Resources

Mission:

The Pride Center Community is a collaborative partnership between the UWL Pride Center and Residence Life to create a Living Learning Community within a residence hall environment. Our goal is to create a housing community in which LGBTQIA+ students feel a sense of belonging and are affirmed, empowered, and celebrated. 

Location: Wentz Hall (beginning Fall 2024)

Eligibility:

Open to all new and returning college students who identify within the LGBTQIA+ community as well as those who are supportive individuals or those who have family members who are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community.  

Benefits of being in the Pride Center Community: 

Residents within the Pride Center Community will build relationships with each other as well as actively engage in UWL Pride Center events and initiatives. Options include participating in the many events put on by the Pride Center, joining student organizations (Rainbow Unity and/or Transform), attending an annual conference (MBLGTACC) with other UWL students, facilitating trainings for the campus community and participating in various panel discussions.   

How to Join:

Within the housing application process, new and returning students may indicate an interest in the Pride Center Community. Students are then selected and placed within the Pride Center Community.   

Course Recommendations: Students should enroll in or have taken Race, Gender and Sexuality Studies (RGS 100).

Partnerships: UWL Pride Center

For questions regarding the Pride Center Community or to talk to someone about your interest in being a part of this community, you can contact Will Van Roosenbeek or Patrick Heise.

For more information:

Visit Residence Life's page on Living Learning Communities.

Who can request them?

Any campus or community organization, including instructors, residence hall staff, student organizations, or other presentations/workshops.

What is the format?

Panels last around an hour, but can be flexible with the time available. Panelists give a brief personal introduction. The panel lead then presents a basic introduction to LGBTQQIAAA+2S terminology and safer space guidelines. Then, the floor is yours. Panels work best when a group has prepared a few questions to get started.

Reminder:

Panelists are there to share their own experiences with the campus community, they represent themselves and do not speak for the entire LGBTQ+ community. Likewise, panelists can choose not to answer any questions they do not feel comfortable answering. 

How can you request an LGBTQ+ Panel? How can you offer to be on a LGBTQ+ Panel?

Please contact pridecenter@uwlax.edu to request a panel for your group or to join us on an upcoming panel.

Ally Workshops are workshops presented by the peer educators employed by the Pride Center. There are several Ally Workshops each semester on the UWL campus. Ally Workshops are also available upon request.

Who can request them?

Any campus or community organization, including instructors, residence hall staff, student organizations, or other presentations/workshops.

What is the format?

Ally Workshops last between one hour to an hour and a half. These workshops include a presentation of information about LGBTQ+ issues as well as group activities for discussion. There is also time for general questions that audience members may have.

How can you request an Ally Workshop?

Please contact pridecenter@uwlax.edu to request a workshop for your group.

We do our best to represent the spectrum of modern terminology and the way it might apply to various people. However, it is important to note that identities vary from person to person and are constantly being understood differently. This is not an extensive list, but one that covers the basics of queer information. If you have further questions, please contact the pride center at pridecenter@uwlax.edu.

Terminology

Sexual Orientation: the gender or genders that a person is sexually attracted to

• Lesbian is an adjective to describe non-men attracted to non-men
• Gay is an adjective to describe non-women attracted to non-women; it is also often used as an umbrella term for the LGBTQ+ community
• Bisexual is an adjective to describe someone who is attracted to two or more genders
• Pansexual is an adjective to describe someone who is attracted to someone regardless of gender
• Queer is an adjective to describe someone who is not heterosexual; it is also often used as an umbrella term for the LGBTQ+ community and should be used with caution because it is a reclaimed slur
• Questioning is an adjective to describe someone who is uncertain of their sexual orientation
• Asexual is an adjective to describe someone who experiences little to no sexual attraction
• Straight is an adjective to someone who is attracted to the opposite sex

Romantic Attraction: the gender or genders that a person wants to be romantic with

Gender Identity: one's inner sense of gender(s)

• Transgender is an adjective to describe someone whose gender identity doesn't match their assigned sex at birth
• Cisgender is an adjective to describe someone whose gender identity matches their assigned sex at birth
• Non-binary is an adjective to describe someone who is neither a man nor woman
• Agender is an adjective to describe someone who does not experience a sense of gender
• Gender queer
• Genderfluid
• Two-Spirit is an adjective to describe multiple gender traditions in North American Indigenous cultures and is thus reserved for Indigenous peoples' usage
• Intersex is an adjective to describe someone born with genitalia, anatomy, or chromosomes that do not match society's strict definitions of "female" or "male"
• Questioning is an adjective to describe someone who is questioning their gender identity

Gender Expression: how one expresses their gender physically (ex. clothing, hair, makeup, voice, etc.)

Sex Assigned at Birth: the physical characteristics that doctors used to define you as male or female when you were born

Binary: the concept that sex and gender fall into two categories (male/female and man/woman)

Gender Affirming Care: refers to a variety of gender-affirming procedures such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), surgery, etc.

Pronouns

Pronouns are the words that are used in place of a name or a specific title. Traditionally, pronoun sets included he/him/his and she/her/hers but there are many pronoun sets that people use. Pronoun sets may or may not be related to their gender identity or expression. 

It is best not to assume someone's pronouns. Until you are comfortable asking someone about the pronoun set that they use, using neutral pronouns like they/them/theirs is always a safe choice. 

It is okay to mess up! Mistakes are normal. However, how you handle this situation can make a big difference! Apologize and correct yourself quickly without making a big deal about it. Remember, this isn't about you (regardless of how bad you may feel). The best thing to do to prevent mistakes is to practice! Practice alone or with friends and family and practice when the person isn't around. 

Allyship

An ally is someone who confronts heterosexism, cissexism, anti-LGBTQ+ biases, and heterosexual and cisgender privilege. An ally is someone who supports the LGBTQ+ community and actively works to dismantle systems of oppression. 

Allyship is difficult. However, being present, practicing inclusive behavior, confronting your own privileges, and being an active ally are all ways that you can improve and show your support of the LGBTQ+ community.

Books & Movies

We have many books, movies, and music located in the Pride Center. You can search and reserve them in our online library platform; they are also found online and at the Murphy Library!

Magazines

The Pride Center also subscribes to the following magazines:

• Advocate
• Bitch
• Curve
• DIVERSEability
• Hispanic Network
• Lavender
• Our Lives
• Out
• Professional Women's Magazine
• The Black EOE Journal
• The Crisis
• The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide

These magazines cannot be checked out, but feel free to read them while in the Pride Center of Destress room!

UWL Pride Center Scholarship for a New/Transfer Student

Established by the Pride Center in 2011 to assist LGBTQ+ students or students with LGBTQ+ family members, this scholarship is awarded to one recipient each year in the amount of $500. The application can be found here.

Criteria:

• Full or part-time accepted new (first-year) or transfer undergraduate student
• Willing to be publicly recognized as a recipient of this award
• In addition to the regular application, one of the following essay topics of 300 words or less is required
  • Describe your demonstrated leadership, support, or involvement in organizations, activities, or issues that benefit the LGBTQ+ community.
  • Describe your experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and your experiences being marginalized. How hove those experiences impacted you?

UWL Pride Center Scholarship for a Returning Student

Established by the Pride Center in 2011 to assist LGBTQ+ students or students with LGBTQ+ family members, this scholarship is awarded to one recipient each year. The application can be found here.

Criteria:

• Full or part-time currently enrolled student
• Good academic standing
• Willing to be publicly recognized as a recipient of this award
• In addition to the regular application, one of the following essay topics of 300 words or less is required
  • Describe your demonstrated leadership, support, or involvement in organizations, activities, or issues that benefit the LGBTQ+ community.
  • Describe your experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and your experiences being marginalized. How hove those experiences impacted you?

UWL Pride Center QTBIPOC Scholarship

Established by the Pride Center in 2022 to assist queer and trans Black, Indigenous, people of color. This scholarship is awarded to one recipient each year in the amount of $500. The application can be found here. 

Criteria:

• Full or part-time currently enrolled or accepted new (first-year) or transfer undergraduate student
• Willing to be publicly recognized as a recipient of this award
• In addition to the regular application, one of the following essay topics of 300 words or less is required
  • Describe your demonstrated leadership, support, or involvement in organizations, activities, or issues that benefit the LGBTQ+ community.
  • Describe your experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and your experiences being marginalized. How hove those experiences impacted you?

Sara Sullivan LGBTQ+ Study Abroad Scholarship

This scholarship was established by the Pride Center in 2014 to assist LGBTQ+ students who are interested in studying abroad. This scholarship is awarded to one recipient each year. The application can be found here. 

Criteria:

• Full or part-time currently enrolled undergraduate student
• Planning on studying abroad in the fall or spring of next school year
• In good academic standing
• Willing to be publicly recognized as a recipient of this award
• Willing to speak to Rainbow Unity and/or Transform about your experience studying abroad

Moni Mohns Scholarship

This scholarship was established by the Pride Center in 2022 to assist lesbian students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degrees in ESS with an emphasis in Physical Education. This scholarship is awarded to one recipient each year. The application can be found here. 

Criteria:

• Full or part-time currently enrolled undergraduate student
• Lesbian ESS with emphasis in Physical Education undergraduate or graduate student
• In good academic standing
• Willing to be publicly recognized as a recipient of this award
• In addition to the regular application, one of the following essay topics of 300 words or less is required
  • Describe your demonstrated leadership, support, or involvement in organizations, activities, or issues that benefit the LGBTQ+ community.
  • Describe your experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and your experiences being marginalized. How hove those experiences impacted you?

UWL TRIO Student Activist Scholarship

This scholarship is to assist a student activist in a UWL TRIO program (McNair, Student Support Services, Upward Bound) who is involved in promoting causes in the areas of environment, climate crisis, social justice, antiracism, LGBTQ+ rights, civil rights, just immigration policies, peace/anti-war, fair and open elections, economic justice, and other equal rights or anti-oppression movements. This scholarship is awarded to one recipient each year in the amount of $500. The application can be found here. 

Criteria:

• Submit an essay on the event/activity related to one of the areas listed above in which they helped organize and/or lead. The activity must have occurred within the last 18 months. The essay must include a summary of the action and outcome. 
• Submit the URL of the social media report about the event or upload a copy of the article.
• Provide the name and email of a professor, mentor, or community member familiar with and/or involved with the student's activism

The Center: 7 Rivers LGBTQ+ Connection

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin