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Thursday, December 7, 2023

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The Pride Flag at SDSU The Pride Flag at SDSU
 


SDSU Applauded for Its Support of LGBTQ+ Students

The Campus Pride Index ranks SDSU No. 14 nationally, with a perfect five-star rating.
By Jeff Ristine
 

In an annual announcement tied to Pride Month, San Diego State University maintained its perfect five-star rating in a new ranking of the nation’s top LGBTQ+-friendly schools.

The 2021 list of “Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students,” developed by the Campus Pride Index and BestColleges, notes The Pride Center and campuswide training and awareness initiatives as features of SDSU’s progressivism for LGBTQ+ students.

Also contributing to the ranking is the university’s major and minor in LGBTQ studies.

REGISTER: RSVP for the SDSU Virtual Pride Celebration on July 14, 2021

SDSU ranks No. 14 nationally in the Campus Pride Index and is the only public university in California with a five-star rating, a distinction the university first received in 2010.

“We are incredibly proud of the cross-divisional efforts on campus to support LGBTQ+ students,” said Jessica Nare, assistant vice president for community and belonging in SDSU’s Division of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity.

“This recognition is a testament to the work of The Pride Center, LGBTQ Studies, the Pride ERG, SafeZones and other advocates at SDSU who work tirelessly to ensure that LGBTQ+ students thrive during their time on our campus and beyond,” Nare added.

Located on Campanile Drive, The Pride Center offers a safe and affirming gathering space for persons of all sexual and gender identities and their allies. Its resources include counseling, a peer mentoring program, and a Pride Employee Resource Group. The SafeZones initiative offers an Ally Training program for faculty, staff and students as part of the university’s commitment to safety for the LGBTQ+ community.

At the Pride Center, assistant director Wesley Palau said: “We believe in centering holistic community care, while continuing to support and connect our Queer community with a myriad of growing opportunities, resources, and connections.” Information on events and involvement, Palau said, can be found at Instagram @sdsupridecenter.

SDSU was the second university in the United States and the first in California to offer a major in LGBTQ studies, and began an annual Lavender Graduation ceremony in 2010.