By Yvette M. Alex-Assensoh
Celebrating Pride Month and our LGBTQIA+ Community
Like a diamond embedded within the Earth’s interior, Pride Month was formed under pressure. The Stonewall Riots in June of 1969 was the catalyst that brought anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiments to the surface. This eruption was the start of the modern LGBTQIA+ movement in the US and the reason we celebrate Pride Month each June. This month, the University recognizes, acknowledges, and celebrates the achievements and impact of our LGBTQIA+ community. And while we are proud that our campus has been included among the top LGBTQIA+-friendly campuses in the nation, we realize that homophobia and transphobia still exist on our campus and throughout the world. As a collective, it is imperative that we commit ourselves to co-creating a campus culture where everyone feels loved and empowered.
This month, we celebrate all the members of UO’s LBGTQIA+ community whose scholarship and creative efforts enrich the UO community. A few recent projects include:
Ernesto Javier Martínez, head of the College of Arts and Science’s Department of Indigenous, Race and Ethnic Studies wrote an award-winning screenplay that garnered funding from this division as well as departments and centers across campus. His film La Serenata, is a lyrical and intimate short film about a Mexican American family reckoning with tradition through the unexpected love story between two boys was licensed by HBO Max.
Assistant Professor Isabel Millán of Women Gender and Sexuality Studies is the author of Coloring into Existence: Queer of Color Worldmaking in Children's Literature (2023, New York University Press), as well as the author and illustrator of the queer bilingual children's picture book, Chabelita's Heart/El corazón de Chabelita (2022, Reflection Press). Both books received International Latino Book Awards (ILBA), Gold Medals for "Best LGBTQ+ Themed Book" (2023 and 2024).
Judith Raiskin, professor in Disability Studies, Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies received a 2024 IDEAL grant from our division for her film “Outliers and Outlaws”. This award-winning documentary consists of short interviews with 83 lesbian-identified women who lived in Eugene between 1965 and 1995, most of whom are now in their 70s and 80s. Together, these stories tell how this vibrant collective influenced local, state, and national politics.
This month we celebrate their accomplishments and many other members of UO’s LGBTQIA+ community for their achievements over the past year. We champion the work of LGBTESS, our LGBTQ+ Faculty/Staff Strategy Groups, undergraduate and graduate student groups, UO Pride Alumni Group, and the scholarship of the Queer Studies Minor and Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies. In addition to these groups, events like the upcoming Lavender Graduation, and other programming by local community based organizations in Eugene occur throughout June.
The Office for the Dean of Students provides LGBTQIA+ resources throughout the year. LGBTESS promotes a safe, equitable, accessible, and affirming campus for Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, aromantic, and agender (2SLGBTQIA3+) students at the University of Oregon through resource navigation, education, community building, and event implementation.
Access to LGBTQIA+ resources is available to students and faculty all year long. This includes The Sally Miller Gearhart Lecture Series, The Linda Long Library Collection, the digital exhibit Creating Change: Forty Years of LGBTQ Activism at the University of Oregon which includes:
Heterosexism Research Guide
Transgender Studies & Cisgender Privilege Research Guide
Queer Cinema Research Guide
Oregon Lesbian Land Manuscript Collections in Special Collections and University Archives
Eugene Lesbian Oral History project
Just Out (digital archives available at the UO Libraries)
As we celebrate Pride Month, it is important to note that the University of Oregon maintains its nondiscrimination policy regarding sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression as protected characteristics. Furthermore, the UO remains committed to maintaining an inclusive environment for every student. This encompasses all-gender and gender-expansive housing options, name change processes, or all-gender restrooms.
UO resources for Trans, Nonbinary and Gender-Expansive students include Frequently Asked Questions, Graduate Student Research Support, Resources for Support. In addition, these legal support organizations are available for support: ASUO Student Legal Services, Transgender Law Center, Advocates for Trans Equality, Lambda Legal, and GLAD Law.
The Division of Equity and Inclusion is committed to promoting a campus culture that celebrates all students, faculty and staff throughout the year. As we embrace the shared principles of Oregon Rising, may we all strive to maintain a sense of inclusivity on campus. We are grateful to everyone who is committed to making our campus a welcoming place where everyone is empowered to flourish. Together, we rise!