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.