MD��ý���

2025

Intimacy Spectrums: – Spring 2025

• In collaboration with Student Health Services’ Sex Positive Week
• Workshop description: Delve into diverse experiences of sexuality and romanticism by learning about ace and aro identities and embracing that sex positivity includes those who do not desire sex.

Embodied and Empowered: A Celebration of Trans Wellness

• Embodied & Empowered is a one-day conference hosted by the MD��ý��� Trans Wellness Network in celebration of trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming students. The day will be focused on resource sharing, community building, and making space for radical hope and trans joy. There will be guest speakers, breakout discussions, zine making, a community mural, resource fair, and book exchange. Breakout discussions will cover topics like: how to get a letter for surgery, intro to hormone therapy, intro to voice training, intro to T-camp, and the intersection of being trans & disabled.
• Collaboration with LGBTQ+ RC, CAPS, WGEC, SHS, Rainbow Café, and Beach Wellness
• Artwork and Conference Mascot created by local artist and alumni MLOU the Artist
• Founding coordinators:
  • Ash Preston, Assistant Director of LGBTQ+ Resource Center
  • Dr. Lauren Jensen, CAPS Counselor and Rainbow Café facilitator
  • Emily Noah, CAPS Doctoral Intern

Trans Week of Joy – Spring 2025

• • Collaboration with Long Beach LGBTQ Center Legal Services department
• • Collaboration with CAPS/Emilie Noah
• • Collaboration with TQFSA
• • Collaboration with CAPS/Dr. Lauren Jensen
• • Collaboration with Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies department
• • Collaboration with CAPS, WGEC, SHS, Rainbow Café, and Beach Wellness

Lavender Graduation Celebration – Spring 2025

• 19^th annual event
• Drag Queen Hosts
• Cultural Graduation Celebrations Website

LB Current (formerly the Daily 49er) coverage of LGBTQIA+ topics:

• TBP

2024

LGBTQ+ Resource Center New Assistant Director

• Ash Preston (they/them), M.S. Ed.
  • Started January 2024

Trans Week of Joy – Spring 2024

Lavender Graduation Celebration – Spring 2024

• 18^th Annual event
• Hosted by local alumni drag queen –
• Cultural Graduation Celebrations Website

– Cultural Welcome – Fall 2024

Drag Loteria

• New OUTober & Latine Heritage Month Collaboration between the LGBTQ+ Resource Center and the Latine Resource Center
• Hired local Latine drag queens, both alumni of MD��ý���, to host the event and celebrate unique intersection and culture of the LGBTQ+ Latine community
  • Drag Queen Hosts

Associated Students Inc. raises the LGBTQIA+ flag on the MD��ý��� campus for the first time in 75 times

OUTober – Fall 2024

• OUTober Kick Off!
• GLOW As You Are – Resource Fair
• Drag Loteria
• Understanding Cisgender Privilege – Workshop
• LGBTQ+ Graduate Student Panel
• Flags & Popsicles!
• Queer Pasifika Film Fest
• QTBIPOC Healing and Wellness – Workshop
• Boba Mixer with QTFSA

QTFSA changes name to TQFSA (Trans and Queer Faculty and Staff Association)

LB Current (formerly the Daily 49er) coverage of LGBTQIA+ topics:

2023

First meeting of Color Me Queer – Spring 2023

• A supportive group space for those in the intersections of BIPOC and LGBTQ+. Community-led environment to come and learn, share, and uplift each other.
• Founding leader: Chanda Moore
  • Collaborative space hosted by the Black Resource Center and the LGBTQ+ Resource Center

Trans Week of Joy – Spring 2023

• Annual week of celebration to uplift the transgender community through a week full of events from panels to socials, and one-day conferences.

– Cultural Welcome – Fall 2023

• Annual kickoff event to begin the new year by learning about on and off campus resources, building connections and a sense of belonging, and having fun with the LGBTQ+ community.

OUTober – Fall 2023

Daily 49er coverage of LGBTQIA+ topics:

2022

CLGBTIQ+CC becomes LGBTQIA+ CCC

• Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer + Campus Climate (CLGBTIQ+CC), a subcommittee of the general Campus Climate Committee within Academic Senate, is retitled to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, Aromantic + Campus Climate Committee (LGBTQIA+ CCC).

Cruising the capacious: A trans studies symposium

• Campus event for Women’s History Month hosted by TAC, WGSS, and PCSW
• Women's History Month 2022 Event flyer

Girls Like Us: Exploring Trans Feminist Herstory

• Virtual campus event for Women’s History Month with Dr. Kathryn Perkins

First in-person LGBTQIA+ Cultural Welcome event

• March 9, 2022 in the USU Games Center
• Cultural Welcome Events Info

Queers and Allies change their name to Queer Students’ Alliance

• The rationale for the new name was to shift the language toward students who are queer rather than being labeled as “queers” and centering queer experiences.

Dr. Shae Miller launches Queer and Trans Faculty and Staff Affinity group (QTFSA)

• An officially recognized Affinity Group at MD��ý��� under the President’s Equity and Change Commission.
• The mission of the Queer and Trans FSA (QTFSA) is to facilitate community-building, resource development, and advocacy for all faculty and staff members of our (a)gender, (a)sexual, and (a)romantic communities.
• MD��ý��� Faculty & Staff Affinity Groups

2021

Student gain access to initiating hormone therapy on-campus

• Fall 2021, MD��ý��� Student Health Services begins to offer the possibility of initiating hormone therapy

Trans Advocacy & Empowerment

• First trans specific registered student organization
• Developed over the years through mentorship and support by Drs. Loretta LeMaster, Shae Miller, and Abraham Weil
• First Co-President: Sky Na; First Secretary: Alfredo Heredia

First campus housing construction that intentionally included all gender restrooms

Daily 49er coverage of LGBTQIA+ experiences

• (student article)

2020

Daily 49er coverage of LGBTQIA+ experiences

• (student article)

First LGBTQIA+ Cultural Welcome Event

• A virtual event to welcome LGBTQIA+ students new to campus as part of a week-long cultural welcome series.
• Now institutionalized and occurs at the start of each semester.
• Hosted by Student Orientation, Advising and Registration (SOAR) within the Division of Student Affairs in collaboration with campus partners and student leaders.

Trans Advocacy Coalition (TAC)

• TAC is founded by three faculty members with support from the MD��ý��� President, Dr. Jane Close Conoley.
• Founding members: Dr. Shae Miller (Sociology), Dr. Abraham Weil (WGSS), and Dr. Kathryn Perkins (Political Science)

First meeting of Trans Empowerment & Advocacy

• A virtual (bi-weekly) drop-in support space for all trans and gender nonconforming students. Not yet a registered student organization on campus.
• Developed and hosted by:
  • Caleb Aparicio, Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Affairs, Associated Students Inc.
  • Jasper Chagolla, Student Assistant for the LGBTQ Resource Center
  • Mlou Aquino, student leader
  • Jackie, student leader

2019

• Gender inclusive language shift, first use of MD��ý��� homecoming royalty
• Daily49er coverage of LGBTQIA+ experiences and campus events
  • “Out of the Closet” series (Daily 49er student interviews)
    • Produced by Paula Kiley and Aubrey Balster, in collaboration with Queers and Allies MD��ý���
• First meeting of the Trans People of Color Empowerment Group
  • Initiated by Majic Hanna, student leader
  • Not a registered student organization. Ran from 2019 – 2020.
• Student Health Services starts to offer maintenance of hormone therapy on campus

2018

• First meeting of Trans Meetings
  • A drop-in discussion group for trans students
  • Developed and co-facilitated by Dr. Shae Miller (Sociology) and Dr. Abraham Weil (WGSS)
  • Ran from 2018 – 2019 during the fall and spring semesters in the LGBTQ Resource Center (FO 4 – 165)
• “Dear Harvey” - performance written by MD��ý��� professor Patricia Loughrey
• Daily49er coverage of LGBTQIA+ community
• Two-Spirit Tongva Activist L. Frank Manriquez (Tongva/Acjachemen) spoke on campus
• CAPS Trans Care Team
  • Counseling & Psychological Services creates a Trans Care Team
  • Drs. Lauren Jensen & Beth Sullivan (Licensed Psychologists) and Rachelle Ang, LCSW (Case Manger)
• First LGBTQIA+ living community in campus housing was created (Hillside C)

2017

• AB 1732 was passed
  • Starting March 1, 2017, this bill requires “all single-user toilet facilities in any business establishment, place of public accommodation, or government agency to be identified as all-gender toilet facilities, as specified.”
• Daily49er coverage of LGBTQIA+ experiences and campus events
  • (Drag Bingo, hosted by Beach Pride Events)
  • (story about Dr. Jon Higgins, co-assistant director of OMA)
• Access to letters of support for surgery
  • Counseling and Psychological Services officially starts to provide letters of support for gender affirming surgeries.

2016

• OMA’s first OUTober (LGBTQIA+ Heritage Month)
  • Shifting from Coming Out Week to a cultural heritage month with programing aimed at celebrating LGBTQIA+ lives and experiences.
  • Initiated by Jonathan Higgins, Ed.D., Assistant Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Division of Student Affairs
• Daily49er coverage of LGBTQIA+ experiences and campus events
  • OMA’s first Coming Out Monologues:
  • Black LGBTQIA+ panel:
• 2016 – 2018 - Trans Empowerment Group
  • A weekly discussion, support, and empowerment collective specifically geared toward trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming students.
  • Created and hosted by Dr. Loretta LeMaster, Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
• Dr. Brian Jersky joined California State University Long Beach
  • Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (July). Outed himself publicly while candidating for the position.

Mid-2010's

• (exact year unknown) - Option to use an affirmed name for class roaster, campus ID cards, MyMD��ý��� and Beachboard

2015

• Daily49er coverage of LGBTQIA+ experiences and campus events
• What’s the Tea?
  • A drop-in support group for queer and trans people of color
  • Developed and hosted by Dr. Jonathan Higgins, Assistant Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Division of Student Affairs
  • Ran from Fall 2015 – Spring 2017
  • Ended as a result of Dr. Higgins’ departure from the university
• Campus Pride Index Score 3.5
• Safe Zone funding
  • The cost of administering Safe Zone Trainings (trainers still volunteer) is covered by the University
• Office of Multicultural Affairs
  • OMA is established within DSA to oversee the student cultural resource centers
  • First hires: Jonathan Higgins, Ed.D. & Christian Lozano Cuellar, M.S.Ed.
• for the College of the Arts (COTA) at California State University, Long Beach

2014

• Daily49er coverage of LGBTQIA+ experiences and campus events
•  was President of the American Indian Student Council from 2014-2015
• Frist meeting of Rainbow Cafe
  • A weekly drop-in group in support of sexual, gender, and romantic diversity
  • Established by Dr. Lauren Jensen, Licensed Psychologist, Counseling & Psychological Services, Division of Student Affairs
  • First meeting was October 13, 2014
• Robert Garcia, MD��ý��� alum, becomes Long Beach’s first gay identified mayor
  • Also the first Latino mayor and first mayor to be fluent in English and Spanish in Long Beach history
• First gender neutral housing option in campus dorms (Beachside College)

2013

• Daily49er coverage of LGBTQIA+ experiences and campus events
  • “Queer Hip Hop: Uncensored” (Transgender Day of Remembrance event)
    • 3rd annual event at the Nugget Grill and Pub on campus
• Start of Queer Studies minor
• First Committee on LGBTQ Campus Climate (CLGBTQCC) established
  • Gabriel Estrada, two-spirit Caxcan/Rarámuri through Chicana/o descent, first chair of the CLGBTQCC
  • A subcommittee of the Campus Climate Committee within academic senate
• Complete Campus Pride Index Score 2.5
• Student Health Services alters forms to be trans and non-binary inclusive
• Increased campus promotion of “out list”

2012

• Queer Studies minor
  • Passed by the Academic Senate on 9/20/12
• SB-48 passed
  • This bill requires instruction in social sciences to include a study of the role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans to the development of California and the United States.
  • Prohibits the State Board of Education and the governing board of any school district from adopting textbooks or other instructional materials that contain any matter that reflects adversely upon persons because of their gender or sexual orientation.

2011

• Safe Zone transferred from CAPS to CHHS
• Daily49er coverage of LGBTQIA+ experiences and campus events
  • Campus National Coming Out Week media coverage

2010

• “Keep on Keeping On” presented by Lisa Tiger (Muscogee Creek)
  • Native HIV/AIDS campus event for Native American Heritage Month in collaboration with the Red Circle Project and AIDS Project Los Angeles
  • Co-Sponsored by Native American CHOICES and the MD��ý��� American Indian Student Association
• Two-spirit history
  • Deborah A. Miranda (Ohlone-Costanoan Esselen Nation, Chumash) published Tongva Two-Spirit history and the current Tongva/Acjachemen two-spirit activism of L. Frank Manriquez in "Extermination of the Joyas: Gendercide in Spanish California" in Gay/Lesbian Quarterly.
• “Queer Hip Hop: Uncensored” hosted on campus
• Daily49er coverage of LGBTQIA+ experiences and campus events
  • Campus Transgender 101 Symposium (October)
  • Campus National Coming Out Week media coverage (October)
  • Project OCEAN from CAPS focuses on the needs of LGBTQ students (May)
  • MD��ý��� student is a victim of a transphobic hate crime in campus bathroom (April)

2009 

• LGBT Tenured and Tenure-Track faculty focus group
  • Drs. Kirstyn Chun and Neil Hultgren facilitated a Diversity Focus Group for self-identified LGBT Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty for the WASC report that was being written at that time.

Mid-late 2000s

• Providing all gender restrooms in campus dorms

2008

• Steven Spielberg, MD��ý��� alum, donates money to fight Prop. 8
  • Spielberg helps fund Prop. 8 opposition, by John Canalis, Press-telegram, 2008-09-23
• Robert Garcia, MD��ý��� alum, organizes rally in Long Beach in opposition to Prop. 8
  • Prop. 8 rallies Long Beach, by John Canalis, Press-telegram, 2008-10-29
• LGBT Task Force created
  • Ran from 2008 – 2013 with the goal of launching a queer studies minor and establishing a committed on LGBTQ campus climate
• Associated Students, Inc. creates a position for Secretary for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersexual and Queer Affairs
• The Daddy Machine, campus-community event, a musical about children with two moms
  • Nancy Martin, Ph.D. worked with Associated Students, Inc. and the MD��ý��� LGBT Faculty and Staff Network to co-sponsor a campus-wide, community-involved presentation of “The Daddy Machine”
  • Book by Patricia Loughrey, Music and Lyrics by Rayme Sciaroni. Based on the book by Johnny Valentine.
• Daily49er coverage of LGBTQIA+ experiences and campus events
  • Campus National Coming Out Week media coverage

2007

• First Lavender Graduation
  • May 12, 2007, organized by:
    • Loretta LeMaster, Lavender Graduation Co-Chair, Student Organizer
    • Thalia Elisa Duran, Lavender Graduation Co-Chair, Student Organizer
    • Jeff Au Spafford, Lavender Graduation Co-Chair, Delta Lambda Phi President
    • Kirstyn Yuk Sim Chun, Psy.D., LGBTRC Faculty Advisor, CAPS Psychologist
  • Negative campus reaction
• Celebration of Coming Out Week
  • Shifting from a day to week-long programing
    • Media coverage:
• First LGBT Diversity Week
  • April 16th – 19th 2007
• LGBT/Ally Community Group Day at a MD��ý��� women’s basketball game

2006

• Campus celebration of National Coming Out Day
• First publication of an Outlist in the campus newspapers
• World AIDS Day campus events (November 28-30)
• MD��ý��� participated in the national Day of Silence (April 26, 2006)
• MD��ý��� LGBT Resource Center officially became a part of Student Life and Development

2003

• First campus Safe Zone Training, created and hosted by CAPS psychologists

1996

• First Annual Long Beach Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
  • Hosted at MD��ý��� in the USU small auditorium (June 18, 19, 20th 1996)
  • Later referred to as QFilms

1995

• MD��ý��� LGBT Resource Center funded
  • Dr. Bob Maxson, President, provides limited operational funding for LGBT Resource Center

1994

• MD��ý��� LGBT Resource Center receives funding for half-time student position
  • Granted by present Dr. Robert Maxson
  • Funding granted for half-time Student Coordinator Program Coordinator position not dependent on work-study program

Mid-1990s

• Campus connection to Dr. Lester Brown, a gay/two-spirit American Indian
  • In the mid-1990s, American Indian Studies was chaired by Dr. Lester Brown, a gay/two-spirit American Indian.
  • Dr. Brown both held anonymous Native American HIV/AIDS support groups during the mid-1990s and he authored the book Two Spirit People: American Indian Lesbian Women and Gay Men (1999).
  • Through his mentorship, The Red Circle Project of the AIDS Project of Los Angeles formed as the first Native American HIV/AIDS program in Los Angeles formed in 2003.

1990

• MD��ý��� Rho chapter of Delta Lambda Phi established
  • MD��ý���’s first social fraternity for members of the LGBTQ+ community
  • Los Angeles Times (1923-1995), 1991-02-24, p.SEJ1
  • Delta Lambda Phi was founded by Jack Carrel, a graduate student in public health. He served as the first president of DLP.
• Queer Nation comes to campus
  • Dr. Michael Johnston, Psychologist at MD��ý��� CAPS, recalls MD��ý��� students being active in Queer Nation, a national activist organization
• World AIDS Day commemorated (as early as December 1, 1990)
  • Dr. Jonathan O'Brien recalls speaking at a candle-light ceremony for this event

1990's – 2010's

• Campus connection to two-spirit spokesperson Ben Lucero Wolf
  • Throughout the 1990s-2010s, two-spirit spokesperson Ben Lucero Wolf (Kiowa Nation of Oklahoma) was a male head dancer or dancer at local pow wows including the Puvungna (MD��ý���) annual Pow Wow. Mr. Wolf was commissioner of The Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission that includes Long Beach.

1987

• SAFE (Students for AIDS Facts & Education) founded
  • A student organization and peer education group that trained members to conduct class presentations, trainings, and campus tabling on AIDS/HIV and safer sex.
• ACT UP comes to campus
  • Dr. Michael Johnston, CAPS Psychologist, recalls that MD��ý��� students were active in ACT UP, a national activist organization.

1989

• Opening of the MD��ý��� LGBT Resource Center
  • Vince Nico was the first Student Program Coordinator (work-study position)
  • The first Faculty Advisors for the LGBT Resource Center were Dr. Michael Johnston (CAPS) & Dr. Patricia Rozee, (Psychology & WGSS)
  • Dr. June Cooper, Acting President of MD��ý���, establishes Faculty Office Building 4, room 165 as the location for LGBT Resource Center in 1988.

Mid - 1980s

• Coming Out Day was observed as early as the mid-1980s
  • Jonathan O'Brien recalls that students used to wear Levi’s/jeans on that day and once paid for a surprise newspaper ad in the 49er that communicated something like: “Thank you for wearing jeans today to support LGB community!” in the spirit of the rebellious Queer Nation.
• GLSU (Gay & Lesbian Student Union)
  • Held weekly meetings, had a dozen active members, and offered a full calendar of social events and community service.
  • A Speaker’s Bureau trained members as panelists to speak at many psychology and other courses at MD��ý��� and local community colleges.
  • Jonathan O'Brien was the editor of the newsletter, Contrarywise.

GLSU (Gay & Lesbian Student Union) established

• (Student Affairs staff) was the advisor for many years.