LOCATION: Amsler Campus Center, Room 324
HOURS: Daily, 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
MCLA has a rich history of uplifting and empowering it’s queer and women students through safe spaces like the Identity & Gender Equity Resource Center and the Women’s Center. Because we know that the fights for sexual, romantic, and gender equity are deeply intertwined and rooted in intersectionality, we now have a spacious and combined Gender and Sexuality Center which focuses on the many aspects of these fights.
Located on the 3rd floor of the Amsler Campus Center, the Gender and Sexuality Center provides a variety of resources and programs to foster both academic and personal growth for students across the sexual, romantic, and gender identity spectrum. It serves as a safe space for students of all genders and sexualities to cultivate community, learn, and grow together. We also aim to increase awareness and proficiency around the identities and issues facing women and queer communities both on campus and in our surrounding communities. We know that our work is never finished and that as our communities continue to grow and evolve, so will our fight, our knowledge, and our goals. We are committed to continually learning, growing, and creating a safe and welcoming space that uplifts community members to embrace, show up as, and thrive as their most authentic selves.
The Gender and Sexuality Center is home to a growing array of student-led organizations, including:
a safe-space, student-run organization for LGBTQIA+ folks and allies
a coalition of FLINTA (women, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, trans, and agender) individuals exploring growth, healing, and activism in community
a group of men, masculine, and nonbinary folks re-imagining masculinity through reflection, dialogue, and community
The Gender & Sexuality Center has a variety of resources to help students grow and thrive, both personally and academically, including:
Including a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts on LGBTQIA+ and feminist topics, students have an array of resources at their fingertips for academic or personal use. Thanks to our team of student staff and a variety of donations, our library continues to grow and update with our student body.
The GSC is dedicated to providing current and relevant information on a variety of topics and resources including physical and mental health, suicide prevention, sexual assault awareness and prevention, crisis hotlines, identity affirmation community resources, and more.
This grassroots, student-created resource is an amazing space for students to both share and receive identity affirming clothing and accessories. MCLA students can donate unloved clothing that is clean and in good condition to be re-homed amongst the student population. This is an especially vital resource for queer, trans, and nonbinary students to find free and affirming clothing as they explore their identities.
a voluntary community of MCLA staff, faculty, and administrators who self-identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community - because visibility matters when it comes to feeling seen and finding your support network. Through this list, we hope that students who identify as members of the community will be able to find mentors who are also members of the community.
Additionally, faculty and staff may also opt into an LGBTQIA+ Faculty/Staff Connection Group to connect with other folks in the community on social and professional levels. This is available to all folks, whether they are interested or not in being a member of the Out@MCLA List.
The Gender & Sexuality Center puts on a variety of regular programs centered around community building and education, including regular Safe Zone Workshops, sexual violence awareness and prevention, movie & discussion events, body positivity & neutrality workshops, intersectional self-care & wellbeing workshops, LGBTQIA+ identity and issues informational talks and workshops, Pride Week & Ally Week events, and Lavender Graduation.
In addition to providing many opportunities to connect with community, find safe spaces, and accessing resources, the Gender & Sexuality Center is also committed to building strong ally communities to our LGBTQIA+ and women students and staff. MCLA offers a variety of opportunities for students, faculty, and staff alike to expand their knowledge and sharpen their allyship practices, and we encourage all to take advantage.
MCLA Safe Zone offers training to expand your allyship for all students, faculty, and staff.
We currently offer 4 workshop opportunities:
Safe Zone 2.0
We are always looking to expand our offerings and our team. Reach out to join the team, to participate in workshop opportunities, or to learn more!
Students, faculty, & staff can sign up for upcoming trainings or request a special session for their department by emailing Ara Phoenixx or Amanda Beckwith.
Safe Zone 1.0 is also available to out campus community as Online Modules.
MCLA Safe Zone has created the ultimate resource guide to help you in your continued growth and allyship. Whether you are looking for resources to expand your knowledge of your own community or simply to get to know our communities better, we've got you covered.
Feel free to reach out with recommendations for other resources to add or any questions!
Make allyship and intersectionality a key part of your college career with the WGSS minor! This minor explores how gender and sexuality are socially, culturally, and historically constructed, negotiated, and contested; considers the feminist perspective in a variety of contexts; and approaches women, gender, and sexuality studies from an interdisciplinary perspective.
The Gender and Sexuality Center is run by both professional and student staff who serve as an invaluable resource to the campus community.
Office: Amsler Campus Center, Room 320
Email: ara.phoenixx@mcla.edu
Ara serves as the professional staff leader for the Gender & Sexuality Center, serving as a mentor for all LGBTQIA+ and women students, as an advisor for student-led affinity groups, and as a program coordinator for the GSC. They work closely in collaboration with the rest of the Institution for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging staff and student organizations, including the Multicultural Education Resource Center (MERC) to ensure that students feel seen, safe, and sovereign in all of their intersectional identities.
