ODI Observations | Pride Month 2023

During this time, we recognize the resilience of the LGBTQ+ community and allies and their many valuable contributions in the continuing fight against anti-queer bias, discrimination, and hate. Please consider attending and participating in the various events in Albany, Schenectady, and Troy, including the Capital Pride Parade and Festival on June 11.

Engaging in events that highlight and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community demonstrates that we can meaningfully connect as community members. I am encouraged that events such as our Lavender Celebration were strongly supported and well attended by students, faculty, staff, family members, and allies. Kudos to the Division of Student Affairs, particularly Intercultural Student Engagement and the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, for their commitment to this time-honored and student-centered tradition.

At the same time, we cannot ignore the increasing amount of legislative activity that explicitly targets the transgender community, which in addition to curtailing the rights of trans people is an attack on the inclusive community as a whole.

Let me be clear: the University at Albany stands against anti-queer bias and discrimination and anti-trans bias and discrimination and supports greater equity and inclusivity. To that end, UAlbany has established resources for reporting acts of bias through the Bias Incident Response Protocol, while reports of discrimination and harassment may be made to the Office of Equity and Compliance. Additional resources include Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) which remains available to support community members who are dealing with intense or mixed emotions triggered by instances of bias, and multiple other student resources, such as the Office of Intercultural Student Engagement, including the Multicultural Resource Center, the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center and the Interfaith Center.

Lastly, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion wishes to thank the co-chairs of the LGBTQ+ Advisory Council — Zakhar Berkovich, director of undergraduate student services in Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, and Sarah Mountz, associate professor in the School of Social Welfare — for their work and contributions, along with Courtney D'Allaird, assistant director in the Office of Intercultural Student Engagement. Joining Zakhar, who will continue to serve as Council co-chair, is newly named co-chair Melissa Starman — program coordinator for educational and counseling psychology in the School of Education — who will continue to engage in the critical and necessary work to support our LGBTQ+ faculty, staff, students and community members.
 
UAlbany strives to be a place where we embrace and respect our various identities and the intersections between and among those identities; sincerely live our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; and continue to cultivate a campus climate in which respect and inclusivity are not just expected but embraced.
 
Happy Pride Month!

Samuel Caldwell
Chief Diversity Officer and Associate Vice President