like a girl and talks like a girl and quacks like a girl...

[Rich Cash]

01:23 AM on 11/01/2011

Wow, this is a tough one. Javier certainly has a right to an education without regard to race, gender, or sexual orientation, but a privately owned college also has a right to choose the individuals they will give scholarships and provide admission to. I'll have to think about this one, there are no easy answers.

[Delphi Omally]

09:27 PM on 11/03/2011

As they do the right for appearing to be the transphobic university that it has publicly proven to be...

[chris11hex]

06:59 PM on 10/31/2011

Their loss, when transgender people are finally accepted by society, they will be remembered as being no different from the segregationists of the 60's, a group of people that fail to realize only the brain matters. Best of luck to this student

[nydayzee]

07:49 PM on 11/01/2011

I agree. There's a nursing shortage, yo!!

[bevi8230]

05:11 PM on 10/31/2011

Why did he or she apply at a private school knowing what their enrollment policies are?
Just trying to stir things up, happens all the time with these people. Apply at a public school-no problems there.

[Just a passerby]

06:54 PM on 10/31/2011

"these" people? What's wrong with you?

[Peterson James]

09:46 PM on 10/31/2011

You know, those LGBT agitators. Pushing their "civil rights" down our throats.

[Delphi Omally]

09:28 PM on 11/03/2011

Oh, I see....there are people....and then there are the outcasts---> "those" *squeezing nose* people...

[dblueII]

03:16 PM on 10/31/2011

Their loss Sweetie, you'll be fine.

[skittle]

09:49 PM on 11/01/2011

You're right. The world is full of people who lie on applications, and get the job. Why let honesty stand in your way.

[dblueII]

10:23 PM on 11/01/2011

There was nothing dishonest about it. Transexuals identify as the opposite of their biological gender. If an institution is to small minded to accept that, like I said, their loss.

[Eric Shin]

02:44 PM on 10/31/2011

Do these 15 minutes of fame seekers realize by doing MTV, VH1, Logo, etc they might get their instant gratification but their lives both professionally and personally could be ruined. Of course not, everyone wants to be famous or infamous.

[SithRose]

07:32 PM on 11/01/2011

Or maybe they're doing it to help raise awareness for OTHER trans/queer folks? You know, to let them know they aren't alone out there and that there's sympathetic, non-hateful people?

Of course, one wouldn't be able to tell that based on some of these comments.

[Tiff305]

02:44 PM on 10/31/2011

Sad to hear, I was expelled for coming out my 3rd year of school there. It also ruined my career path to becoming a teacher. I was hoping something like this would never happen again, but, I see it has. I hope that Domaine can get through it and find herself like I did. In my opinion, CBU teaches to hate the sinner, not the sin, which in turn turns some of their students to judge others, instead of loving and accepting everyone. I accept opinions of others regarding homosexuality, however, to judge, or reject someone because they are not the perfect mold like everyone else at that "Christian" university, is not right. It ruins people's lives. CBU hides behind their "Private University" and therefore really does whatever they want. Sure, legally they are not a business, but having to pay almost $30,000 a year to go there is not worth it. Their views are biased and refuse to be open minded at all. If you do not agree with them, or if you dare speak your mind there, you are flunked in class. If you dare to be yourself, as I did, you get kicked out. One year from my degree, and they don't have a care in the world.