Ava Chuppe
Contributing Writer
achuppe@murraystate.edu

This semester, the LGBT Programming Office revamped campus activities Center for LGBTQ+ students. The Center, located at 243 Blackburn Science Building and open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is “a change which is meant to signify our focus on belonging, community and engagement,” according to a newsletter released in the beginning of the Fall Semester by the LGBT Programming Office.

Interim coordinator of the LGBT Programming Office, Abigail Cox, said the easing of COVID-19 restrictions has translated to more in-person opportunities for students.

“The office is back open, and we have regular visitors in the Center each day,” Cox said. “You can come in and eat lunch, color, hang out between classes, that kind of thing. We’re primarily back to in-person services and not really limited in terms of the things we’re trying to do.”

Another of the LGBT Programming Office’s new initiatives is the Pride List, a virtual publication to be released annually on Oct. 1 for “students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, community members, and family members to show their pride and allyship,” according to the online form. So far, 332 signatures have been submitted to promote a welcoming campus.

In addition to providing a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ students, the Pride Center has complimentary pride flags, pronoun buttons and other offerings for students to take. Cox said the Center offers a variety of activities to facilitate student connections.

“It’s set up in such a way to allow them [students] to come in and just hang out,” Cox said. “We’re also trying to do activities and things that will bring people into the Center… like an art or craft that they can come in and do whenever it’s convenient for them.”

Cox said that student input will help determine the Center’s future activities.

“We have sent out an interest form to kind of get an idea of what types of activities students are looking for to connect on,” Cox said. “We’re trying to get a sense of whether they’re looking for social opportunities, like we had an ice cream social people came to, or if they’re looking for support group opportunities, which is something that we’re working on with the Counseling Center.”

The Pride Center hosted a free fall-inspired breakfast on Wednesday,  Sept. 22.  On Oct. 11,  National Coming Out Day, the Center will provide a gender-affirming clothing swap from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Blackburn 249. Clothing donations for the event will be accepted starting Oct. 4 any time the Pride Center is open.

Cox said she wanted students to know that the Center is available to them, whether they are seeking assistance or want to make friends.

“We want to make sure that we’re not only providing the support that students need who have maybe something that they’re dealing with, but also just supporting that sense of community and opportunity to connect with others,” Cox said. “The Center is open, everyone’s welcome to come through and hang out and see what it’s about, and anyone who has any interest is always welcome to contact me or come into the Center.”

Anyone who wishes to sign the Pride List can do so at murraystate.edu/lgbt under the “Sign the Pride List” tab.

To learn more about the Pride Center or to provide student input, contact Abigail Cox via email at [email protected] or by phone at (270) 809-5040. Students may also drop by the Pride Center in person at 243 Blackburn Science Building on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.