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Queer and Transgender Resource Center Provides Inclusive Space for Campus Community

Queer and Transgender Resource Center Provides Inclusive Space for Campus Community

QTRC

The Santos Manuel Student Union Queer and Transgender Resource Center is an inclusive and supportive space for the campus community, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and intersex students and their allies. It is here to serve CSUSB through education, advocacy, and social justice.

The center educates and advocates on important issues, such as homophobia, heterosexism, inclusive language, and other sexual or gender identity issues.

Lee Stovall (she/hers & they/them), coordinator of the Queer and Transgender Resource Center, joined the Coyote family in June. In her role, Lee provides guidance and oversight of the day-to-day operations of the center. This includes supporting the initiatives her team of four student assistants create.

“Most of the initiatives that come out of the center are completely ran by and conceptualized by the students, so I’m here to help them execute that,” said Lee.

Lee understands the power of the student voice. She uses her position to advocate for student participation in meetings to help their voices be heard.

Lee has worked in higher education for 10 years and knows first-hand the impact the QTRC can have in a student’s life based on her experience. As an undergraduate in Texas, there was no institutional community on Lee’s college campus for LGBTQ students until her senior year when a center was created. She wants CSUSB students to have a different experience than she had by helping students find their community and get support at the QTRC.

“I'm just trying to make the lives of queer and transgender students easier and safer, and that's why I'm here, and that's why I'm in higher ed and Student Affairs,” said Lee.

The Queer and Transgender Resource Center provides the campus community a variety of services, including:

  • Referrals for on-campus and community services
  • Programs and events that help foster a caring queer and transgender community on campus
  • Kitchen stocked with food, coffee, and tea
  • Access to a microwave, toaster, and refrigerator
  • A comfortable and friendly environment to study or take a break
  • Education and advocacy on queer and transgender issues
  • Trainings and workshops to faculty and staff

The QTRC will soon be providing students free gender affirming garments, which are worn underneath clothing to help alter the shape of someone’s body. For Lee, this is an important resource to provide because these items are not easily accessible to students and can be life transforming for those who suffer from body dysmorphia.

In addition to resources and services, the QTRC host programs and events for the campus community. This year, a celebration of National LGBTQ+ History Month took place Oct. 1-31 and included a variety of events on both the San Bernardino and Palm Desert campuses. The Queer and Transgender Resource Center was instrumental in creating programs and events that educated the campus community about issues of social justice and the LGBTQ+ community, as well as helping to raise awareness of these issues. Some of the events included the Coming Out Monologues, Embrace the Ace, and Be A Cookie, Not A Cookie Cutter.

This year’s theme was "Connecting at the Intersections." CSUSB celebrated LGBTQ+ History Month by highlighting student leaders, faculty, and staff in various activities and special events throughout the month.

The Queer and Transgender Resource Center is open Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. There is currently a student assistant position available at the QTRC and a variety of positions in the SMSU affinity centers. Visit Handshake to apply and get a full listing of the positions and additional information. Stay connected and follow the Queer and Transgender Resource Center on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

To access more information about the Queer and Transgender Resource Center, click here