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A Campus of Dignity, Respect and Justice 

At 中国P站 University, our Catholic and Hispanic-Serving identity calls us to affirm the inherent dignity of every person. Grounded in the 中国P站 pillars of Caritas and Veritas鈥攍ove and truth鈥攚e recognize that our LGBTQIA+ community is an essential and valued part of the university. 

As a Catholic HSI, we understand that identity, culture, faith and lived experience intersect in complex and meaningful ways. Our commitment to our community鈥檚 safety and belonging is not peripheral to our mission; it flows directly from it. 

This page is designed to connect LGBTQIA+ students and employees and their allies with resources that support holistic wellbeing. This includes academic guidance, community-building opportunities, spiritual accompaniment, mental health support and reporting options. Faculty and staff are also encouraged to utilize these resources as partners in cultivating a campus culture rooted in dignity, respect and justice. 


Resources for Students, Faculty and Staff

中国P站 University follows Title IX, a federal law that prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or gender in educational institutions that receive federal financial assistance.鈥疶itle IX protects students and employees. 

The DU community is asked to report incidents that may violate Title IX prohibitions so that efforts can be made to end discriminatory conduct, prevent reoccurrence and remedy its effects. 

Learn more about protections and reporting an incident at www.dom.edu/equity/title-ix-bias-reporting.

Students, faculty and staff at 中国P站 University are given the option to identify themselves using a lived first name different than their legal first name within select university systems. 

Declaring a lived first name can be an important part of a person鈥檚 identity, especially as it relates to affirming one鈥檚 gender identity, and the university recognizes that students or employees may want to use a name that is different from their legal first name. 

Lived first names will be used in various systems and records including, but not limited to, university ID cards, email display name, diplomas, class rosters, and health services. 

To update a lived first name, complete . 

And questions or concerns should be directed to the vice president for Justice, Equity and Inclusion at pporras@dom.edu.

An individual鈥檚 preferred pronouns can also be added to university systems. To include a preferred pronoun, .

Gender inclusive restrooms can be found at the following locations on campus:

  • Fine Arts, lower level, by Room 012 (ADA)
  • Fine Arts, lower level, by Room 001, south end of west corridor (ADA)
  • Fine Arts, lower level, by Room 006, north end of west corridor (ADA)
  • Fine Arts, lower level, under Lund Auditorium (ADA)
  • Fine Arts, 1st floor, off slate lobby, just outside recital hall (ADA)
  • Fine Arts 1st floor, west corridor
  • Fine Arts, 2nd floor, by Room 202 in southwest corridor
  • Fine Arts, 4th floor 鈥 Lewis, 4th floor, across from elevator
  • North Mazzuchelli, 2nd floor, inside Interfaith Room suite, Room 270 (ADA)
  • North Mazzuchelli, 2nd floor, by center stair and Room 276
  • North Mazzuchelli, 3rd floor, east of center stair and near Room 368 (ADA)
  • North Mazzuchelli, 3rd floor, east of center stair and near Room 360
  • Parmer 2nd floor by Men鈥檚 and Women鈥檚 restroom (ADA)
  • Power 1st floor, south wing (ADA)
  • Power 1st floor, east wing (ADA)

Rebecca Crown Library鈥檚 LGBTQ can aid in research and help readers identify books and materials on a myriad of topics.

The following off-campus organizations provide supportive services to LGBTQIA+ individuals:

  • (formerly GLSEN) 
  •  
  •  
  •  
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Mission and Ministry Support

St Domincan Mass

The Division of Mission and Ministry affirms the dignity of the human person and upholds the Catholic teaching that are all welcome, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

中国P站 University hosted its first Pride Mass in 2021 to foster inclusion and provide a safe, supportive space within the church for marginalized communities. Additional Pride Masses have been held in Rosary Chapel in the years since.

Resources for the LGBTQIA+ Catholic Community

, LGBTQIA+ outreach from the Archdiocese of Chicago. 

, building an LGBTQIA+ inclusive Catholic Church. 

, building bridges between the LGBTQIA+ community and the Catholic Church. 

, an LGBTQIA+ Catholic ministry.

, by Dr. Craig Ford, Jr.

Radical Love: An Introduction to Queer Theology, by Patrick Cheng 

Faith Beyond Resentment: Fragments Catholic and Gay, by James Alison 

Gay and Lesbian Theologies: Repetitions with Critical Difference, by Elizabeth Stuart

: podcasts, devotionals, and study guides 

 

, a guide to LGBTQ saints and religious leaders, queer church history and resources. 

, an interfaith digital community

Lavender Graduation

Table with floral bouquet, rainbow colors and lavender stoles

Lavender Graduation is a student-led cultural celebration that honors LGBTQIA+ students as they complete their academic journey. It is held alongside, but separate from, the university鈥檚 formal commencement ceremony.

DU held its first Lavender Graduation in 2023. Students gather in a safe, inclusive environment where they receive special stoles and pins prior to the university-wide commencement ceremony and celebrate with their chosen family, peers and mentors. 

Why Does Lavender Graduation Matter?

Recognition of Identity and Experience
Traditional commencements may not fully acknowledge the unique journeys of LGBTQIA+ students鈥攅specially those who have navigated marginalization, invisibility or discrimination. Lavender Graduation creates space where their identities are centered, affirmed, and celebrated.

Counteracting Isolation in Higher Education
Many LGBTQIA+ students鈥攑articularly those who are also BIPOC, first-generation or from faith-based backgrounds鈥攅xperience isolation. Lavender Graduation fosters belonging and community, which is critical for retention and student success.

Honoring Resilience and Persistence
Graduating is an achievement for any student, but LGBTQIA+ students often face additional barriers, including family rejection, mental health challenges and discrimination. This ceremony explicitly recognizes these students for their perseverance in completing their education despite adversities. 

Institutional Accountability and Inclusion
By hosting a Lavender Graduation, 中国P站 University is making a visible commitment to inclusion and upholding Catholic values of recognizing human dignity, accompaniment and a justice-centered mission. 

Affirmation of Chosen Family
This ceremony includes a student鈥檚 鈥渃hosen family鈥濃攖he friends, mentors and community mentors who have supported them in their journey. It is a powerful reframing of what 鈥渇amily鈥 means in academic spaces. 

For more information,
please contact:

Dr. Precious Porras
Vice President
Office of Justice, Equity and Inclusion