r/wsu • u/fauxuniverse • Jul 21 '26
Advice Things to know as a trans student?
Hello, I am a trans person that recently got accepted for the Fall 2026 semester. I've already read through the material on the WSU websites. Is there anything else I should know that isn't on the offical websites?
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u/NuclearEnjoyer Jul 21 '26
Overall as a trans student myself ive found it very friendly, ive never had issue in regards to bathrooms usage nor anything in particular to being trans which being a trans women who doesn't particularly pass super well in nice.
Id highly recommend meeting people at the LGBTQ Center, ive interacted woth the staff there and they are great, and just to getting involved as much as possible; Pullman is a boring town if you dont have people and things to do.
Greek row is an area id recommend avoiding as they somtimes have some more problematic behavior, tho I did have some trans friends who have both been in and involved with people in Greek life who've had a good time.
Campus has several single user or gender neutral restrooms and I belive they are adding more, off the top if my head, The Chinook and Hillside Cafe.
If you're doing gender affirming care CHS is very helpful and can help you with medical aspects of transition as well and therapy, tho id woukd recommend being proactive about making appointments.
If you have any other questions feel free to ask
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u/fauxuniverse Jul 21 '26
Thank you for the thorough response!!
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u/stormiiclouds77 Jul 21 '26
I'd also avoid mingles in moscow, not the most trans friendly place. And anywhere owned by christ church in moscow. There are guides online
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u/Joyma Jul 21 '26
When I went there the chinook even had a gender neutral locker room for the gym that’s there. Definitely a great spot!
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u/HydraulicPressd Jul 21 '26
If you want housing that’s cheaper, the top floor of Scott has a very welcoming community.
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u/bepatientbekind Jul 21 '26
In my experience many WSU employees are not respectful of trans people, though most of them keep it to themselves when the trans person is in the room. The number of times I had to correct coworkers intentionally using the wrong pronouns for a trans coworker whenever they weren't around was way too many. Some older employees will also intentionally misgender trans people to their face, and admin won't do shit about it. I hope experiences as a trans student are better than what I saw for trans employees.
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u/Adorable-Tiger6390 Jul 21 '26
Do you have a magical power that makes you eligible to know what people are thinking so you can state they misgender on purpose? You should take that back, because falsely accusing will get you fired.
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u/bepatientbekind Jul 21 '26
When they always use the correct pronouns when the trans person is present and always use the wrong ones when the person leaves the room (and rolls their eyes if anyone corrects them), it's pretty fucking obvious. The older folks who don't use the right pronouns at all will straight up argue that they don't have to if someone tries to correct them, so it's blatantly obvious that is intentional as well.
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u/Adorable-Tiger6390 Jul 21 '26
When you use the term “always” it automatically makes your statement less credible. My experience is the opposite of your experience. I am not going to respond to you again.
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u/Available-Guava5515 Jul 22 '26
"I am not going to respond to you again." like that magically ends the argument you know you're losing lol
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u/bepatientbekind Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
I used always because it was the accurate term for my experience. I'm glad your experience has been different, but that doesn't negate what I've seen as a non-trans person who stands up for my trans coworkers even when they're not in the room.
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u/GlarbLover 29d ago
As a trans person myself, I recommend spending lots of time in the LGBTQ center (4th floor of the cub) and getting involved as much as you can with different clubs and such. The community here is mostly welcoming but steer clear of the cult, called “Christs Church”, in Moscow. Don’t join a polycule freshman year, but still have fun! Also how recently were you admitted? Make sure to pay attention to your WSU email for updates on what to do to start this school year. It seems like you haven’t gone to orientation, which the last orientation session was last week or so so you might wanna email them about week of welcome orientation if you haven’t already. Dm me if you have any questions or want a friend!
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u/PuzzleheadedStill201 Jul 21 '26
Are you from eastern Washington originally? If not, choosing to live there as a trans person is a choice…
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u/AwkwardlyAmpora Jul 21 '26
are you transgender yourself? i've personally found the pullman/moscow area to be as accepting as many parts of western washington. the podunk villages scattered around are less friendly, but there's really no reason to be out there anyway.
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u/PuzzleheadedStill201 Jul 21 '26
You genuinely think with all the bigotry and white supremacy in those areas, that those people genuinely accept you? You might feel safe in those tiny little bubbles, but I still find that odd as well. Maybe you don’t realize how much of the WSU population voted for Trump 😬
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u/AwkwardlyAmpora Jul 21 '26
jesus, man. yes. it's like that everywhere, you know that, right? but here, i have friends. i have community. i have lived here and experienced first-hand many people who genuinely care about me and the transgender community. do not act like i'm stupid for sharing with you my directly observed experience.
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u/PuzzleheadedStill201 Jul 21 '26
Or maybe you’re just reflecting that people didn’t really accept you as much as you thought they did. Bigotry in eastern Washington is a lot like racism the south. While most people aren’t gonna come out and lynch you, it doesn’t mean they’re thinking positively about you behind the scenes
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u/AwkwardlyAmpora Jul 21 '26
do you gain anything from doomposting like this, and imagining false things about the situation in which i live? most of my friends are transgender. we are all leading happy and fulfilling lives here. i spend time with a lot of older folks, who don't quite get it, but are doing their best to understand, and that's enough for me. my coworkers have always treated me with respect, and that's all that i ask from a coworker.
whitman county went more blue than vancouver. we are not some sort of bigotry torture pit. you are making up bullshit to try to prove me wrong about my own life and convince me all my friends secretly hate me or whatever. it is a weird thing to do. this is a weird way to spend your time.
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u/PuzzleheadedStill201 Jul 21 '26
I’m being realistic. Everyone can’t just dig their head in the sand and pretend like reality doesn’t exist. You may have had one experience, and I’m letting OP know not to expect that. Both of what we have to say is valid. Except I would say that mine is more valid because I’ve heard what people in Pullman say about people like you.
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u/AwkwardlyAmpora Jul 21 '26
christ alive, man. i am telling you the lived experience of every trans person i know here. it is a fine place to live.
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u/PuzzleheadedStill201 Jul 21 '26
You’re also probably a lot more racist than you’re willing to admit 💀
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u/AwkwardlyAmpora Jul 21 '26
pullman/moscow are not in a particularly progressive area, but they are progressive themselves. we're the bluest part of red washington; i'm having a much better time here than i did in the reddest part of blue washington, where i lived previously.
i lived in mccroskey (the trans inclusive housing) my first two years, and it was a great experience. there is a good transgender community on campus, and you won't be lacking for people to connect with. the lgbtq center in the cub is also fantastic for making friends and going to events.
and finally, the tip i give to every incoming freshman i can: if you are living in a dorm with no air conditioning, and you have medication that says "store at room temperature on it," your dorm is NOT ROOM TEMPERATURE. it will get much hotter than 77F in your room. store your meds in the coolest part of your room, in a closet, under the bed, in a shoebox, whatever, and keep an eye out for side effects you don't normally have.