A HUGE thank you to those who attended Q Camp this past weekend! There are more programs happening this week including International Pronouns Day. Come by our Center for Pronouns and Pizza on Wednesday from 12-1pm. More details below :)
International Pronouns Day: Oct. 16th
Come join us on International Pronouns Day, October 16th from 12-1pm in the LGBT Equity Center for Pronouns and Pizza, an event where students can hang out, eat pizza, and learn more about why pronouns matter and best practices for inclusive language. Shige Sakurai (they/them), the founder of International Pronouns Day, will give an informal talk about the inception and history of this day of increasing awareness and action. If you can't make it to the Center at that time, we will also be tabling outside of STAMP from 10am-12pm. Come by our table to grab some stickers and pronoun buttons!
Meet and Greet with Transgender and Khwaja Sira Youth Activists from Pakistan
Please join us on Friday, October 25 at 2pm in the LGBT Equity Center (2218 Marie Mount Hall) for an informal panel conversation with a group of transgender and khwaja sira youth activists, discussing the passage of the recent transgender rights law in Pakistan.
Volunteer for Speakers Bureau
Do you want to educate your peers on topics important to LGBTQIA+ students? Are you interested in sharing your story to impact campus culture? Do you want to develop public speaking skills? Become a peer educator on life as an LGBTQIA+ student at UMD! You can volunteer to participate in LGBTQIA+ panels by emailing us at speakersbureau@umd.edu or reaching out to Shige Sakurai or Aqdas Aftab at the LGBT Equity Center.
Queerness and Disability: Correction to Meeting Times
This is a safe space to discuss your experience as a queer individual living with any kind of disability or impairment. You don't need to call yourself "disabled" to be welcome in this group! "Disability" could include mobility issues, cognitive/mood disorders, chronic illness, hearing/vision impairments and/or anything you label as such. Please note that the meeting times have changed for the remainder of the semester. Queerness and Disability will meet on the following Wednesdays from 6-7pm: Oct 9th, Oct 23rd, Oct 30th, and Nov 13th (in the LGBT Equity Center, 2218 Marie Mount Hall).
Evening Groups
Discussion groups are a part of the larger LGBTQ+ student organization, Pride Alliance. All groups meet in 2218 Marie Mount Hall (LGBT Equity Center) and are open to newcomers and respectful allies.
Ace Space: Mondays, 6pm
For students who identify within the asexual and/or aromantic spectrum.
True Colors of Maryland (TCOM): Tuesdays, 7pm
For students of color, of all genders and sexual orientations.
Bisexuals at Maryland (BAM): Wednesdays, 5pm
For students who identify as bisexual, pansexual, or any other non-monosexual identity.
Women2Women: Wednesdays, 7pm
For women-identified people of all orientations and identities.
TransU: Thursdays, 5pm
For transgender students and students questioning their gender. Inclusive of non-binary identities.
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Other Groups on Campus
Connecting Campus Queers and Allies: every Friday starting 9/20; 4pm
General group for LGBTQ+ communities and allies. Hosted in the Cambridge Community Center, room 1105. Discussions are announced in the email list. Email Lexi (she/hers) and Grey (they/them) at theccqa@gmail.com for questions or to join the email list.
Nice Jewish Queers: 10/2, 10/16, 11/6, 11/20, 12/4; 6pm For Jewish queers. Hosted in the LGBT Equity Center, email Avi Alpert at aalpert@terpmail.umd.edu with questions.
(Re)born This Way: every other Friday starting 9/20; 3pm
For queer Christians to talk about queerness and faith. Hosted in the Chapel Lounge, email Katie Evans at katieevans96@gmail.com.
LGBT Equity Center Open House on Nov. 6th!
The LGBT Equity Center will host an Open House on November 6th, 12pm-3pm, which will be a great opportunity to meet our new Program Manager and the rest of our staff. Students, staff, and faculty are welcome to stop by and enjoy some light refreshments. At 12:30pm, Shige Sakurai will give remarks on appreciating our students workers, volunteers, and staff on their hard work and contribution to our Center. Come join us anytime between 12-3pm.
~Announcements~
From Our Campus Partners
The Circle
The Circle is an informal, monthly gathering, that provides a space for students, faculty, and staff to share concerns and experiences of hate-bias in a supportive environment. The next meeting will take place on 10/17 in 2411 Marie Mount Hall from 12-1pm. Light refreshments are provided.
Hate-Bias Response Program to Host Two Important Events: Racist Notions and Deconstructing Islamophobia
The first event, Racist Notions, will be held on October 24th, 2019, from 5pm-6:30pm at ESJ. Participate in conversation about racist imagery, performance, and stereotypes in US Popular media. To RSVP please click here: Racist Notions RSVP. Panelists include Dr. Bayley Marquez, Jenna Gerdsen, and Jordan Ealey.
The second event, Deconstructing Islamophobia, will be held on November 14th, 2019, from 5pm-6:30pm at ESJ. This is a collaborative effort between the Hate-Bias Response Program and The Muslim Alliance for Social Change. Join as we discuss the social construction of Islamophobia. To RSVP please click here: Deconstructing Islamophobia. Panelists include Darakshan Raja (Justice for Muslims Collective), Kristin Garrity Sekerci (Bridge Initiative), and Su'ad Mohamud (Somali Students Association UMD).
Apply for Funding to Attend Creating Change!
Creating Change, the nation's largest LGBTQ+ activist conference, will be hosted in Dallas, Texas this year, and MICA and our campus partners are proud to present the Creating Change Scholarship Fund in support of student-attendees!
Each year, Creating Change draws as many as 4000+ people from across the nation to conference on the gamut of issues affecting our LGBTQ+ communities, with a myriad of day-long institutes, caucuses, workshops, guest speakers, and receptions creating an atmosphere unlike any other. Previous attendees have gone so far as to describe it as "frankly magical and completely indescribable!"
Interested in applying to attend on behalf of the University of Maryland? Download and complete the scholarship application, available here, and email your responses to Collin Vernay at cnv@umd.eduno later than November 8th at midnight for consideration. Given the often high interest in these funds, we encourage students to be thoughtful and thorough in their application responses. We look forward to supporting you in your efforts to create change!
The Hate-Bias Response Team is Recruiting Student Advisors!
The Hate-Bias Response Team is recruiting students to serve on the team's student advisory group, which will launch in Spring 2020. The creation of the student advisory group establishes a formal mechanism to ensure student input is integrated into actionable goals of the Hate-Bias Response Team. The team is seeking students who are passionate about improving hate bias response on campus. Applications are available online HERE and are due MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH AT 5PM.
~Other Events and Opportunities~
Attend Black Grace (New Zealand): Crying Men for Free!
The Clarice at UMD is proud to presentBlack Grace (New Zealand): Crying MenThu, Oct 24 at 8PM. This performance is a powerful exploration of toxic masculinity through industrial hip-hop, contemporary dance and intensive narratives by New Zealand’s most dynamic dance company. Additionally, all UMD students, faculty, and staff receive a FREE TICKET to most events presented at The Clarice and MilkBoy ArtHouse. Follow the link above to reserve your free tickets now!
University System of Maryland Student Regent 2020-2021 & 2020-2022 Call for Applications
This year the University of Maryland, College Park in addition to the other institutions in the University System of Maryland are invited to nominate up to two (2) candidates for this prestigious position to the University System of Maryland Student Council. Our nominee(s) will then be reviewed by the System Student Council and their finalists are forwarded to the Chancellor and from his desk they are forwarded to the Governor. In the past, College Park has been represented by outstanding scholar leaders. Position description can be found here: Student Regent Position Description
The College Park nominee for this position will be interviewed by USMSC on Sunday, November 10, 2019 at UMBC. Should you have any further questions or concerns, please contact Donna Lim at dylim@umd.edu or at 301-314-8491.
Completed applications are due on-line by 5:00pm on October 28, 2019. Apply for 2020-2021 & 2020-2022 USM Student Regent at: https://go.umd.edu/Student_Regent
