HAVERHILL - Northern Essex Community College has denied the use of the men's locker room to a transgender student because of his female anatomy.

Ethan Santiago, 20, of Methuen was born a girl but identifies himself as a man and applied for a men's locker at the school. School officials refused his request for safety reasons, concerned that Santiago may be physically assaulted in the men's facility.

The student has since filed an Affirmative Action complaint with the school and is pushing to reform what he calls discrimination against transgender people, he said.

But the school won't budge, citing safety concerns, Santiago said.

"I've never been beaten up," Santiago said. "But I figure that some day I will probably be beaten up. That's a fact of life for me and I'm not afraid."

Santiago was born in Lawrence and named Elizabeth. He changed his name about two years ago when he declared to family and friends that he was a man.

Since then, Santiago has dressed as a man and used the men's restroom wherever he goes, including the college's restrooms. He has also been taking hormones to appear more male and develop facial hair, and is planning on having breast reduction surgery.

"I just want people to see me the way I see myself," Santiago said. "And I want sideburns, I have to admit."

Santiago said he would feel uncomfortable in the girls locker room since he identifies as a man. He decided to use the men's facilities because he identifies himself as male.

The request was denied by Nita Lamborghini, a school dean, after consulting the school's lawyers and doing extensive research on the issue, college spokeswoman Ernie Greenslade said.

This was the first time this issue was raised at the college, Greenslade said.

"The school's top concern was to ensure that no student would be discriminated against and that all students would feel safe and respected," Greenslade said in a statement. "How to accommodate transgendered students is an issue that is being discussed nationwide among student affairs professionals."

Greenslade said many colleges have addressed this issue by providing transgendered students with gender-neutral space on campus, such as restrooms for men and women.

"Since it has recently been brought to the forefront at Northern Essex, the college plans to develop a policy that will address this issue," she said.

Santiago has contacted gay, lesbian and transgender groups at other Massachusetts colleges to rally support for his cause, which can improve the acceptance of transgendered people everywhere, he said.

Santiago said it is his right for him to use the men's locker room because everything about him is male except his anatomy.

"When you pass as the gender you are trying to present, I pass," Santiago said. "I knew I'd be fine (using the locker room) and I don't know what the problem was."

Holly Ryan, co-chairwoman of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, said Santiago should have been granted a men's locker.

"He's being denied part of the education that everyone else is getting," Ryan said.

The coalition is pushing a proposed law at the Statehouse - House Bill 1722 - that would provide greater protections for transgendered youth in school and work, Ryan said.

It addresses issues such as access to public facilities, Ryan said.

At least one local school district had to address the issue recently.

Comprehensive Grammar School in Methuen accommodated a fourth-grader in 2005 who was born a girl but wanted to be treated as a boy in class as well as at home.

A Plymouth Superior Court ruling in 2001 has cleared the way for students in Massachusetts public schools to change their gender identification. Methuen school officials understood the legal obligation when the parents of the student asked that the 9-year-old be treated as a boy.

Santiago's public unveiling as a transgender gay male happened as an adult two years ago. His designation means he has a female body, but identifies as a male and is sexually attracted to men.

The "coming out" experience was tough, personally. He lost contact with most of his friends, and his parents felt like they were losing a daughter, Santiago said.

His sister recently asked him to be a bridesmaid and he had to refuse.

But coming out as a transgender male was liberating, Santiago said. He remembers the first time he used a men's restroom at a local movie theater.

"I was so excited and so scared," Santiago said. "I felt like I was coming off a roller coaster."