LGBTQ+ Center Updates
June 6, 2025
Happy Pride Month!
It's time to celebrate the spirit of resilience and accomplishments.
Good News to Start
We want to start sharing some good news with each newsletter, because everyone could use a little smile.
On the topic of allyship outside of the continental US, almost 10,000 cisgender women in the UK have rejected claims that trans-exclusive rhetoric is necessary to protect them from harm and the Puerto Rico Supreme Court has ruled that ‘X’ Gender Markers are allowable on birth certificates .
A little closer to home, the LGBTQ+ Center has shirts and jackets available for purchase through 6/30!
Upcoming Events with the Center
Glen Or Glenda? Live Reading and Conversation
Saturday, June 7th at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
203 Parsons St, Morgantown WV 26505
So, it’s been a long time since 1953, right? 71 years! Do you ever wonder what things were like for trans and nonbinary people 71 years ago? Do you wonder how far we’ve come? Do you wonder what to do about the future?
Well, we’re here to offer a glimpse into the past, and have a conversation! This summer, executive producer Tom Berich has teamed up with the LGBTQ+ Center, a few people from the School of Theater and Dance, and M.T. Pockets Theatre to produce a live reading of Ed Wood’s cult classic film, Glen Or Glenda!
The reading carries a powerful message of acceptance. “Ed Wood famously directed what was considered one of the worst films of all time (Plan 9 From Outer Space), but before he did that, he directed ‘Glen or Glenda’ in 1953, a campy but very sincere plea for tolerance for the non-binary and trans community.”
This is not just any reading; it is also a fundraiser for the WVU LGBTQ+ Center, which is committed to creating a culture of community and connectivity that advances the University’s mission of promoting high-impact research, healthcare and prosperity for students, faculty and staff at WVU and beyond.
Whether you are a long-time fan of Ed Wood or just curious about the journey of the LGBTQ+ community, this event promises to be an engaging and enlightening experience. Plus, you will be supporting a great cause while enjoying some laughs and maybe even shedding a tear or two. The show will begin and conclude with a talkback with the audience.
Gather your friends, bring your open hearts, and celebrate the beauty of resilience together. Tickets are $10 each and available for purchase now or at the door. Every dollar raised directly supports the WVU LGBTQ+ Center’s mission.
Wednesday, June 11th
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Health Sciences Pylons
BeWELL WVU and the LGBTQ+ Center invite you to a wellness event at the Health Sciences Pylons!
We all get by with a little help from our friends–sometimes the most powerful thing you can do to make yourself feel good is to show kindness to others. This month’s United In Wellness fair is going to show y’all how to use your voice to empower others, what it takes to create a sense of belonging, and how to be a good ally to the people who need one. Plus, we’ll have all sorts of things to help you relax and take care of yourselves, too!
Date: June 14th, 2025
Time: 2:00-5:00pm
Location: Hazel Ruby McQuain Park
Come celebrate PRIDE with us in 2025! Morgantown Pride is hosting us and lots of other organizations for an afternoon of entertainment, food, vendors, and community on June 14th, 2025 from 2-5pm. Stay tuned for updates on who’ll be joining us and what surprises we’re able to pull off!
Check out the volunteer opportunities with Morgantown Pride! These opportunities count toward community service hours and can be tracked through iServe.
Adventure WV: LGBTQ+ & Allies First-Year Trip
July 12th-17th 2025
Odyssey 11b
Adventure WV is partnering with the LGBTQ+ Center to provide an exciting opportunity for first year students in the summer of 2025. Sign up today to reserve your spot!
Community Corner
This section is open to the public! Events outside of WVU are posted here.
The Co-Op 131 Pleasant Street, Morgantown
Wednesday, June 18th from 6:00-10:00 pm.
Monthly, every third Wednesday
All ages 18+ welcome
Play games, dance, eat, and hang out with other queer folks someplace cool besides a bar. Comfortable couches, good lighting, and great eats right next door at BCMac.
Come join us at Our Place, a calm, relaxing, safe space for our people at the Co-Op in Morgantown. Early evening so you’re not out too late!
Saturday, June 21st, 10:00 am. - 2:00 pm.
Monroe St, Fairmont WV
Worried you can’t make it to Morgantown’s Block Party on June 14th? You’re in
luck!
Main Street Fairmont and Fairmont Pride are teaming up to have a Pride Block
Party on Monroe Street in Downtown Fairmont!
With more than 70 vendors, a special Non-Profit & Community Organization
Fair, live music, great food, games, crafts, and certified excellent vibes, this
is going to be a fantastically happy way to get involved with even more of West
Virginia’s LGBTQ+ Community.
Bulletin Board
InterAct is an advocacy group for intersex youth that has informational resources, research opportunities , monthly support groups , and social opportunities across the United States. Upcoming events include their annual InterConnect Conference from July 24-27 in Corvallis, Oregon, and collaborations with the Fedup Collective , which provides support for trans, intersex, and nonbinary people struggling with eating disorders.
The Rainbow Room Sex Education Summer Session
Every Sunday from June 1 - August 24
Online
A nationally expanded, weekly “Listen and Learn” sex education virtual series led alongside incredible LGBTQ+ health educators from all across the country. The Rainbow Room is a webinar series centered on LGBTQ+ sex ed! Planned Parenthood and their partners will cover the basics of talking through comprehensive consent, power dynamics in relationships, and navigating communication! By and for LGBTQ+ people, they are jumping right in to fill in any gaps, connect and discuss what is important to our community, and go in-depth on subjects most sex ed doesn’t cover. This is a space to feel seen, heard, and empowered with the knowledge we’ve always deserved.
Register for June’s webinars on Consent (6/8), Birth Control (6/15), Celebrating All Bodies & Anatomies (6/22), and Sex & Safety on the Internet (6/29).
The Black Queer Creative Summit is in Los Angeles this year!
Applications are open now through May 23, 2025.
Eligibility:
Black LGBTQ creatives with experience or demonstrated interest in the following
sectors:
· Executives (producers, showrunners, publicists, agents)
· Creators (filmmakers, directors, writers, photographers, animators)
· Behind-the-Scenes Professionals (hair, makeup, wardrobe, styling)
· On-Screen Talent (actors, personalities, media influencers)
· Music Supervision (artists, songwriters, composers, music editors)
Selected applicants will be notified in July.
New this cohort: Scholarships will be offered for support for up to 60 BQCS Scholars, which will include lodging, meals, and a travel stipend. For those not receiving a scholarship, there will be an option to confirm attendance by covering a $1,500 conference fee, which includes lodging, meals, and round trip shuttle service for off site sessions. Airfare is not included in this fee.
To be considered for a scholarship, applicants must indicate their interest in the application and complete a short written prompt.
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.
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.
Summer Hours
We will be open from 8:15 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday.
You can reach us by email at lgbtq@mail.wvu.edu
Check out our events page or subscribe to our Google Calendar to be the first to receive more information.
More information on any of these events can be found on our blog, and more info about research opportunities can be found on our website.