On-campus resources for LGBT+ and Allies

A large crowd of supporters gathered to watch Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton sign the same-sex marriage bill into law at the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota, Tuesday, May 14, 2013. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

Utah State University’s Access and Diversity Center offers a variety of programs, listed below, where students can learn more about LGBT issues, make friends in a supportive environment or find what inclusive resources are available on campus.

Summer Programs

Held every other Wednesday, the Access and Diversity Center offers various social activities for students staying around campus during the summer. From kickball to hiking, these activities provide members of the LGBT community a social outlet to enjoy during the off-school season.

Brown Bag discussion groups

During the school year, the Diversity Center LGBTQA Programs works with USU’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) to offers a weekly confidential discussion group. This is an afternoon gathering where students can meet and talk about anything LGBT or non-LGBT related, which can range from coming out to roommates or parents, dating or defining identities to talking about classes and professors at school.

Outspoken panels

In order to reach out to students and promote education, groups of about four students from the LGBT community visit classes to share their identities and answer questions in a peer-to-peer setting. This allows students to put faces to the community and learn about issues that affect the different identities.

Online mentoring

For those who aren’t comfortable coming into the office or who have just enrolled at USU, the Diversity center offers an online mentoring program where students can reach out to current students through anonymous email and ask questions about the pros or cons of campus life or what LGBT programs are available and what they are like.

Trans resources

LGBT Programs has many resources online to help students find gender-neutral bathrooms located on campus or learn how to change their preferred name on Banner. These resources are designed to help transgender and genderqueer people feel comfortable.

L.I.F.E. (Love is For Everyone)

Love is For Everyone is an on-campus club run by students and held weekly. Its mission is to educate students, faculty, staff and community members about LGBT issues, help unite the community through service projects, advocate equal rights for all individuals and create a safe social network in a comfortable and supportive setting.

Allies Program

Allies on Campus is a network of faculty, staff and students who actively show their support of LGBT community members. To become a member, the program offers a three-hour information seminar during the fall and spring semesters. The seminar includes an overview about the organization, information about LGBT issues, a student panel and an opportunity to sign a contract agreeing to provide a safe zone for anyone dealing with sexual or gender-orientation issues. After signing the contract, new members will receive an ally sticker to show their support of the LGBT community.

These programs and resources are available to all students, on campus and off, and are designed to help everyone feel welcome and accepted. Students struggling with their identity, looking for friends or have questions are encouraged to participate.

“I think that the biggest thing is that we’re trying to provide something for everybody,” said Brooke Lambert, Access and Diversity LGBT programs coordinator. “Even though students aren’t participating in everything that we’re doing, we’re hoping that we’re providing enough diverse activities that everybody can kind of feel like there’s something for them here.”

For more information about the programs offered at USU, go to https://www.usueastern.edu/lgbtqa/index.

-miranda.lorenc@gmail.com

@miranda_lorenc