MC Pride and Allies
Fostering a welcoming environment for our LGBTQIA+ employees and students at Montgomery College.
We are an employee affinity group that works to foster a welcoming environment for our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA)+ employees and students at Montgomery College. Our vision and goals include:
- Offer safe and welcoming spaces for LGBTQIA+ employees and allies to connect and support each other
- Serve as a resource for LGBTQIA+ students and allies seeking information and guidance
- Affirm the urgent need for defending/supporting LGBTQIA+ people in our College community and beyond
- Affirm the continuing need for Safe Zone, Bystander, and Consent training
To learn more about our group structure and leadership, please review our Bylaws (PDF, 
) .
Join MC Pride and Allies: Sign upnew window to be added to the group's email distribution list to receive future updates and be added to our monthly meetings.
Gain new understanding of gender, gender identity, gender expression and the diverse range of sexual and affectional orientations. Acquire resources and referral information and practice communication skills for classroom or office discussions or unexpected disclosure. It's your choice about how visible and active to be as an ally after class.
By taking the Safe Zone training, you help foster a welcoming academic environment for students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender--or questioning identity. LGBTQ students often feel unsafe at school, resulting in reduced attendance to avoid risk, bullying, or bias. Additionally, you can empower students to cope with ignorance or discrimination, build community among peers, and focus on their studies.
Visit the Safe Zone website for additional information.
Learn about global LGBTQIA+ identities at histories with Dr. Lucy Grinnell.
Spring 2025: Distance Learning Format, March 31-May 18, CRN: 31625
GNDS 102 is an inter-disciplinary, cross-cultural examination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) identities in contemporary United States society that draws from history, literature, sociology, philosophy, psychology and communications studies to understand the diversity of gender expressions and sexual orientations. This course surveys who LGBT people are and how academic study of these identities has developed.
Full details are in Gender Studies 102: Understanding LGBTQ+ Identities Course for Students below.
- Wednesday, October 9, 2024 | Wednesday, November 13, 2024 | Wednesday, December 4, 2024 | Wednesday, January 29, 2025 | Wednesday, February 19, 2025 | Wednesday, March 12, 2025 | Wednesday, April 16, 2025 | Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Fill out the MC Pride & Allies Interest List formnew window or send us an email to be added to the Zoom meeting invitation.
September 2024
- 9/11/2024 — LGBTQ+ Student Experiences Survey Results and Recommendations to Increase Support for LGBTQ+ Students at MC, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM, via Zoom (ID: 986 4950 4548)
- 9/23/2024 — Mexico's First Female President, 11:00 AM-12:30 PM, Rockville Campus, SC 301, via ZOOM (ID: 935 5222 9953)
October 2024
- 10/16/2024 — The Women's and Gender Studies Program Student Empowerment Resource Fair (PDF, ) , Rockville Green Space, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm.
- 10/23/2024 — Rockville Open House at the Employee Benefits Fair, Small Gym (PE137A), 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
- 10/24/2024 — Takoma Park Open House at the Employee Benefits Fair, Leggett Building Planetarium, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
- 10/30/2024 — Central Services Open House at the Employee Benefits Fair, BOT (S108), 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
- 10/31/2024 — Germantown Open House at the Employee Benefits Fair, Globe Hall (HT216 , HT217), 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
November 2024
- 11/20/2024 — Virtual speaker series event in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance featuring
guest Elizabeth “Lizzy” Graham. Transgender and Autism Acceptance in Schools and College: My Experience, Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 1:00-2:00 PM, via Zoom. Register for Eventnew window | Event Flyer (PDF, )
December 2024
- TBD — December Game Night/Social Meetup
Spring 2025
- April 2025 — Equity Week Collaboration
- April 2025 — Pride Kick-off Open Houses for Students
- May 2025 — Virtual Pride Kickoff for Employees
- June 2025 — Pride Month Events (Rockville Pride Festival, Pride in the Plaza Silver Spring)
- Women and Gender Studies website
- Check out our awesome Literature and Creative Writing Courses
- Earn a General Studies AAnew window with an ENGLISH focus at MC
- ENGLISH Option AA Academic Map (PDF, )
- Earn a Women and Gender Studies certificatenew window in 4 CLASSES!
Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) has been observed annually on November 20 for over two decades and caps off Transgender Week of Awareness. It is a time to honor the memories of transgender people who have lost their lives to anti-trans violence. The day is often marked with vigils, community gatherings, and celebrations of life. MC Pride & Allies holds the memories of those we've lost close as we work towards uplifting trans folks while they are still alive.
MC and Community Resources
- Trans Maryland websitenew window
- National Center for Transgender Equality websitenew window
- Contact MC Pride and Allies via email
- Sign upnew window to be added to the group's email distribution list to receive future updates and be added to our monthly meetings
The College offers the Gender Studies 102: Understanding LGBTQ+ Identities course for students.
Spring 2025: Distance Learning Format, March 31-May 18, CRN: 31625
GNDS 102 is an inter-disciplinary, cross-cultural examination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) identities in contemporary United States society that draws from history, literature, sociology, philosophy, psychology and communications studies to understand the diversity of gender expressions and sexual orientations. This course surveys who LGBT people are and how academic study of these identities has developed. It explores the connection between women’s studies and gender studies, and the ways women’s studies has grown to include analysis of how gender and sexual orientation interact and intersect, and how heterosexism and homophobia function in various contexts and affect everyone in society. This course requires students to engage both written and visual texts, to apply and connect material from the course to life outside the classroom, and to investigate sexual minority identities in terms of communities, cultures and political movements. Assessment Level(s): ENGL 101/ENGL 101A, READ 120 or consent of program coordinator. Three hours each week. Formerly GS 102.
View the Catalognew window for additional information, or contact Dr. Lucy Grinnell.
MC Pride & Allies meets regularly. This is an informal meeting with the purpose of getting to know one another and discussing what we want from the group. The meeting is held on Zoom.
If you are an MC employee and/or student who is interesting in being part of the MC Pride & Allies group and want to join the meeting, please email us. We will forward you the Zoom meeting information.
Meetings: Tuesdays, 12:30-2:00 p.m.
E-mail: Tony Tran, ttran332@montgomerycollege.edu
Meetings: Fridays, 1:00-2:00 p.m., SC 459
President: Ruth Ella Karo
For more information, students should email or communicate with group leaders via Instagram or Xnew window. If you have questions, send an email.
If you have questions or feedback, please contact us via email. Follow us on Facebook Groupnew window and Instagramnew window.
Updated 11/26/2024