This page was created by Anastacia Negron. 

Queer Archives Project

Conclusion

These spaces of both safety and hostility continue to be upheld with the rise of dedicated, institutionally-supported Queer spaces. While environments like Athletics and Greek Life are still extremely hostile for many, there are more openly queer individuals in these spaces who advocate for themselves. For example, the creation of Athlete Ally, which is a group dedicated to dismantling oppression across all sports, along with the appointment of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chairs in Greek organizations, have helped to create safe spaces for queer voices. The Arts and the McKelvy Scholars Program continue to be spaces where queer people can openly express themselves, in addition to other unofficial queer spaces such as the women’s club rugby team.

We also have the rise of “official” queer student groups on campus such as OUT, a new, inclusive organization for members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as QTPOC, a group for Queer and Trans People of Color. We also have more disciplinary-specific organizations such as oSTEM, for those who are out and their allies in STEM. In addition to these organizations, we even have a gender-neutral dorm, Lavender Lane, where 25 LGBTQ+ students live. These groups gain their administrative support from the Gender & Sexuality Resource Center currently run by Thomas Lee, Assistant Director of Intercultural Development for Gender And Sexuality.

Despite all these changes throughout the years, there is a sense of continuity between queer students through these queer spaces. Spaces are more official now, queer groups have expanded in numbers and in their ability to hold events, and you can even study queerness in the classroom. However, Lafayette still acts as a bubble. While these resources are extremely valuable, the fact that queer people still need a safe space shows that the space is not necessarily welcoming to begin with. There is not a place where people can go if they aren’t out or are questioning, which can make it difficult for someone who is struggling to figure out their sexuality to find support.

In conclusion, the queer community at Lafayette has come a long way in terms of creating safe spaces for individuals to express their identities. The rise of institutional support through official organizations, gender-inclusive housing, and administrative support has helped create a more inclusive environment. However, there is still progress to be made in terms of making the campus truly welcoming and safe for all queer individuals. It is important that we continue to work on these flaws as an institution and support the members of the LGBTQ+ community so that everyone feels welcome and accepted at Lafayette for years to come.

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