Pride Month is celebrated in June each year to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan on June 28, 1969. The Stonewall Uprising was a riot led by queer and trans people against police harassment and is viewed as a catalyst for the Gay Rights Movement in the United States. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. The Pride flag recognizes intersections within the LGBTQ+ community, honoring LGBTQ+ people of color and different gender identities. It celebrates the beauty and diversity of the experience. You can read more about the history of Pride Month at the Library of Congress.
In June, CU Engineering recognizes the students, faculty and staff who are a part of LGBTQ+ communities and to celebrate contributions to the college.
The Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM) group is a vibrant student society dedicated to LGBTQ+ individuals within the STEM community and is open to all. Every year, oSTEM honors one faculty member of the CU Boulder community for the Evelyn Hooker Advocacy Award who has inspired an LGBTQ+ student, via mentorship or research, to persist and flourish in the STEM community.
Director of Faculty Advancement Robyn Sandekian is the oSTEM staff advisor and a leader of LGBTQ+ support in our college. She has worked to ensure that our college’s faculty search processes are inclusive, in part, by sharing our faculty job postings on LGBTQ+ venues and ensuring that the Dual Career Program clearly welcomes all partners of new faculty members. In addition, she facilitates Safe Zone Ally Trainings developed by the American Society of Engineering Education and has previously presented on greater inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community during staff professional development weeks.
We applaud the efforts of faculty members such as Kyri Baker, who incorporated LGBTQ+ student support into her recent NSF CAREER award, and Wil Srubar, who included support for LGBTQ+ undergraduate researchers in his NSF CAREER award. Wil, the former oSTEM faculty advisor, has been a role model for engineering students.
The many diverse communities that make up our college make us stronger, more creative, more resilient and able to meet the world’s challenges with positive solutions that benefit all. This month we highlight members in our community, events to volunteer or participate in and provide resources for support. Take a moment this month to learn about and celebrate the history and people of Pride with our CU Boulder Libraries guide.
