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LBGT@MIT

Welcome to LBGT@MIT

Over the course of the fall of 2015 and winter of 2016, a few hundred students and LBGTQ+ community members have been working to compile recommendations to the Institute that support an improved experience for LBGTQ+ students at MIT.

Keeping in mind the full breadth and intersections of identities found within all MIT communities and MIT community members, these recommendations are made in full support of and in collaboration/connection with the recent Black Students' Union (BSU), Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA), Black Alumni/ae of MIT (BAMIT), Institute Community and Equity Officer (ICEO), women students, and Division of Student Life (DSL)/Office of the Dean for Undergraduate Education (DUE)/Office of the Dean for Graduate Education (ODGE) staff recommendations.

For more information about the BSU recommendations please visit:
http://web.mit.edu/i347c475/www/index.html

For more information about the BGSA recommendations please visit:
http://bgsa.scripts.mit.edu/wp/wp-content/uploads/BGSA-Recommendations_12012015.pdf

"There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives."
- Audrey Lorde

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Check out our MARCH NEWSLETTER for exciting updates, events, and opportunities!

MIT and its surrounding communities offer a broad spectrum of services, activities, and resources for lesbian, bisexual, gay, trans* (LBGT), questioning, and supportive individuals. In fact, in 2011, MIT was rated the most gay-friendly school in the country by Newsweek! We have designed this site to connect you with the support and resources offered to you. If you can't find what you are looking for, need more information, or just want to talk with someone, please feel free to visit us in the Rainbow Lounge (50-005) or to contact us. You should also check out our About Us page to learn more.

If you think that you have been a victim of a homophobia, transphobia, or a hate incident, please fill out this anonymous form to let us know about it.

Commitment to Racial Justice

LBGT@MIT is committed to eliminating racism within the LBGT community at MIT and within the larger MIT community as a whole.

Specifically, LBGT@MIT will work to:

Help students, faculty, and staff reflect on their own racial prejudices and privileges (e.g., white and male privileges)
Help students, faculty, and staff understand and act on issues of racial injustice
Promote programs and events at MIT that incorporate issues of racism and issues of homophobia on campus
Support students, faculty, and staff with multiple identities
Help cultivate student leaders of color within the LBGT and ally community at MIT
Build coalitions with other identity-based student groups at MIT

Upcoming Events

Lazos: Community Meals for Trans and Queer People of Color (TQPOC)
WED March 2 | 12:00-14:00/12:00P-2:00P | Rainbow Lounge (50-005)
WED March 16 | 16:00-18:00/4:00P-6:00P | Rainbow Lounge (50-005)
Lazo is one of several Spanish terms for "bow", referencing the latter half of the symbolic "rainbow" as well as the identities and experiences that tie us together within and across our communities. Come along or bring a friend for a low-key meal on us with other self-identified trans and queer people of color across MIT's campus. Let's join in togetherness, support, and community with each other and all our TQPOC siblings for success at the Institute and beyond. For more information, e-mail Julio Oyola at ojr@mit.edu.

Asexuality 101
THU March 3 | 12:00-13:00/12:00P-1:00P | Coffeehouse (W20-308)
What is asexuality? Are you asexual? What can you do to support people who identify as asexual? Come explore with a panel sponsored by LBGT@MIT.

Queer Career Meet Up
THU March 3 | 16:00-18:00/4:00P-6:00P | Bush Room (10-105)
This is a casual and informational event exclusively for the LBGTQ community to gain experience networking with professionals and learn a little about employers. We will discuss each companies' LBGTQ-related policies and procedures, benefits, and LBGTQ resource groups for employees. You will have the opportunity to meet employers throughout the evening along with other students. Participants will be Accenture, Akamai, McKinsey, and more. Light refreshments will be served. Advanced registration requested. RSVP to afran@mit.edu by 5pm on Wednesday, March 2nd.

LBGTQ Issues Group
TUE March 8 | 17:00-18:00/5:00P-6:00P | Rainbow Lounge (50-005)
The LBGT Issues Group is a committee of faculty, staff, students, and alumni(ae) who are lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, or just plain friendly seeking to foster a safe and welcoming environment for LBGT students and to ensure that the educational mission of MIT is upheld for all students regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Meetings are once a month and address specific projects dealing with the concerns of the LBGT community. Anyone affiliated with MIT and LBGT-friendly is welcome to join and to participate.

Family Dinners
THU March 10 & 31 | 18:00-19:00/6:00P-7:00P | Rainbow Lounge (50-005)
We're hosting a dinner event for the LBGTQ and Ally community called "Family Dinner" (a reclaiming of several terms i.e., framily, the family, "we are family," etc.) This event will take place twice a month on Tuesday evenings. All MIT affiliates are welcome.

Game Night: The After Party
THU March 10 & 31 | 19:00-21:00/7:00P-9:00P | Rainbow Lounge (50-005)
Please join us for bi-weekly game nights on Thursdays! We will have board games and card games, and you can even bring your favorites! Open to the entire MIT community, and feel free to bring a friend. Join us at Family Dinners starting at 18:00/6:00P, or just come for the games.

Cookies and Conversation with Girls Who Kiss Girls (GWKG)
FRI March 4, 11, 18 | 18:00-19:00/6:00P-7:00P | Rainbow Lounge (50-005)
A student run group, GWKG hosts Cookies and Conversation every Friday. Enjoy scrumptious cookies and good company to finish off the week with some well-deserved relaxation and fun. Feel free to add yourself to the mailing list gwkg@mit.edu or email about questions.

Check out our calendar for more!

Rainbow Lounge Hours during Spring 2016

Mondays:
12:00-18:00 / 12:00P-6:00P

Tuesdays:
12:00-18:00 / 12:00P-6:00P

Wednesdays:
12:00-18:00 / 12:00P-6:00P

Thursdays:
12:00-18:00 / 12:00P-6:00P

Fridays:
12:00-18:00 / 12:00P-6:00P

Want/Need to meet outside of these hours?
Contact Julio Oyola (ojr@mit.edu) or Abigail Francis (afran@mit.edu) to set up an appointment.

It Gets Better: MIT

Trans* is an umbrella term which describes people whose gender identities and expressions are not fully defined by the gender they were assigned at birth. Trans* people may identify as one, none, or with several of the following gender-related identities: Agender, androgyne, bigender, gender fluid, genderfree, genderless, genderqueer, intergender, multigender, neutral, neutrois, nonbinary, third gender, trans*, transgender, transsexual, trans man, trans woman, and two-spirit, among others.