ODI Observation | Celebrating Pride Month

During Pride Month, UAlbany supports the continued fight against anti-queer bias, discrimination, and hate. Please consider participating in a variety of events in Albany, Schenectady and Troy, including the 5K Rainbow Run/Walk on June 12. 

Engaging and participating in online and in in-person events demonstrate that we can meaningfully connect as community members, even as we transition into post-pandemic normalcy. I am encouraged that events such as our Lavender Celebration were expertly executed and strongly supported, even as they were held in a virtual format this year. Kudos to the Division of Student Affairs, particularly Intercultural Student Engagement and the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, for maintaining this time-honored tradition. 

In recent weeks, we have seen an increasing volume of legislative activity that is targeting the transgender community. In addition to being anti-trans, these bills are attacks on our desire for an inclusive community. 

Let me be clear, the University at Albany stands against anti-queer bias and discrimination and supports greater equity and inclusivity. UAlbany has established resources for reporting acts of bias using the Bias Incident Response Protocol, while reports of discrimination and harassment may be made to the Office of Equity and Compliance. 

Lastly, ODI wishes to thank the outgoing co-chairs of the LGBTQ+ Advisory Council – Brian Tang and Kate Thies – for their work and contributions. Our new co-chairs – Zakhar Berkovich, Director – Undergraduate Student Services, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy and Sarah Mountz, Assistant Professor, School of Social Welfare – have already started engaging in how to make greater strides in UAlbany’s overall commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion – especially for our LGBTQ+ faculty, staff, students and community members.

UAlbany is a place where we strive to embrace and respect our various identities and the intersections between; live out our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; and continue to advance the work of creating an inclusive campus climate during this unprecedented time of racial reckoning. 

The work of diversity, equity, and inclusion continue.