Celebrating National LGBTQ+ Center Awarness Day

Being Minnesota’s first university, the first LGBTQ group was chartered in 1991. The name comes from a focus group of students and staff with the inclusion of the + to signify all intersectionalities. Some key features students enjoy are:

• Rainbow reception
• Lavender gala
• Spectrum
• Femfair
• Menstrual and sexual health resources

The Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity was founded in 1991 after a task force was formed to add LGBTQ to the discrimination policy in 1990. Its new location on the lower level of the HUB Robeson Center, occupying the space once known as the Paul Robeson Gallery next to the Paul Robeson Center to celebrate and honor the intersections of race, ethnicity, and sexual and gender diverse identities. Some key features students enjoy are:

• Specialized LGBTQ groups
• Opulence (drag ambassador club)
• Information for parents and families
• Ally house
• Lavender graduation

Their mission statement on their website is:

“The Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity provides a comprehensive range of education, information, and advocacy services to students, faculty, staff, and alumni. We work to create and maintain an open, safer, and inclusive environment honoring gender and sexual diversity. Through educational, social, and supportive programming, along with conducting workshops and offering consultation, the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity strives to serve the entire campus community.”

The director of Gender and Sexuality Student Programs, Julia Hvoslef says, “The Gender and Sexuality Student Programs Office at Bentley was established in 2020 out of an increased need to have a center focused on supporting women, gender equity, the LGBTQ+ student community, and allies at Bentley. Some key features students can enjoy are:

• Rainbow Scholars
• GSSP/PRIDE Mentoring Program
• Rainbow Graduation
• Open Forums
• Pride Month Block Party

“This program helped me learn more about myself and how I can show up authentically in all aspects of my identity. This program also gave me a great sense of community and an opportunity to have a safe space with other LGBTQ+ people on campus. This program not only made me feel more belonging but also helped me make many friends who can understand and relate to me. “ -Inaugural Rainbow Scholar

The Inclusion Center at Utah State University provides a safe space for LGBTQ and allies on campus. Some key features students enjoy are: 

• Gender inclusive housing 
• Lavender Graduation 
• Drag Show 
• Support groups 
• Scholarships 

“A place of safeness and gentleness is all the more meaningful for a predominately white institution like USU, in a religious state like Utah, for people like me with multiple, intersecting, minoritized identities. The Inclusion Center and the Queer Student Alliance has, for the past four years, provided this place and space of comfort, of belonging and of being loved regardless of my identities and because of my ideologies”. -Niyonta Chowdhury

“It is truly a privilege to work alongside students and staff that inspire you each day. Sometimes it can be challenging to think of all the forms of systemic inequality that needs to continue to change, but I’m grateful to be part of the LGBT+ and Ally Program here at Utah State University. Each day is a new step forward”. Erika-Danielle Lindstrom, LGBT+ and Ally Coordinator

Founded in 1991, “The Kiss” between two male students led to protests the following year and improvements for the center and LGBTQ folks. Some features students can enjoy are:

• LGBTeas
• Drag show
• Pride awards and parade
• Trans healthcare services
• Specialized LGBTQ community groups

Their mission and vision on their website states:

“The mission of the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Life is to engage the university community in the creation of an affirming and just campus environment while supporting the development of students of all gender and sexual identities. Within our mission, we focus on different areas to best engage our students.”

The LGBTQ Center is located in Room G988 of the Hicks Undergraduate Library. The center’s mission is to provide exciting programs and advocacy for a non-discriminatory experience for students. Some highlight of the center include:

• Fabulous Fridays
• Different health resources
• Rachael’s Game Night
• Rainbow Callout
• Tutoring and training

The LGBTQ Resource Center was established in 2008 after Georgetown’s Out for Change campaign. This center is the first of its kind in a Catholic/Jesuit college in the United States. Some highlights of the center include:

• OUTober
• Tagliabue Initiative for LGBTQ Life
• Lavender graduation
• Peer support groups
• Free binders

The LGBTQ Student Center opened in 2016 with a rich history of LGBTQ presence at University of Miami since 1975. Some key features students enjoy are:

• Specialized LGBTQ student groups
• Pridelines
• Online counseling
• Miami beach pride parade
• LGBTQ Emerging Leaders Confrence

On their website, their mission statement is:

“The UM LGBTQ Student Center fosters inclusion and support of University of Miami students, faculty, staff, and alumni inclusive of all genders, orientations, and expressions, and focusses on education and outreach, programming, intergroup engagement, empowerment, and advocacy for increased visibility in the university community.”

An idea that sparked in 2005 led to the Pride Center being established in 2010. The Pride Center is run by an alum of University of Tennessee Knoxville and their motto is “vol means all.” Some key features the students enjoy are:

• Scholarships and funding opportunities
• Reading group
• The Qloset
• Peer mentoring program
• Online information and accommodations

The LGBTQ student group, Alliance, was founded in 1995 and 20 years later the LGBT programming office was formed. The office is located in 243 Blackburn. Some key features students enjoy are:

• Tea party
• Cultivating change
• Ally hour
• Lavender graduation
• oSTEM

The Prism Center has been serving the community since 1999. Their three values are student empowerment, community building, and campus equity. The Prism Center is located in Living & Learning, C Building and provides many resources for students. Some features students enjoy are:

• Meezan-Brittenback student emergency fund
• oSTEM
• Rainbow awards and graduation
• food nook
• ASL interpreters for major events

The first LGBTQ support group was formed at Rice in 1979 leading to two organizations that combined to make Rice Pride in 2017. Rice University's Pride organization offers membership and resources to LGBTQ+ students impacted by Senate Bill 17. Some highlights of the centers are:

• Open mic and movie nights
• GBA Equality Foundation
• Pride week and parade
• Specialized LGBTQ groups
• Art show and open house

Their mission stated on their website is:

“Rice PRIDE seeks to offer support and promote education, awareness and advocacy of LGBTQ+ and Gender, Sexual orientation, and Romantic orientation Minorities (GSRM) issues. We will support these individuals by providing a psychological and physical safe-space. Working in collaboration with the Office of Multicultural Affairs and other departments and organizations that facilitate diversity and well-being, we will supply resources and create programming to further campus-wide understanding, harmony, and community. In order to increase the visibility and cohesiveness of Rice’s LGBTQ+ and GSRM community, we will reach out to and involve ourselves with local, national, and international social and advocacy organizations.”

The Spectrum Center was originally called the LGBT Resource Center when it opened in 2010 but has been renamed in 2023. Located in 207 Holton Hall, the center promotes equity, respect, and social justice. Some highlights of the center are:

• oSTEM conference
• LGBTQ Staff faculty alliance
• SAGA
• Progressive dinner
• Lavender graduation

The Spectrum Center was established in 1971 as the first LGBTQIA2S+ center in the United States and hosted the first ever Lavender Graduation in 1995. It is named the Spectrum Center to reflect the expansiveness of the community. Some highlights of the center include:

• Trans guide
• Specialized student LGBTQ organizations
• Project grants
• Kickbacks
• LGBTQIA2S+ web course

“Spectrum Center is so much more than just another office. Through Spectrum Center, I’ve found chosen family that has supported me and cared for me all throughout my graduate school journey. Love is at the core of what Spectrum is and does. Even on days when I’m not scheduled to work, I find myself wanting to come to Spectrum anyway. I’m always replenished by the energy my coworkers and our students bring, and I feel really lucky that I get to work alongside such brilliant and knowledgeable people.” - Des Velázquez, graduate student worker

“For over fifty years, the Spectrum Center at the University of Michigan has served as an incredible resource for our campus. The center serves as a vital leader in our efforts to provide real, impactful opportunities and support so that all members of our LGBTQ+ community can feel that they belong--that Michigan is home."  - Martino Harmon, Ph.D., Vice President for Student Life

The Lionel Cantú Queer Center is named after an openly gay professor who passed away suddenly due to a heart attack. To honor him, University of California Santa Cruz named their LGBTQ center after him in 2004. Some key features students can enjoy are: 

• Lavender graduation 
• BAAITS Powwow with AIRC 
• Stonewall Speaker Series 
• Trans Queer Fall Mixer 
• Specialized QTBIPOC resources

After 14 years of advocating for a center, the Pride Center was founded in 2014. The Pride Center has some key values like intersectional community building, identity exploration, and student empowerment. In connection with the Native Resource Center, they are naming the LGBTQ community 2SLGBTQIA+ to affirm Two Spirit people. Some highlights of the center are:

• Peer-led support groups
• Lavender graduation
• Community-building events
• Pride house mentoring
• Pride week in the summer

“The Pride Center at SDSU is a safe and supportive space that allowed me to find community in college. Events, such as the Queer Trans People of Color Retreat, have been one of the many ways The Pride Center continues to support intersecting identities.” - Ian (he/him), Third Year Student

“I’ve seen The Pride Center impact so many students over the 3+ years I’ve spent at The Pride Center, as both a former student and now professional staff member. Whether it was a new outfit from our Gender Affirming Closet, a meaningful meeting with a Pride House Mentor, a connection to another resource on campus, and everything in between, it’s clear many students feel The Pride Center is a place that can serve as a way to feel connected to the larger SDSU campus.” - Allison Newlee (they/them), Assistant Coordinator, Pride Center

The Queer Resource Center opened its doors to a physical space in 2006 at the Smith Memorial Student Union. Portland State University’s Queer Resource Center is a lounge for socializing and informing. They have many resources for sexual education and trans care. Some key features students enjoy are:

• Queer and Trans Student Support Fund
• Dandelion
• Conferences
• Volunteer opportunities
• Queeries

From their Queer Resource Center front page, their purpose is:

“The Queer Resource Center supports queer and trans students at Portland State University to achieve their educational goals through advocacy, community, and celebration. The Queer Resource Center prioritizes a racial justice framework to improve campus climate through education, policy change, and campus-wide organizing.”

A LGBTQ administrative office was opened in 1985 and was renamed The Stonewall Center in 1995. This was the third LGBTQ center in the United States. The center’s mission is to provide support, resources, programs, and advocacy for the LGBTQIA community. Some highlight of the center are:

• Peer mentoring program
• Trans articles
• Specialized LGBTQ support groups
• Workshops and online training
• Community events

"It's hard to quantify the value of LGBTQ+ centers on college campuses. For me and for many others, the Stonewall Center is a place to convene, be unabashedly queer, and seek advice from more experienced community members. But, we also have value to those who don't visit us: our presence on campus sends a strong message of LGBTQ acceptance and inclusion, especially to those for whom it is unsafe to come out." --August

“The Stonewall Center... to me, it's a lot more than a job and it's not just about attending fun events- though there are plenty. When I think of "The Stonewall Center," I think of community and I think of friends new and old. Beyond that, every time I step into the Center and feel that familiar sort of giddiness, I know that even though I'm far away from the town I grew up in, I am home.”  --Harriet