Updates, events, and important information from the LGBTQ+ Center in the month of February.
Announcements
Join us Thursday, February 20 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. for our Welcome Back Bash in our new location, suite 249 in the Mountainlair! Meet new friends, find resources that can help you thrive, and take a tour of our new space! Games and crafts will be available.
Stop by and say hi:
8:15 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. | Monday - Friday
Contact us by phone at 304-293-9594 or by email at lgbtq@mail.wvu.edu
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Upcoming Events
Check out our events page or subscribe to our Google Calendar to be the first to receive more information.
February
February 17 through February 19 | Mountainlair Ballrooms
The LGBTQ+ Center is proud to participate in this year’s Tunnel of Awareness!
The Tunnel of Awareness is an annual interactive exhibit that encourages attendees to explore new perspectives.
Each 10’x10’ booth in the Tunnel will feature an interactive exhibit from departments and organizations across WVU. This educational opportunity features topics that are related to social justice, and encourages students to approach displays with curiosity and reflect on how their own experiences are shaped by the world around them.
For this project, the LGBTQ+ Center will be building an interactive booth that will encourage students to learn about the history and symbolism of different pride flags.
Flags are not just decorations; they are not just strips of fabric sewn together and displayed without meaning. Across history and across cultures, flags have carried deep symbolism. They hold the power to unify people, to communicate, and to connect. For many, seeing a flag that represents their community sparks joy and creates a sense of belonging.
We’re encouraging you to come and spend a few moments in our exhibit. You’ll learn what the colors mean, when the flags were created, and their significance to the modern day LGBTQ+ Rights Movement. You’ll also be able to reflect on what creates a sense of joy and community for you. At the end, leave us a note about something that makes you happy, and carry that happiness with you for the rest of the day.
February 20 from 6 – 8 p.m. | 2nd Floor of The Mountainlair
Join us in welcoming everyone back to campus for Spring 2025! The LGBTQ+ Center is partnering with departments at our University and people from the greater Morgantown community to connect students with each other, and with the resources they need thrive here.
We’ve invited more than a dozen different organizations to join us at our Center's new home on the second floor of the Mountainlair. The goal of this event is to educate students about the resources available to them as Mountaineers and as members of the greater Morgantown community. We will have a lounge set up for a social hour, dedicated rooms for crafts and games, music, and a tour of our new space!
This family-friendly event is open to everyone--from fellow Mountaineers to the greater Morgantown community. You're encouraged to bring someone with you!
February 28th at 6 p.m. | Online
Join us for a virtual presentation as we showcase the research of one of WVU's Sociology PhD candidates, Aja Gregg.
Our student will give a short presentation on her research “Behind the Stereotype: Exploring the Diverse Experiences of LGBTQ+ Students on HBCU Campuses,” followed by a Q&A session.
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Monthly Events
SOGIE 101 (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression)
Now Available 2x Per Month | Online and In Person
Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE) are key elements of one’s identity that impact their experience in higher education. Our new SOGIE 101 Training is an educational opportunity to enhance cultural competence, understand student experiences, and learn about campus resources.
This one-hour interactive training offers participants the opportunity to reflect on the beautiful complexities pertaining to SOGIE while engaging in activities focused on finding solutions. Participants will gain insights that apply to our Mountaineer core values and mission. These include tools to improve services, expand curiosity, extend respect, incorporate accountability, and appreciate diverse contributions.
By advancing this cultural competence, participants will be better equipped to advance education, health, and prosperity for all.
We encourage all staff, faculty, and students to take advantage of this opportunity. Sessions are offered online, in-person, and by request to groups and classrooms at lgbtq@mail.wvu.edu.
Certificate of completion provided upon request.
Queer Book Club with Carruth
February 18, March 11, and April 15 | 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. | Yoga Room on the first floor of the Student Health Building
Relax and discuss this semester's book: Black Water Sister by Zen Cho. Copies of the book will be available for free at the LGBTQ+ Center to all registered participants!
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Community Corner
In this section, we want to feature some cool things happening at WVU and around Morgantown. These are events sent to us from members of the community, they are not endorsements.
Available at WVU
Stress Management with Social Work
Thursday, February 20 | 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. | Field Hall, Room 4208
We all want to stay informed about what’s happening in the world, but the 24/7 news cycle gets exhausting and stressful quickly, no matter which side of the aisle you sit. It’s as important as it’s ever been to be able to manage stress and stay engaged in the political process.
Everyone is welcome at the School of Social Work’s “Managing Stress While Staying Informed” workshop. This is aimed at providing students with information and tools to manage stress and feelings of anxiety while staying informed about the legislative session.
Local Resources
Sunday Worship at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. | 247 Willey St, Morgantown, WV
Everyone is welcome! Please feel free to attend either or both programs. Contact pcastelli@wvdiocese.org for more information.
Every 2nd Thursday | 6 – 8 p.m. | First Presbyterian Gym, 456 Spruce St. Morgantown, WV
Monthly resources for everyone, including food, harm reduction, housing services, and more.
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Outside Research
We’re happy to further academic study and support student success. This is where people can find research opportunities from organizations outside of West Virginia University. We are proud to share research that furthers the understanding of topics related to LGBTQ+ Identities, and that could improve the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in higher education.
Paid Undergraduate Summer Research Program
10-Week Training Camp | Stipend: $5,500-$6,000 | Applications Due: March 1
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is accepting applications for their 10-week, intensive undergraduate Summer Research Program. This program provides a unique chance for students to immerse themselves in research within cutting-edge facilities while gaining insights into graduate school life at a Big Ten institution. Their commitment to quality mentoring is reflected in a selective approach, as UNL limits their summer offerings to active research labs and projects led by faculty known for their excellence in guiding undergraduate students.
Learn how to apply, and submit your application by March 1.
Ace + Trans/Nonbinary Qualitative Research
Take part in the first national U.S. study of undergrads and grad students who are both ace and trans and/or nonbinary!
This research is being carried out by Genny Beemyn (UMass Amherst) and Shay Valley (University at Buffalo). We are leading scholars in trans and ace studies and identify as ace and/or trans ourselves. We are conducting this research to give voice to and better understand the experiences of ace trans/nonbinary colleges students and will make the findings widely available in both academic and community settings.
The study involves taking a 20-30 minute survey and doing a 60-90 minute follow-up Zoom interview, where participants will be asked questions related to identifying as ace and trans/nonbinary and what their experiences have been as ace trans/nonbinary people. Students who complete both the survey and interview will be entered into a raffle to possibly win one of four $50 gift cards.
Individuals are eligible to participate in this study if they identify as ace (e.g., asexual, demi, gray) and trans and/or nonbinary (e.g., agender, genderfluid, genderqueer, demi, trans man, trans woman). Participants should also be a current undergraduate or graduate student at a U.S. college or university. To avoid any undue influence, the researchers will not include any participants from the institutions where they work (i.e., UMass Amherst and the University at Buffalo).
Young Adults, Chronic Pain, and the Healthcare System
Dissertation study to learn about the experiences young adults (ages 18-24) living with chronic pain have in the healthcare system.
POWER LGBTQ+ Eligibility Survey
This research is IRB approved. Eligibility survey for college students to participate in the Promotion of Wellness, Empowerment, and Resilience (POWER) study for LGBTQ+ Students. Research will involve discussing your sexual relationships, sexual orientation, substance use, and other behaviors.
Transgender and Nonbinary Faculty
This research is IRB approved. Faculty members may participate in a doctoral study from University of Tennessee, Knoxville about their experiences in higher education.
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“I knew then and I know now, when it comes to justice, there is no easy way to get it.”-Claudette Colvin