LGBT Center | Office of Diversity & Inclusion

LGBT Center

The LGBT Center supports and empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual students and employees by providing community-building, education, events, and initiatives. Its mission is helping individuals explore their many identities, including a/sexuality, a/gender, race, ability, religion, and class. At the same time, the LGBT Center serves the entire campus community through training, consultation, and advocacy.

The initial development of LGBT student services on campus dates to 1989, when the offices of the Dean of the Chapel and the Dean of Student Life began hiring graduate students to help organize LGBT student activities. In 2001, this internship evolved into a full-time professional position organized under the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students. Over the years, many students and staff recognized the need for a dedicated LGBT center at Princeton and worked hard to make this dream a reality. In the summer of 2005, the LGBT Student Services office evolved into the LGBT Center, which opened in the Frist Campus Center in fall 2006.

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LGBT Center

"Coming from a background that limited the expression of my sexuality and gender, it has made all the difference for me to have this space in order to find community and family while embarking on the tumultuous journey that is Princeton University." — Scooter Liapin ‘20

Two students hugging

Three students talking together in the LGBT Center

Programs, Events and Initiatives

First Year Group and Upper Year Support and Discussion Groups

These two weekly support and discussion groups for LGBTQIA and questioning students are growing steadily. The groups are facilitated by the Center’s Peer Educators who consult with Center staff. Both groups meet over lunch, and topics range from current events to navigating being out on campus to healthy relationships.

Gender Support and Discussion Group

Facilitated by graduate students or the Center’s Program Coordinator, the Gender Group welcomes questioning, genderqueer, non-binary, and trans students for support and confidential discussion. In 2018-19, demand increased so much that the Group now meets twice weekly to accommodate all interested students’ schedules.

Lavender Graduation

For nearly two decades, this ceremony has honored undergrad and graduate LGBTQIA students and recognized the leadership within the LGBTQIA community.

LGBTQIA Oral History Project

The LGBTQIA Oral History Project launched in 2017 as a partnership of the LGBT Center, BTGALA/FFR, the Program in Gender and Sexuality Studies, ProCES, and University Archives, with support from the Provost’s Office’s Princeton Histories Fund. Undergraduate and graduate students interview alumni as well as current and former staff and faculty to learn about their lives and their perceptions of the climate for LGBTQIA people at Princeton at different points in time. There are currently more than 120 interviews in the collection.

LGBTQIA Peer Educator Program

“I've been able to contribute a lot as an LGBTQIA Peer Educator like organizing panels and offering support and advice to friends, but I've also been able to find where my passion lies on campus through the work I'm doing with the LGBT Center.” - Nico Cooper ‘21

Representing a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and ally student Peer Educators offer panels to first year students and other student and staff groups to educate on issues relating to sexual orientation, romantic orientation, and gender identity. They also provide one-on-one support to students when requested. LGBT Center staff train the students to be effective educators, and, as part of their outreach efforts, LGBTQIA Peer Educators inform the larger University community about issues of homophobia, transphobia, heterosexism, and stereotyping of LGBTQIA people.

Out in STEM Program

A partnership of LGBTQIA STEM faculty and the Center, faculty facilitate informal discussions with undergraduate and graduate students twice a year.

Q'nnections

Recently revamped, the Q’nnections mentorship program helps create an open, cohesive, and inclusive Princeton LGBTQIA community. Q’nnections “families,” composed of undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and staff, meet regularly, engage in group dialogues, and enjoy excursions throughout the academic year.