LGBTQ+ PROGRAM

The LGBTQ+ Program of Cerritos College is housed under the college's Equity Center.

The Equity Center is devoted to advancing social and academic justice through community building and culturally responsive advocacy, programs, and services that encourage a sense of belonging, academic success, and ultimately empower students to navigate their intersectional journeys unapologetically beyond Cerritos College.

Cerritos College is committed to fostering safe and brave spaces for all students, particularly those of marginalized identities including but not limited to our BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and undocumented students.

Location: Santa Barbara Building

Student Equity Website: https://www.cerritos.edu/student-equity/default.htm

Appointments: You may book an appointment with the LGBTQ+ Program Facilitator & Liaison online. Office hours information is located at the bottom of this webpage. You may contact the Program Facilitator at lgbtq@cerritos.edu.

Social Media: You may follow the LGBTQ+ Program on Instagram at the handle: @cerritoscollegelgbtq.

 

I. RESOURCES & SERVICES:

The LGBTQ+ Program is happy to provide direct linkage to resources on campus that provide queer students with empowering tools to be able to exist on campus safely and unapologetically. The LGBTQ+ Program is happy to provide support accessing the following services/ departments on campus and more:

 

LGBTQ+ Newsletter

The LGBTQ+ Program releases a newsletter every 1st Friday of the month to provide news, updates, and information regarding the LGBTQ+ population, on and off campus. The newsletter includes:

  • Basic needs
  • Scholarships
  • LGBTQ+ campus and global news
  • LGBTQ+ Program updates and events for the month
  • P.R.I.D.E. Scholars Success Program updates
  • S.A.F.E. Club updates
  • Cerritos College campus events & initiatives
  • A helpful tip for the month

To sign-up to receive the e-newsletter, please fill out and submit this form.

Outlist

There are many LGBTQ+ champions here at Cerritos College, as reflected in our campus Outlist! This list is comprised of LGBTQ+ (including allied) students, staff, and faculty aiming to increase the visibility of LGBTQ+ identities on campus by self-disclosing and making themselves accessible to those needing support.

Download the current Outlist.  If you would like to be added to the next version of the Outlist, please fill out and submit this form.

Outreach

Cerritos College is more than happy to come to your class or queer-affirming space(s) or organization(s) to speak on some of the services offered to LGBTQ+ individuals on campus. We love resource fairs and any opportunity to provide resources and information to LGBTQ+ students and allies! Please, contact the Program Facilitator to schedule a time to provide your organization with resources.

 

II. PROGRAMS:

Buddy Accompaniment

The LGBTQ+ Program assigns buddy escorts to provide supportive accompaniment to those who may not feel safe entering a location on their own. A buddy may accompany an individual to any of the following locations on campus:

  • Gender-Inclusive Restrooms
  • Campus Police
  • Equity Center
  • Student Center
  • Transfer Center
  • Library / Student Success Center
  • Falcon’s Nest
  • Food Court
  • Student Health Services
  • & any place on campus one may need support or advocacy

To schedule a Buddy Accompaniment, please fill out and submit the form.

 

Events

The LGBTQ+ Program hosts an array of programming throughout the entire calendar year. These events are designed to provide safe and brave spaces for LGBTQ+ students and allies on campus, in addition to those who may be seeking additional support or education around LGBTQ+ identities and experiences. These events include art workshops, social spaces, observances, trainings and presentations.

In honor of LGBTQ+ History Month in October, the Program hosts the OUTober event series, which includes allyship workshops and specialized events in celebration of fall holidays which affirm LGBTQ+ identities. A few events include:

  • Rainbow Party
  • Pride Scavengers
  • UndocuQueerness Panel
  • Navigating Coming Out Workshop

In the Spring, the LGBTQ+ Program hosts Pride Tide, a series of events during the entirety of the spring semester. Some of these events include:

  • Day of Silence
  • Monsterz Gala
  • QTBIPOC Gallery
  • Peers, Dears, and Queers

 For more information on specific events or timeframe, please contact the Program Facilitator.

LGBTQ+ Student Orientation

LGBTQ+ Student Orientation is held twice a year: once in last week of January for the spring semester; and once in the last week of August for the fall semester. At the orientation, students will be provided information on resources on campus for LGBTQ+ students, including the LGBTQ+ Program and the P.R.I.D.E. Scholars Success Program. Additionally, there is time designated for attendees interested P.R.I.D.E. Scholars to ask questions and fill out an application on site.

The LGBTQ+ Student Orientation includes information pertaining to programmatic advocacy and referral processes on campus and more:

  • Name change request process through Admissions.
  • Escort services through Campus Police.
  • Book vouchers, dependency appeal, and LGBTQ+ scholarships.
  • Affirming apparel / protocols of Falcon's Nest. 
  • Campus victim advocacy services through Falcon Safe.
  • Locations of gender-inclusive restrooms on campus.
  • LGBTQ+ courses and LGBTQ+ studies certificate through WGS.
  • Student Alliance for Equality "S.A.F.E." Club.
  • LGBTQ+ Program & P.R.I.D.E. Scholars Success Program.

 

Lavender Graduation

Lavender Graduation is an annual ceremony conducted on numerous campuses to honor LGBTQ+ and ally students, and to acknowledge their achievements and contributions to the institution. Cerritos College held its first Lavender Graduation Ceremony in May 2022.

All LGBTQ+ (including allied) students are invited to participate. To register, please, fill out and submit this form. Please note, the deadline to register for the 2023 Lavender Graduation Ceremony is Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 11:59 PM.

 

III. Social SUPPORT & COMMUNITY BUILDING

Student Alliance for Equality "S.A.F.E." Club

S.A.F.E. Club at Cerritos College seeks to enrich diversity, and contribute to a high quality: intellectual, cultural, educational, and safe environment for all students at Cerritos College. This space exists to ensure equitable treatment of students through promoting awareness, sense of personal empowerment, growth, and critical thinking to develop leadership and life skills applicable to the real world; to promote the idea of social equality; and to bring LGBTQ+ community members back to community college.

S.A.F.E. is designed to provide a safe, brave space for those who are of the LGBTQ+ community and a safe place to speak on challenges that are internal & external. Any students interested in joining S.A.F.E. Club must register through FalonSync. To join:

  • Route to FalconSync
  • Sign in
  • Hit the "Join/ Register" button

Once registered, you will be added to the S.A.F.E. Club roster and begin receiving club member invitations and notifications.

 

IV. LGBTQ+ Academics

LGBT+ Studies Certificate

Cerritos College's Women's & Gender Studies Department houses the LGBT+ Studies Certificate, as well as an AA-T in Social Justice with an emphasis in LGBTQ Studies.

For more information, please visit this webpage.

 

LGBTQ+ Career Planning Workshop

The LGBTQ+ Career Planning Workshop takes place three times throughout the calendar year: once in the fall, once in the spring, and once in the summer for the P.R.I.D.E. Scholars Summer Symposium.

This workshop is designed to provide students with empowering tools in to aid them in becoming LGBTQ+ professionals moving into the workforce. Students will engage in thought-provoking conversations and skill building exercises that encourage engagement in self-advocacy and consideration around LGBTQ+ inclusion in a work or professional environment. The workshop explores the following concepts:

  • Historical Overview of LGBTQ+ Discrimination in Employment
  • Coming Out to an Employer
  • Resume Crafting
  • Interviewing Strategies
  • Professional Advocacy
  • Outness: Composition, Etiquette, & Expression

To request a workshop in addition to the three aforementioned, please contact the Program Facilitator. 

 

P.R.I.D.E. Scholars Success Program

P.R.I.D.E. Scholars is Cerritos College's LGBTQ+ student success program. The LGBTQ+ Program offers a multitude of activities, including social groups, art projects, and leadership opportunities. It is designed to empower LGBTQ+ students and allies to champion their academic journeys through a sense of P.R.I.D.E. In order to complete the program, program participants must attend selected events under the LGBTQ+ Program and accumulate P.R.I.D.E. Scholarship points by engaging with any of the following three (III) tiers:

  • Volunteer & Engagement (I)
  • Leadership & Professional Development (II)
  • LGBTQIA+ Living Learning Communities (III)

For more information on the P.R.I.D.E. Scholars program, please visit the program webpage.

 

V. Professional Development & Allyship Trainings:

Safe Zone training is an opportunity to increase awareness among Cerritos College faculty, staff, and administrators; and to make classrooms or areas of service more inclusive. Employees who participate in the Safe Zone training will gain knowledge and skills to foster a supportive and safe atmosphere for LGBTQ+ students, faculty, managers, and staff.  

The LGBTQ+ Program offers professional development trainings pertaining to LGBTQ+ cultural competency for classroom settings and other spaces that serve LGBTQ+ students. These trainings can be tailored to meet the needs of your organization. Should anyone need assistance finding that support, the LGBTQ+ Program can speak on a variety of LGBTQ+ related topics. Some of our presentations include: 

  • LGBTQ+ Allyship 101
  • Supporting LGBTQ+ Students of Color
  • Bystander Intervention & The LGBTQ+ Community
  • Healthy Relationships
  • Community Resiliency Model (CRM)

 

VI. Additional Resources

  • The organization known as Campus Pride represents the leading national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization for student leaders and campus groups working to create a safer college environment for LGBTQ students. The organization is a volunteer-driven network “for” and “by” student leaders. The primary objective of Campus Pride is to develop necessary resources, programs and services to support LGBTQ and ally students on college campuses across the United States. This organization has analyzed the practices at a multiplicity of college campus, as well outcomes for LGBTQIA+ students. With its extensive research, it has amalgamated the following lists for students who are interested in attending (or transferring to) an institution of higher education:
  • Local LGBTQ+ Community Centers:
    • The LA LGBT Center
    • The LGBTQ Center Long Beach
    • The OC LGBT Center
  • Organizations with specialized LGBTQ+ training:
    • APLA Health
    • Beauty Schools Directory
    • Bienestar
    • Mental Health America, Los Angeles
    • Trans Life Line
    • TransCanWork
    • We Exist

 

Confidential Survey: Exploring the Diversity & Strengths of the Trans Community

Cerritos College is seeking all adults who identify anywhere on the transgender spectrum to complete this brief survey. This confidential survey explores the diversity and strengths of the trans community. We estimate this will take between 7 and 20 minutes to complete, and we will present the findings at several professional conferences. 

Contact information is included in the survey, if you have additional questions. Thank you for your help! And please feel free to forward this to anyone who might be eligible. You may complete the survey online.

 

Office Hours

The LGBTQ+ Program Facilitator will be on campus for office hours from Monday - Friday for the Fall and Spring semester. Availability varies. To schedule an appointment, please book an appointment online;or to inquire about availability send an email to lgbtq@cerritos.edu.

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