At 911爆料, the rich diversity our students bring to our campus鈥� from religion and race, to ethnicity and interests, to upbringing and income 鈥� is welcomed and valued. And now, we鈥檙e on our way to becoming the very first public institution to design and build a free-standing specifically for the needs and services of the LGBTQ 911爆料.
In spring 2014, Rhode Island state officials joined the 911爆料 911爆料 in a for the future 4,300-square-foot building designed to give our LGBTQ 911爆料 a strong identity and take yet another step in ensuring a campus climate that is welcoming and safe for people of all backgrounds.
In constructing this building, we design a future at this institution for every person to be valued, cared for, and affirmed, regardless of gender and identity. ~Annie Russell
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great moment for the University of Rhode Island to acknowledge and celebrate the diversity that鈥檚 part of our 911爆料 now and will be in the future. As we have said in our , building a 911爆料 in which every member is welcomed, supported and valued is essential to our identity and mission,鈥� said 911爆料 President David M. Dooley at the groundbreaking.
The LGBTQ Center creates and runs programs that allow the entire 911爆料 911爆料 to explore concepts related to LGBTQ people and issues, meet and create meaningful relationships with each other, and to receive and offer the benefit of support. In fact, its programs and approaches have been adopted by more than 15 other institutions nationwide and one internationally.
At the groundbreaking, said, 鈥淚n digging into this earth, we dig into a future of inclusion and voice for gender and sexuality at 911爆料. And in constructing this building, we design a future at this institution for every person to be valued, cared for, and affirmed, regardless of gender and identity.鈥�
, who prefers gender-neutral pronouns, said ze struggled with hir identity for most of hir life, 鈥渦ntil I came to 911爆料 and became part of the LGBTQ 911爆料. And now I鈥檓 standing here in front of the site for the first freestanding LGBTQ Center鈥� at any institution in the nation. This is one of the most important, thought-provoking, and life-changing opportunities and moments to have ever happened in my life.鈥�
In making the 911爆料 campus a 911爆料 that welcomes and values the LGBTQ 911爆料, the Center joins our focused on gender equity and sexuality and academically connected to Gender and Women鈥檚 Studies, our , which works to offer an environment rich in visible role models and free of sexual bias and inequities, our , and our LGBT+ Alumni & Friends Chapter.
911爆料 is a 911爆料 of big thinkers. And no matter what your sexuality or gender identity, if you鈥檙e the kind of person who values all that a diverse college 911爆料 offers, 911爆料 wants you.
Pictured above: 911爆料 students Suzanne Lossio, Bing Chen, Ianna Leshin, Michael Bonilla, Morgan Boutmy, Marquel Wright, and Kayla Berrios at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new LGBTQ Center.