Inclusivity of all members of the Buccaneer family is a priority that can be found all across ETSU’s campus. This includes a number of resources for the support, health and comfort of students in the LGBTQ+ community.
“The animosity, the fear, and all of that, a lot of it comes from not having education on what our community is. For the most part, we’re just trying to exist like everyone else,” said Bethanie Dye, Pride Center coordinator.
The Pride Center, located on the second floor of the D.P. Culp Center, houses a welcoming environment for students to relax and find community. They are looking to partner with all facets of the ETSU community through programming and education. The Center’s website is also actively evolving to include access to LGBTQ+ friendly medical and mental health resources.
“The Pride Center is here to give them community, to give them support and to just let them be themselves. We’re welcome and open to anyone and our focus is to help them be successful,” Dye said.
Safe Zone training is also provided through the Pride Center, which educates students and faculty on the basics of LGBTQ+ topics. Safe Zone training opens the floor for questions and open conversation, ending with a signed pledge of allyship. Faculty members who have taken the pledge can be identified by the Safe Zone decal.
The Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) is a student organization that educates and advocates for students in the LGBTQ+ community. SAGA hosts events for students to make friends, gain social support and connect with more resources across Johnson City.
“College is daunting for anybody, but especially if you have those extra pressures of being in the LGBT community, sometimes just having a chance to breathe is nice,” said Dye.
ETSU’s Counseling Center is always open to students with a number of needs. One of the programs offered through the counseling center is the Aligning Support, Pride, Education and Community for Transgender Students (ASPECTS) support group for transgender and non-binary students. Meeting locations are undisclosed and you can take part by contacting the Counseling Center.
ETSU also offers the opportunity for students to change their preferred name by completing and submitting the Preferred Display Name Change Request Form. The change will be made in areas such as reports, student emails, D2L logins, course schedules, class rosters, employee phone display names and searches via the ETSU website.
“I’m very thankful for the support that the center has gotten just since I took over,” Dye mentioned. “I have had tremendous, just outpour of support and love all across the university. Different departments reaching out wanting to collaborate, people just being excited that the center has a full-time coordinator now. The support from administration has been phenomenal. I have really felt loved and supported since I got into this position, and it’s going to help me serve our students.”
For more information, you can visit etsu.edu/lgbtq.
