Lgbtq+ Visibility At Emory University: Counting The Community

Emory University has been recognised as one of the best universities in the nation for cultivating a supportive environment for LGBTQ+ students. The Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Life seeks to create an affirming and just campus environment for students of all gender and sexual identities. Emory is the only university in Georgia to earn a Top 50 rating for LGBTQ+ issues and has been recognised for its positive progress in supporting LGBTQ+ students. The university has a history of LGBTQ+ activism, involvement, and inclusion, with the first student group on campus, the Gay Liberation Committee, founded in 1972. Emory offers a range of resources and support for LGBTQ+ students, including scholarships, leadership funding, student organisations, discussion groups, and events. While the exact number of LGBTQ+ students at Emory University is not known, the university's commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for this community is evident.

Emory's Office of LGBT Life

Emory University's Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Life, or the Office of LGBT Life, was founded in 1991 as the Office of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Student Life. The Office was expanded in the same year following an incident in which two gay male first-year students were harassed for kissing in a residence hall. This incident, known as "The Kiss", led to a campus-wide protest in March 1992, after which a task force was appointed to assess the climate for LGBT people at Emory. The task force's recommendations included hiring a full-time director and expanding the Office's services to faculty and staff.

The Office of LGBT Life is committed to supporting the development of students of all gender and sexual identities and creating an affirming and just campus environment. It offers a range of resources, events, and groups for LGBT students, including queer discussion groups, queer and trans students of colour events, and participation in Atlanta Pride. The Office also provides scholarships and leadership funding opportunities, as well as support for trans students who are starting their transition.

The Office of LGBT Life is located in the Alumni Memorial University Center and is open to all students, whether they identify as LGBT or not. Students can get involved by working on projects as work-study students or volunteers, or by serving on the Advisory Committee. The Office also offers a library of books and DVDs, as well as safe sex materials, and hosts the annual Emory Pride Banquet to commemorate the 1992 protest and celebrate progress towards LGBT equality.

The Office of LGBT Life has a website and social media presence, where students can find more information about its work and resources. It also encourages students with immediate or serious concerns to contact the Student Health and Counseling Services.

Emory's ranking among the top 50 for LGBT support

Emory University has been named one of the nation's "best of the best" for cultivating a supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students. In 2014, it was included in Campus Pride's list of the Top 50 LGBT-Friendly Colleges and Universities, earning a five-star overall ranking. Emory is the only university in Georgia and one of only three colleges and universities in the southeastern United States to be included in the Top 50.

Campus Pride is a national educational organisation for LGBT student leaders and campus groups. It is dedicated to building future leaders and creating safer, LGBT-friendly schools, colleges, and universities. The organisation's executive director, Shane Windmeyer, has noted that the number of campuses coming out as LGBT-friendly and making notable improvements to LGBT academic life has been increasing.

Emory's commitment to LGBT support is reflected in its Office of LGBT Life, which was founded in 1991 and is the 10th oldest LGBT campus office in the nation. The office supports leadership development and student programming to advance networking, professional development, and educational opportunities. Over the years, it has helped secure domestic partner benefits for students and employees, a revised Equal Opportunity Policy that includes sexual orientation, and an inclusive student health plan.

In addition to its work on policy and benefits, Emory also offers a range of resources and support for LGBT students on campus. The university's Department of Residence Life and Housing has implemented a fully Gender-Inclusive Housing policy, allowing all students, including LGBT students, to request a roommate of any sex or gender in the Clairmont Residential Center. This policy is a significant step towards creating an inclusive and welcoming living environment for LGBT students.

The university's efforts to create a supportive and inclusive environment for LGBT students have not gone unnoticed. Zeb Trelor, a master's of divinity student and president of Sacred Worth, an LGBT support and advocacy organisation, said, "Being at Emory means that I can say more than 'I'm here, I'm queer, get used to it' – it also means that my lived experience and my voice are valued." Trelor also acknowledged the university's commitment to continuous improvement, saying, "I am able to say, 'Here's where our school is excelling and here is where our school can better support future students who are also LGBTQ.'"

Queer and Trans Students of Color

Emory University's Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Life (Office of LGBT Life) is committed to supporting the needs and experiences of queer and/or trans students of color (QTSOC). The Office of LGBT Life defines QTSOC as members of the LGBTQ community who identify racially and/or ethnically as Latinx/a/o, Black/African American, Bi/Multiracial, First Nations/Native American, Asian/Pacific Islander/Desi American, and other non-white students.

The Office of LGBT Life understands that QTSOC students face unique challenges and experiences due to the intersection of their underrepresented racial, gender identity/expression, and sexual orientation identities. To address these challenges, the Office strives to create more inclusive and equitable spaces and provide various resources and support for QTSOC students.

• Queer Community Groups (QCGs): Weekly, hour-long groups focusing on topics related to sexual and gender identities. QCGs are open to all students who identify with the group, including several groups specifically for QTSOC, such as Queer and Asian, BlackOUT, and Queer Trans Latinx.
• QTBIPOC Mixer Series: Monthly mixers for QTSOC across campus to meet, connect, and build community with each other and QTBIPOC staff.
• Library Resources: The Office offers a variety of books and DVDs related to LGBTQ+ and QTBIPOC topics, including educational documentaries, theoretical works, contemporary fiction, and graphic novels.
• Student Organizations: Emory University has several student organizations based on race, nationality, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality identities. These organizations provide opportunities for QTSOC students to connect with others who share similar identities and experiences.
• Queer & Trans People of Color Events: The Office of LGBT Life hosts events specifically for QTSOC, such as QTPOC brunches and family dinners for the Black queer and trans community.
• Other Resources: The Office of LGBT Life provides a list of campus and campus life resources, including the Center for Women, Office for Racial and Cultural Engagement, Student Health Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, and more.

Emory's LGBT student organizations

Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, is committed to creating an affirming and just campus environment for its LGBTQ+ students. The Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Life, also known as the Office of LGBT Life, is dedicated to supporting the development of students of all gender and sexual identities. The office provides resources, community-building opportunities, and institutional advocacy for LGBTQ+ students, with a particular focus on supporting queer and/or trans students of colour (QTSOC).

The Office of LGBT Life offers various programs and initiatives to foster an inclusive environment. One such initiative is the Out@Emory campaign, which aims to increase the visibility of LGBTQ+ faculty, staff, students, and alumni on campus. The Emory Safe Space program is another initiative that provides training to faculty, staff, and students to better support the LGBTQ+ community.

In addition to these programs, the office also offers Queer Community Groups (QCGs), which are weekly meetings that provide a space for students to connect and discuss topics related to sexual and gender identities. The office also hosts mixers and other events for queer and trans students of colour to build community.

The Office of LGBT Life also provides resources such as books and DVDs that cover a range of topics, including educational documentaries, theoretical works, contemporary fiction, and graphic novels. The office is located in the Alumni Memorial University Centre (AMUC) and offers a virtual tour for those who want to learn more about their resources and staff before visiting.

Emory University's commitment to its LGBTQ+ community is evident through the work of the Office of LGBT Life and the various programs and resources they offer. These initiatives help create a more inclusive and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ students on campus.

Emory's history of LGBT activism

Emory University has a long history of LGBT activism, with the Office of LGBT Life being founded in 1991. The office was established to serve the needs of lesbian, gay, and bisexual students and was staffed by graduate students Donna Smith and Rev. Michael Wyatt. The office was soon expanded following an incident in December 1991, where two first-year gay male students were harassed for kissing in a residence hall. This incident, known as "The Kiss," led to a campus-wide protest in March 1992, with hundreds of Emory students and employees demanding a more inclusive and just campus.

Following this protest, a task force was appointed to assess the climate for LGBT individuals at Emory and make recommendations. This resulted in the hiring of Saralyn Chesnut as the first full-time director of the Office of LGBT Life in January 1993. During her tenure, Chesnut brought about significant changes, including expanding Emory's Equal Opportunity Policy to include protections for sexual orientation and offering benefits to domestic partners of students and employees. She also started several programs to build awareness and support for the LGBT community, such as the Speakers Bureau and the Emory Safe Space program.

In 1998, the office was officially renamed the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Life to better address the needs and concerns of the transgender community. Consistent with this new focus, the Equal Opportunity Policy was again expanded in 2007 to include gender identity as a protected category. The office also began offering resources and support specifically for transgender students, such as the Trans-Forming Emory group, which sought to create a sense of community for transgender individuals at Emory.

The Office of LGBT Life has continued to evolve and expand its services, offering Queer Discussion Groups, partnering with the Center for Women, and advocating for the inclusion of hormone and therapy treatments in student health insurance policies. The office remains committed to creating an affirming and just campus environment for students of all gender and sexual identities, with a particular focus on supporting queer and trans students of color.

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