MC Pride | Montgomery College, Maryland

Welcome to MC Pride & Allies

October is nationally recognized as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History Month. During October the history of gay rights and related civil rights movements are recognized and celebrated. The Rainbow Flag is one of the most widely recognized symbols of the LGBTQ movement. The Rainbow Flag as we know it today was developed by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker in 1978. At the time, there was a need for an LGBTQ symbol which could be used year after year for the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade. Baker explained that his colors each stood for a different aspect of gay and lesbian life: Red for life, Orange for healing, Yellow for the sun, Green for nature, Blue for art, and Violet for spirit.

We are Montgomery College’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and allies faculty and staff group, a college-recognized organization within the College. Our vision and goals are to:

Defend LGBTQ people's civil/human rights, in the DC area and beyond, in wake of recent administration attacks/tweets,
Defend the DACA dreamers (those LGBTQ and not), defend Muslims under attack and other at-risk groups, especially transgender women of color, in the military and not, who are disproportionately at risk for hate and discrimination,
Affirm urgent need for defending/supporting LGBTQ people in our MC community, each campus,
Affirm continuing need for Safe Zone, Bystander and Consent training -- all the awareness and communication skills that make our campuses and communities more welcoming,
Raise dialogues about and affirm the need for domestic partner benefits for employees and MC Pride College and Campus Coordinators.

News and Events

Violence in Colorado, Dr. Jermaine F. Williams, President Memo

To: Montgomery College Community
From: Dr. Jermaine F. Williams, President
Subject: Violence in Colorado
Date: November 22, 2022

I know we were all appalled to learn of the tragic violence in Colorado Springs over the weekend at Club Q. The attacker appears to have targeted the club purposely because it embraces the LGBTQIA+ community and may have intended to disrupt Sunday’s recognition of Transgender Day of Remembrance. As a community, Montgomery College has long decried hatred and violence that targets individuals on the basis of sexual identity or gender identity.

In the wake of this shooting, the College reaffirms its support of LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, and staff. The College supports the rights of all community members to live free from harassment, threats, and violence. This incident is yet another that may create anxiety for many members of our community, and we encourage those impacted to seek assistance. Students can access support through counseling new windowwhile faculty and staff may use Faculty Staff Assistance Programnew window resources. The MC Pride and Allies groupnew window may also be a source of support and advocacy for students, faculty, and staff. The Office of Equity and Inclusion conducts Safe Zone trainings, which are open to employees and students, and empower participants to recognize and confront homophobia. The next one is scheduled for December 1. Watch for an announcement on how to register.

I encourage everyone to look for ways to build equity and inclusion in our community. Reinforcing my statement during last week’s town hall, hate has no place at Montgomery College. No one should feel unsafe at MC and speaking out against hatred toward any of our members is a powerful step. We can also participate in programs that expand our individual knowledge of people and cultures with which we are unfamiliar. Nurturing understanding and inclusion builds justice. I am proud to be a part of a community in which these elements are so highly valued.

MC Employees LGBTQ+ Group

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 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.

LGBTQ+ Literature Writing Group

Facilitated by Jess Pajak and Dr. Lucy Grinnell; Dates: Wednesdays, 9/28, 10/5, 10/12, and 10/19; Time: 12:00-1:00 PM; Location: Hybrid and in-person

In this informal, student-centered group, we will explore Alexander Chee's How To Write An Autobiographical Novel, a collection of nonfiction essays in which the author reckons with his identities as a son, a gay man, a Korean American, an artist, an activist, a lover, and a friend. Croup discussions and reflective and creative writing exercises will help us examine how our own lived experiences interact with and are influenced our respective identities. See flyer for more details. (PDF, )

MC PRIDE+ Club

MC PRIDE+ Club is a Rockville LGBTQ student club!

Meetings: Fridays, December 2, 1-2pm, Room SC-459

President: Ruth Ella Karo, rkaro@montgomerycollege.edu

For more information, students should email or communicate with group leaders via Instagram or Twitternew window. If you have questions, send an email.

Safe Zone Overview

Goals

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 SafeZone 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.

Safe Zones is an informative and experiential training that allows participants to explore their knowledge and assumptions about LGBTQ+ people, to learn about the needs and wants of LGBTQ+ students, and to understand core concepts and vocabulary, homophobia and heterosexism, and the coming out process. The training empowers participants to be able to support LGBTQ+ staff and students with campus, local, and national resources and to intervene in a situation of discrimination or harassment. The training is 6.5 hours, and you will receive professional development credit for that amount of time. There will be a brief lunch break.

Upon completion of the workshop series, participants will

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.

Next training dates:

Thursday, December 1, 2022, 9:00 AM-4:30 PM, Rockville Campus
Thursday, January 5, 2023, 9:00 AM-4:30 PM, Rockville Campus
Thursday, January 10, 2023, 9:00 AM-4:30 PM, Rockville Campus
Thursday, January 20, 2023, 9:00 AM-4:30 PM, Rockville Campus

Take the Pledge

Montgomery College Safe Zone Membership Pledge

I, ________________________________ acknowledge that I am an Ally for and with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and questioning members of the MC community and am committed to providing a safe, confidential support network for LGBTQ students, staff and faculty.

My participation in the Safe Zone project means that I am committed to being a safe person to whom individuals who have concerns about LGBTQ issues can speak.

I will strive to educate myself and others about LGBTQ issues and confront homophobia and heterosexism in the MC community. Furthermore, I realize that my actions as a LGBTQ ally have little meaning if I participate in other forms of oppression.

I acknowledge that I may make mistakes and that it’s okay if I don’t have all the answers. I realize that I have a network of fellow Safe Zone allies, and I will rely on them for support and assistance just as they can rely on me for support and assistance.

Finally, I am committed to treating everyone with the dignity and respect that they are entitled to as human beings.

Signature: _____________________________________________________ Date: _________________________

Trainer Signature: ______________________________________________ Date: _________________________

Safe Zone Sticker

Posting a Safe Zone sticker may bring a variety of possible reactions from those around you who notice it. The Safe Zone sticker might make some people uncomfortable. There may be times when someone seeks you out to dispute the purpose of safe zones, or to confront you on general issues related to LGBTQ people. You do not need to engage in discussion with people who seek to challenge you, Safe Zones, or LGBTQ people. You are there to provide support and resource information, not to defend issues.

While it’s helpful to be aware of these possibilities ahead of time, the following consequences are even more likely. You may expect to:

Find that LGBTQ people censor their speech less and are more open with you so that there is more genuine communication between you.
Find that students and colleagues are more at ease, anticipating a non-judgmental atmosphere in your workspace.
Find people turning to you for support or information about LGBTQ issues and concerns.
Perhaps not notice any difference in the interactions you have with others, but to know that you are making a difference.
Know that you are making a personal contribution to improving the campus environment.

Note: report any defacing of signage to the CEIO, Sharon Bland, and to Public Safety.

MC/DMV Resources for LGBTQ+ People

Responding to Discrimination or Harassment

Anticipating Situations and Responses (PDF, )

Refer a Student To Counseling

When to Refer an LGBTQ Student to a Mental Health Professional

Most of the students you will encounter are seeking support, advice, or information. Occasionally, you may see a student who is experiencing psychological distress. This may be evident in the following:

When a student states they are no longer able to function in their normal capacity within their classes; when they have seen a drop in grades or academic performance.
When a student can no longer cope with their day-to-day activities and responsibilities. A student may state they are no longer going to classes or they have been late for their job and may be fired soon if this continues.
A student expresses depressive symptoms such as: sleep disturbance, sudden weight loss or weight gain, crying spells, fatigue, loss of interest or pleasure in previous enjoyable activities, and/or inability to concentrate or complete tasks.
A student expresses severe anxiety symptoms such as: feelings of panic, shortness of breath, headaches, sweaty palms, dry mouth, or racing thoughts.
A student expresses suicidal thoughts or feelings.
A student has no support. They have no friends or have no friends with whom they can talk about their sexual orientation or gender identity. This person may not need counseling, but could benefit from a support group and the Counseling Center can make that assessment and referral.
good guideline to use if all else fails: If you are feeling overwhelmed or worried about a student, refer them to a counseling professional!

Personal Counseling

The Montgomery College Counseling and Advising Centers’ Counseling and Disability Support Services (DSS) faculty assist students with academic, personal, and career concerns. The primary emphasis is on supporting students to achieve their educational goals. Counselors do not provide ongoing therapy services to students, but can provide brief personal counseling on a short-term basis to deal with an immediate concern. Brief personal counseling is defined as any sessions regarding a concern that is not academic in nature. Counselors will also refer students to local community counseling resources which can provide further support and treatment for ongoing mental health needs.

Visit the College's Personal Counseling websitenew window for additional information.

Student Health and Wellness Center for Success

Your health and wellness can have an impact on academic success. The Student Health and Wellness Center for Successnew window (SHaW Center) identifies, provides, and connects students to resources that support success. Some common challenges students face are access to health care, housing, food, mental health support, and personal safety. Montgomery College's network of community resources helps remove those obstacles to support your academic success. The SHaW Center also provide Mental Health Resourcesnew window to students.

LGBTQ+ Related Resources at MC