June marks Pride Month. It’s a time to celebrate the remarkable contributions and achievements of the diverse LGBTQ2IA+ community at U of G and recognize the deep and meaningful impact the LGBTQ2IA+ community has made on our society.
It’s also a time to acknowledge the resilience of the LGBTQ2IA+ community and reaffirm our commitment to allyship and creating an institution where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging.
Throughout the month, U of G students, faculty and staff are invited to learn more about the history of the LGBTQ2IA+ community at U of G, in Canada and around the world. McLaughlin Library is featuring a PRIDE display, We Are Everywhere, focusing on the diversity and intersectionality within the LGBTQ2IA+ community with works of fiction, histories, and memoirs.
And this fall, U of G is launching the Gender Inclusive Housing Program which aims to minimize barriers to applying and living in residence while providing education on gender identity for all U of G students.
This PRIDE we are also celebrating 50 years of OUTline, the University of Guelph’s resource and support service specializing in questions and information relating to sexual orientation and gender identity. For 50 years, OUTline has been supporting LGBTQ2IA+ students and community members at U of G. Current offerings include discussion groups, social events, an online chat for questions and support, accessibility programs and more.
We know there’s more work to do and as we stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ2IA+ U of G community. We must remember that we have a responsibility to listen, learn and put our learning into practice. To learn more about allyship, microaggressions or anti-oppression principles, visit the Office of Diversity and Human Rights.
There are many ways Gryphons can celebrate, learn and reflect this PRIDE season and we encourage you all to take some time to participate in the weeks ahead. You can find a fulsome list of events, initiatives and celebrations happening in Guelph this month here.
After all, building an equitable and inclusive campus community takes all of us, and is intentional life-long work.
Happy PRIDE U of G!
Charlotte Yates, President and Vice-Chancellor
Indira Naidoo-Harris, Associate Vice-President, Diversity and Human Rights