Updates, events, and important information from the LGBTQ+ Center.
LGBTQ+ Updates
March 2025
Announcements
Thanks to everyone who joined us for our Welcome Back Bash! So many cool people,
organizations, and awesome connections made. We hope you’ll be able to join us
for our next events!
Come see us in room 249 of the Mountainlair
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
so you can be the first to receive more information.
Dance Your Way To Wellness (With Tinh Dang)
Tuesday, April 1 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. | Mountainlair - Gold Ballroom
Tuesday, April 8 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. | Mountainlair - Gold Ballroom
Tuesday, April 22 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. | Mountainlair - Mountaineer Room
Tuesday, April 29 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. | Mountainlair - Gold Ballroom
Want to get grooving in an inclusive environment while building community? Join
the Carruth Center and the LGBTQ+ Center for Dance Your Way to Wellness! This weekly
program will provide a comfortable space for students to practice dance movements
in ways authentic to them to promote physical and mental wellbeing and connect
with themselves and others.
This program is open to all students of all identities. No dance experience required,
and all abilities are welcome!
Wednesday, March 26th at 6:00 to 7:00 PM
Online
A virtual presentation showcasing the research of one of WVU’s social work PhD candidates,
Michael Richards. Q & A session will follow.
“Spiritual Capital and Resilience in the LGBTQ+ Community” focuses on how queer
Appalachian individuals find and build spiritual capital and explores the
challenges and opportunities LGBTQ+ individuals may face as they navigate the challenging
area of spirituality and sexuality in Appalachian cultures.
Sex Education With Dr. Shanna Kattari
Thursday, March 27 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Online
Register to attend this queer-centered and trans-focused webinar about sexuality and sex education! We are being graced with a presentation by certified sexuality educator Dr. Shanna Katz Kattari , PhD, MEd, CSE.
Dr. Kattari (they/them) is an associate professor at the
University of Michigan School of Social Work
, in the Women’s and Gender Studies Department (by courtesy) and is the director
of the
[Sexuality | Relationships | Gender] Research Collective.
A queer, AuDHD, disabled, chronically ill, fat nonbinary femme, they are an esteemed
researcher, scholar and advocate whose work has made significant contributions
to the fields of social work, health disparities and LGBTQ+ studies.
With a steadfast commitment to social justice and equity, Dr. Kattari’s research
and advocacy efforts have focused on understanding and addressing the unique challenges
faced by marginalized communities, particularly within the realms of gender, sexuality,
and disability (including neurodiversity).
Field Hall, Room 4001
Are you looking to meet more people that are your favorite kind of weird? Offbeat; kind of cool, but not too cool, you know? Would you like to watch someone speak about their deepest passion without having to pay for it or needing to take a test at the end? Do you just want to fill that weird time gap in between class and going downtown on a Friday night?
The LGBTQ+ Center and our collaborators are happy to have you along as we bring people together for an evening of support and connection across WVU.
We’re kicking off the evening with a 30-minute presentation about neurodiversity
by guest speaker
Stephanie Lytle
, program director of the WVU
Autism Support Program
.
After that we’ll move to the hallways and lobby in Field Hall. We’ve assembled
a collection of the coolest people we could find for you to talk to! You can satisfy
your curiosity about what resources and learning tools are available at WVU for
all of our students while you make some new friends.
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April
Wednesday, April 2 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm.
Field Hall, Room 4002
The University community is invited to a film screening of "A Road to Home," an award-winning film that follows the lives of six houseless LGBTQ+ youth in New York City over an 18-month period. Hosted by the LGBTQ+ Center, the screening is part of the Spring 2025 Human Rights Film Series.
The screening is set for Wednesday, April 2 from 7 – 9 p.m. in 4002 Field Hall. Admission is free and open to all. A discussion featuring panelists from the campus and community will follow.
About the Film
"A Road to Home" offers a glimpse into the lives of the six houseless youth and how they learned to survive in the streets while struggling to find a sense of purpose and direction. During their journey, some receive aid from the Ali Forney Center, a program devoted solely to houseless LGBTQ+ youth. Founder Carl Siciliano’s struggle to keep the Center’s programs alive mirrors the journeys of the individuals throughout the film. A Road to Home shares the dangers, loneliness and fears of houselessness, as well as the heart wounds that must be healed along the way.
The experiences of the main characters reflect what an estimated 500,000 houseless youth — 40% of whom are LGBTQ+ — face across America.
The screening is provided by Kanopy Public Performance Rights.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. A discussion will follow the screening. Refreshments served. Free and open to the public. Resources from The Rack will be available.
New date! Friday, April 4 from 6:00 - 7:00 pm.
Online
"Behind The Stereotype: Exploring the Diverse Experiences of LGBTQ+ Students
on HBCU Campuses," explores the diverse experiences of LGBTQ+ students attending
historically black colleges and universities. By examining stereotypes and experiences,
this presentation highlights the realities for LGBTQ+ individuals on HBCU
campuses.
Pride On The Green
Monday, April 14 from 1:00 - 4:00 pm.
Sponsored by the fraternity & sorority student organizations and the LGBTQ+ Center, this event will have great music and vendors to provide students with opportunities to enhance their sense of engagement on campus through involvement in organizations that foster empowerment, community and personal growth.
LGBTQ+ Student Organizations’ GAY-LA!!
Saturday, April 26 from 7:00-10:00 pm.
The Ballrooms At Towers
Hear Ye Hear Ye! Join the LGBTQ+ Club for 2025 GAYla at the blue and gold rooms in Towers! The theme this year is Medieval Fantasy , so don your finest armor and silks! Ticket sales will be coming by the end of the month, but mark your calendars! (all war horses, wyrms, and page boys must be left outside the venue).
Sunday, April 27 from 3:00 - 6:00 pm.
Mountainlair Ballrooms
We invite December 2024 and May 2025 graduates to join us with their loved ones as
we celebrate their academic achievements.
Light refreshments will be provided.
Registration required by 4/18/25
. All graduates and guests must register to attend.
Graduates need to arrive before 2:45 p.m. for a walkthrough. Guests may arrive
by 3:00 p.m.
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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
Tuesday, April 15 from 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 are still available for free at the LGBTQ+ Center to all registered
participants! Come visit us in the Mountainlair!
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Community Corner
Affrilachian Freedom Dreaming: Honoring Dr. Ancella Bickley
Friday, March 28 at 10:00 a.m.
Online
Art in the Libraries' inaugural WVU Feminist Activist Artist Residency program
presents artist
Catron Booker
and
her project
, "Affrilachian Freedom Dreaming: Honoring Dr. Ancella Bickley."
Booker, a Black feminist experimental filmmaker and performance artist, uses Afrofuturism to envision Black liberation. During the Feminist Activist Collection Artist in Residency (FAIR), she will create "Affrilachian Freedom Dreaming," a short experimental film exploring Black resistance through the Dr. Ancella Bickley archival collection of the History Center's Feminist Activist Collection. Dr. Ancella Bickley, a Huntington, W.Va. native born in 1930, is a historian, educator and author known for preserving and documenting the history of Black communities in West Virginia with a focus on oral histories, genealogy and the contributions of overlooked Black scholars and activists.Inspired by Bickley’s focus on overlooked “community builders,” Booker will interweave archival materials with footage of the Ohio River, a historically significant landmark in Louisville.
Hear from Booker about her experience as the first WVU Feminist Activist Artist Resident, her process and inspiration for exploring the Dr. Ancella Bickley archives in the West Virginia & Regional History Center and her resulting artistic product, a short film honoring Bickley.
Our Place
Wednesday, April 16 from 6 -10 p.m.
The Co-Op at 131 Pleasant St (Must be 18+)
Come together in real time as a community! Talk, eat, dance, hang and play games in a safe space for all LGBTQ+ people.
Wednesday, March 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Mountainlair Student Union
Join the Carruth Center and other campus partners for Let's Chat and pop-up mini resource fair!
Students will be able to access the on-demand consultation services of Let's Chat while also learning about and engaging with other campus resources.
We’ll have snacks, crafts, mental health screenings, appointment scheduling, giveaways, and of course information and resources! Mini-Resource Fairs will be held in the Mountainlair Lobby.
No appointment necessary: students are seen on a first-come, first service-basis. Let's Chat is not a substitute for formal counseling and does not constitute mental health treatment. Common concerns include; stress, sadness, homesickness, relationship concerns, etc.
Unplugged Workshop
with the Carruth Center
Wednesday, March 5 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Student Health Building
Fear not, friends. A break from the doom scroll has presented itself!
Join the Carruth Center for activities that reduce stress, build connections, and give you practical ways to unplug from social media.
Everyone keeps saying we need to put down the screens and take a break from the
internet, but what are you supposed to
do with that time? Isn’t part of the point of screen time to fill the
yawning chasm of boredom and restlessness? What else could people
possibly be doing on a random Wednesday evening?
Gamma Rho Lambda - New In Town?
Anyone interested should email lgbtq@mail.wvu.edu .
An all-inclusive social sorority emphasizing tolerance, diversity, unity, and trust wants to start a chapter at WVU! Gamma Rho Lambda (GRL) welcomes potential members of all genders, sexual and romantic orientations, races, cultures, and abilities, and offers a network of assistance in the areas of scholastic guidance, emotional support, and community service.
WVU Art in the Libraries Graduate Student Exhibits Awards
WVU Libraries invites graduate students to submit ideas for an exhibit that showcases their scholarship. $500 reward, visual interpretations based on academic or creative research.
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Research - Call for Participants
List of academic research in need of participants. Studies must be IRB approved.
Priority will be given to research being conducted as a requirement to fulfill
academic degree.
Alcohol and Stress Couples Study
- PAID and
IRB approved
A team from virginia Tech is offering up to $120.00 to multigender-attracted
(e.g., bisexual, pansexual, omnisexual, polysexual, demisexual, etc.) adults and
their romantic partners for completing a survey designed to examine how stress
linked to individuals' intersecting identities (e.g., discrimination, harassment,
biphobia, stereotypes about multigender-attracted individuals) impact adults' relationships,
how partners support each other during these moments of stress, and other health
outcomes.
Trans Perspectives On Laws And Community Attitudes
- PAID through Michigan State University
We are looking for individuals who identify as trans or nonbinary to participate in a study about the impacts of laws and community attitudes.
To participate, you must a) identify as trans or nonbinary, b) be aged 18-24, and
c) currently live in a state or territory where anti-trans legislation has been
considered.
Eligible individuals would complete a 1.5 hour interview over zoom; participants
would receive a $60 gift card.
If you are interested, email kimbal73@msu.edu or complete a survey here .