LGBTQ+ Center
IN A FLASH: Trans Day of Remembrance
Nov. 20 the National Trans Day of Remembrance. Members of Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹'s LGBTQ+ community and allies honored trans lives lost with observances on campus.
![2024 Drag Race 5K finish at North Water Brewing 2024 Drag Race 5K finish at North Water Brewing](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/241011-Drag-Race_RD-00076.jpg?VersionId=q_SngmsfAPFBnIBYt0jnZIy1U8mn..gO&itok=s7FNovjD)
IN A FLASH: A Rainbow Connection
![Rainbow over the Lefton Esplanade and the arch on front campus. Rainbow over the Lefton Esplanade and the arch on front campus.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/241014-rainbow_RD-00011.jpg?VersionId=pgoo9CVlJp28F7sKo5mkHfGjWIZs06.h&itok=W5_vw3hD)
IN A FLASH: Rain and Rainbows
"No rain, no rainbows," is how the saying goes and on this rainy morning, a rainbow glowed over the Lefton Esplande and all of Kent.
![Rainbow Weekend bridge decorators 2024 Rainbow Weekend bridge decorators 2024](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/Screenshot%202024-10-10%20at%209.59.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=HPkEJE_t8iR0M6YRgz.pNcWKzb_.7GOT&itok=0eFxc3gd)
Kent to Celebrate Rainbow Weekend Oct. 11-13
The fourth annual Rainbow Weekend in downtown Kent Oct. 11-13 and all of its fun activities, events and new Drag Race 5K come from a fabulous partnership between Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University's LGBTQ+ Center and Main Street Kent.
![LGBTQ+ Kick-Off 2024 LGBTQ+ Kick-Off 2024](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/BOB_1428.jpg?VersionId=Sg0JpuahaiZ9ybZrgmYxc1ewXIzqmkgd&itok=8gQX3JFz)
Kicking Off the Fall Semester With Pride
Before classes began for Fall Semester 2024, the Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer Plus (LGBTQ+) Center welcomed the university's LGBTQ+ community back to campus with a Fall Kickoff event.
![Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ at Akron Pride 2023 Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ at Akron Pride 2023](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/Screenshot%202024-06-06%20at%202.13.41%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=Gc8DDk.u4mzSgYxCgsAvNWX8g5NydWx9&itok=fbwza7Kg)
Celebrating Pride Statewide in June and Beyond
Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University's LGBTQ+ Center is celebrating Pride Month by boosting activities statewide, collaborating with local events, hosting a walking group and planning for a fabulous Fall Semester.
![Lavender Graduation 2024 Lavender Graduation 2024](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/DSC_4816-Enhanced-NR.jpg?VersionId=SlnSsDg1welR8Hc3ciKcbrh5M2KGZgfe&itok=hEgl0DuZ)
IN A FLASH: Welcome 2024 Lav Grads!
Ahead of university-wide commencement ceremonies, the annual Lavender Graduation ceremony honors the achievements of graduating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and ally (LGBTQ+) students at Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University
![Meghan Schwind Banner Meghan Schwind Banner](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/240066_women%E2%80%99s%20history%20month%20mark%20and%20web%20header_Selected_3_22_2024.jpg?VersionId=mnlOjxTTOgukbJaEbfZVTtvJKvc4fTkU&itok=4gjlJSeG)
'They can do anything and be anything'
As a spouse, a mother and a member of Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹'s LGBTQ+ community, Meghan Schwind shares her thoughts for Women's History Month on challenges women face and her hopes for rising generations of women.
![LGBTQ students and allies painted The Rock LGBTQ students and allies painted The Rock](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/pro-msEiUJn5.jpeg?VersionId=Y9WzryaUZceblr54iT0B9vFrKe9rSl5L&itok=Gi691I9B)
IN A FLASH: Promoting Kindness
Members of Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹'s LGBTQ+ community and their allies used The Rock to share a call for kindness.
![Safe Space Ally Training Safe Space Ally Training](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/safespace.jpg?VersionId=.TbAsicgdOeyUKyZ7chtFV8BcjEP36I9&itok=j1zEC7On)
‘Being an Ally Is Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Action’
Offered regularly on the Kent Campus, the university’s Safe Space Ally Training aims to equip students, faculty, staff and university community members with the tools for creating Safe Spaces and welcoming environments for LGBTQ+ students on campus. Diane Smith, reporter for the Record-Courier, took part in Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University’s Safe Space Ally Training, giving readers a first-person perspective on what the program involves.