Pride Month is celebrated across the country each June in recognition of the Stonewall Riots in 1969. To mark the celebration, we will highlight various aspects of Case Western Reserve’s LGBT Center throughout the month.
LGBT History at CWRU
Case Western Reserve University’s LGBT Center was founded in 2010, but LGBT history at the university goes much further back.
The Undergraduate Student Government officially recognized the Lesbian/Gay Student Union in 1987 — a move that, at the time, received pushback.
And in 1988, the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees incorporated “sexual orientation” into the university’s nondiscrimination clause.
However, efforts at raising awareness of the LGBT community at CWRU were marred by defaced chalkings on campus and criticism throughout the 1990s.
But in 2010, Case Western Reserve University began recognizing students who contribute to the LGBT mission at CWRU by awarding the first Douglas W. Nock Endowment Scholarship.
Today, the university is considered to be much more inclusive, with the LGBT Center leading the effort in supporting faculty, staff, students, alumni, prospective students and community members. Among the major advancements was offering gender-inclusive housing, which began in 2015 at Case Western Reserve.
In 2017, CWRU ranked No. 34 of College Choice’s list of Top 50 Best LGBT Friendly Colleges and Universities. The university also has 4.5 out of five stars on the LGBT-Friendly Campus Pride Index, also making the list for Top 25-LGBT Friendly Colleges and Universities based on the index.
Read more about the LGBT Center and check back throughout June to learn more about the opportunities and resources it offers.