The Student LGBTQ+ Diversity Fund encourages activities that (1) provide support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning students, and for others in the gender spectrum (LGBTQ+), and (2) foster understanding, acceptance and tolerance in the campus community and combat prejudice and discrimination against LGBTQ+ persons with special emphasis on activities that accomplish both purposes.
To promote support and understanding, Kenyon College student organizations and groups can apply for a competitive grant through the Student LGBTQ+ Diversity Fund by completing the online application form.
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Application Criteria
The Student LGBTQ+ Diversity Fund income will be used to provide financial resources for (but not limited to) printed materials, meetings, discussions, counseling, conferences, speakers, concerts, exhibitions and celebrations. Proposals for programming around National LGBTQ+ History Month (October), National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11), Trans Day of Remembrance/Resilience (Nov. 20), LGBT Health Awareness Week (the last full week of March), and Trans Day of Visibility (March 31) are especially encouraged.
It is the intention of the donor that this fund be used to support innovative and creative activities seeking to accomplish the above-described purposes, not simply to replace existing funding from other sources of routine activities. Nevertheless, these innovative and creative activities may be supported by the fund more than once.
The fund shall be administered as follows:
- The associate dean of students/director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) shall, in consultation with the associate provost for diversity, equity, and inclusion and the LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee, prepare and submit to the donor a brief long-range plan for the use of the fund income, outlining overall goals as well as types of proposed expenditures and their expected impact on members of the community.
- Fund income shall be allocated at the discretion of the ODEI director with guidance from the associate provost and the LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee or other appointed advisory committee and in accordance with the principles set forth here and in the long-range plan referred to above.
- Campus proposals for funding shall be submitted to the ODEI director. Submitted proposals will be shared with the associate provost and the LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee for consideration.
- Advertisements for funded proposals must list the Student LGBTQ+ Diversity Fund as an official sponsor.
- A brief report to the donor of contributions, expenditures, accomplishments and impact on student life of fund expenditures shall be prepared under the supervision of the ODEI director at the end of each semester.
Recent Programs Sponsored by the Fund
Since the inception of the fund, it has helped to sponsor a number of events and programs across campus and beyond.
In recent years, the fund has sponsored events and programs including the keynote lecture for LGBTQ+ History Month, the Trans Day of Remembrance/Resilience, an exhibition of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, student trips to the Equitas Health Institute’s Transforming Care Conference on LGBTQ+ and HIV Health Equity and the Knox County Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA), National Coming Out Day events, professional development opportunities and more.
Here to Pee: A Comedy Protest Tour
A comedy-based protest performance created by trans comedians in response to rising anti-trans legislation nationwide, this recent event welcomed LGBTQIA+ students to Kenyon and served as a fundraiser for the Knox County Pride Alliance. Through humor, community-building and cultural expression, Here to Pee promoted solidarity, visibility and belonging, connected students to local resources and established an affirming tone for the academic year.
Women’s Volleyball Pride Game
As part of National Coming Out Day, women's volleyball hosted a game that celebrated and supported LGBTQ+ students, increasing visibility for queer-affirming groups on campus and highlighting resources available through the Cox Health and Counseling Center and Unity House. The event included a media campaign, fundraising for the Knox County Pride Alliance, tabling by student organizations and dedicating the game to LGBTQ+ inclusion.
AIDS Memorial Quilt
In conjunction with our presentation of the exhibition "Axis Mundo: Queer Networks in Chicano L.A." and in collaboration with the Office on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, panels from "The AIDS Memorial Quilt" were on view at the Gund Gallery.
LGBTQ+ History Month Lecture with interAct
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion hosted interAct Advocates for Intersex Youth the for keynote address for LGBTQ+ History Month. Over 200 people from the campus and broader community learned more about intersex inclusion via this event.
Knox County Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA)
Since spring 2019, Unity House and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion have partnered with GLSEN Central Ohio to host a GSA for local LGBTQ+ high school students. The fund has actively supported this group for several years.
Trans Day of Visibility Lecture
For a Trans Day of Visibility lecture, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in collaboration with the Dept. of Athletics and Athletes for Equality, welcomed Veronica Ivy (she/her) for a talk about trans inclusion in athletics. Over 150 people from more than 10 states joined us for the virtual event.
Donate to the Fund
One-time or recurring donations to the fund can be made through the Office of Annual Giving.
Once there, simply click “Direct My Gift,” then select “Other” under the “Special Initiatives” tab. Select the amount you’d like to give, and type “Student LGBTQ+ Diversity Fund” under the “Additional Instructions” drop-down menu below. From there, complete the information to make your donation to support the goals of this Fund.
For help with gifts, please contact the Office of Annual Giving at 740-427-5152.