HRC Foundation Continues HBCU Program to Support LGBTQ+ Students on Campus

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Courtesy of Human Rights Campaign

Looking to help promote the safety of the LGBTQ+ community at Historically Black Colleges?

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation's HBCU Program has created a new toolkit filled with information and resources to help promote inclusivity and support HBCU campuses in being safe for LGBTQ+ students. The toolkit drops tips on how you can show up for your queer classmates and students, even after Pride Month!

Leslie Hall, Director of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program, exclusively tells Gaye Magazine, "Allyship plays a crucial role in creating a supportive and inclusive environment for queer students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)."

Leslie Hall - Director of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program

Hall continues, "HBCUs have historically been centers of cultural empowerment and academic excellence for Black students. However, like many educational institutions, they may face challenges in fostering an inclusive and accepting atmosphere for queer students due to societal prejudices and stigmas.”

The HRC Foundation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program mobilizes and supports HBCUs by enhancing policies and practices that promote excellence in LGBTQ+ inclusion, equity, and engagement.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation's HBCU Program was originally launched in 2004, as a result of two violent anti-LGBTQ+ incidents which occurred at two prominent HBCUs.

Courtesy of Human Rights Campaign Foundation's HBCU Program

Following the incident, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation enlisted a group of LGTBQ+ HBCU student leaders who committed themselves to advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion and social justice on their campuses and communities.

Since then the program has been successful with nearly 1 ⁄ 3 HBCUs in the U.S. partnering with 500 LGBTQ+ student leaders who have received training by and alongside 15 HBCU presidents and alumni.

Chauna Lawson, the Associate Director of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program tells us, “By fostering empathy, understanding, and acceptance, allies can help break down barriers and contribute to a more equitable and empowering educational experience for all students."

Chauna Lawson - Associate Director of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program

The Human Rights Campaign and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation serve as America’s largest civil rights organizations working to achieve LGBTQ+ equality. For more about the HRC HBCU Program, visit: The HBCU Program - Human Rights Campaign (hrc.org)