The Pride Center for LGBTQIA2+ Diversity

About

The Pride Center for LGBTQIA2+ Diversity is located on the second floor of the University Center. If you are entering the building through the first floor, please go up the spiral stairs (or elevator) located at the center of the building. You may also enter through the side entrances on the second floor of the University Center. Once at the second floor, you should see The Center for Global Engagement (CGE) and its corresponding lounge. Please continue forward to where the CGE classrooms are located and make a right. After, The Pride Center is the last door on your left and should have our departmental signage. Please contact us if you experience any issues finding us or experience accessibility issues.

Mission

The Pride Center for LGBTQIA2+ Diversity is a lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual, “+” (LGBTQIA2+) -centered communal space that envisions, nurtures, and advocates for a flourishing, healthy, and inclusive LGBTQIA2+ community. We do this through connection, expression, social justice, and student leadership development-based initiatives.

History

The Pride Center for LGBTQIA2+ Diversity originally opened its doors as the “Freedom Alliance Lounge” on August 1, 1995, and was located in the Sondheim basement. This space was created for UMBC’s first LGBTQIA2+ student organization (Freedom Alliance) as a gathering space for queer students to connect and build community in a discreet and safe space. Its current location in The University Center opened in July of 2007 in response to the U.S. Reserve Officer Training Course (ROTC) having an active chapter at UMBC the previous year. During this time, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” U.S. military policy was still in effect, which banned military officers from being openly LGBTQIA2+ or risked being dishonorably discharged from their role. As a result, student, staff, and faculty LGBTQIA2+ leaders advocated for a space where students could feel safe and feel that they also belonged to the greater UMBC community. Since then, The Pride Center has experienced immense growth and has become part of the larger Diversity and Inclusion area within Campus Life and sister space to The Mosaic and the then Interfaith Center in 2010. Over a decade later, The Pride Center continues to be a place of creating connections and relationship building.