Get involved with the Office of LGBTQ* Resources this June Campus News
The University of Kentucky is a community that values inclusiveness and belonging for everyone.
As part of its commitment to those values, throughout the month of June, the University of Kentucky Office of LGBTQ* Resources, a unit housed in the Office for Student Success, will observe Pride Month.
The annual celebration takes place every June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, a tipping point for the LGBTQ equality movement in the United States.
The roots of the gay rights movement go back to the early 1900s when a handful of individuals in North America and Europe created gay and lesbian organizations.
Over the years, gay pride events have spread from large cities to smaller towns and villages worldwide.
While the Office of LGBTQ* Resources observes pride month in June and celebrates in April, work is done year-round to support the LGBTQ community. The office’s mission focuses on the three core pillars — education, advocacy and community building. With this mission in mind, the office is actively engaged in supporting student organizations, offering professional development opportunities for campus groups, and advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals from all walks of life.
Here are five ways you can get involved with the office this month and beyond:
- Internships. The undergraduate student programming internship opportunity is a formalized way for students to connect with the Office of LGBTQ* Resources, develop leadership and programming skills, create diverse campus connections and explore issues related to gender and sexual orientation advocacy that impact campus belonging and inclusivity.
- Scholarships. The Office of LGBTQ* Resources offers all students several scholarship opportunities. Applications for scholarships are open annually and are not given on a recurring basis.
- Grants. One-time grants are awarded to currently enrolled full-time graduate and professional students to support research and/or professional development related to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and/or intersectional approaches to identity.
- SafeZone Workshops. SafeZone Workshops are 90-minute workshops to equip individuals to be more aware and active allies. This workshop explores LGBTQ* identities, strategies for supporting student experiences and exploring LGBTQ* related campus and community resources.
- Student Groups. The office supports LGBTQ* student organizations through space, event collaboration, and the LGBTQ* Student Collective. This initiative allows officers or designated members to attend monthly meetings to discuss topical concerns, develop leadership skills, request funds and express concerns.
The Office of LGBTQ* Resources is located in the Dinkle-Mas Suite in the Gatton Student Center. The campus community can drop by the Dinkle-Mas Suite from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you are a student and would like to stay up to date on information regarding the office and stay in the know on events hosted by the Office of LGBTQ* Resources, register to join the Discord server, a free voice, video and text chat app open to undergraduate, graduate and professional students at UK.