Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month at USC
October marks LGBTQ+ History Month. This month will include festivities and conversations for the whole campus community put on by the university and the LGBTQ+ Student Center.
USC’s LGBTQ+ Student Center has its roots in 1970, when a group of students, staff and faculty started the Gay Liberation Forum, which was the university’s first LGBT social movement. Since then, the center has been recognized nationally for its critical advocacy and support.
Open to all students, the LGBTQ+ Student Center is both a physical space on the fourth floor of our Student Union (with the best pillow collection on campus!) and a resource hub. Among the many things it does—including lots of dynamic programming—it provides a space for weekly meetings, it has Embedded Counselors that provide mental health support services, and it serves as a home away from home for all students.
Check it out on Instagram @usclgbtqplus.
Events
The university kicked off the month with a “Standing Out with the Queers of Comedy” workshop on October 3. On October 23rd, it will have a panel titled, “Queer, Trans and Two-Spirit Narratives”. For more information, visit the LGBTQ+ History events website. Events are free to all students.
Furthermore, USC Libraries is currently highlighting its digital collection of 4,200 posters and demonstration signs spanning over 60 years of activism. Check them out on their website.
Other Ways to Find Community
USC Housing
USC Housing offers gender-inclusive housing, where any student can live with roommates regardless of their gender identity or biological sex. The Rainbow Floor at Century Apartments sponsors programming to help students learn more about themselves and to foster inclusive friendships.
Student Activities
There are a variety of student organizations open to all students looking for community. For example, the Queer and Ally Student Assembly (QuASA) is one of USC Program Board’s Cultural Assemblies and the umbrella organization for many identity-focused student groups at the university. Student groups range from intersectional identity clubs such as Queer People of Color (QPOC) to academic groups like Queers in Engineering, Science, and Technology (QuEST). They are open to all students. Find a full list of recognized student organizations on engage.usc.edu.
The Trojan Family
No matter your background or identity, the support you’ll find on campus extends beyond your four years as an undergraduate. The USC Lambda LGBTQ+ Alumni Association organizes social activities, such as the HomeComing Out Tailgate, and cultural events, such as the Don Thompson LGBTQ+ Film Festival. It also provides volunteer opportunities and funds scholarships, which are open to students regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity who have contributed to the LGBTQ+ community. This includes incoming students.
At USC, we’re proud to have an environment where all members of our Trojan Family are empowered and inspired to be their best selves. Happy LGBTQ+ History Month!
Written by: Anne Aubert-Santelli, Associate Director - USC Office of Undergraduate Admission