Standing With Our LGBTQ+ Community

We are reaching out to our campus community regarding the event hosted on our campus by the Turning Point USA Club featuring Charlie Kirk on March 7th planned from 12:00-2:00pm on Dexter Lawn. Turning Point USA plans to have a film crew at their booth. They have followed campus policies to film on campus, so we encourage you to make intentional decisions about where you’d like to be and how you move around the campus.

Because we recognize that the rhetoric and ideologies propagated during this event may cause distress, fear, and harm to many members of our community, particularly those who identify as members of our Queer, Trans and non-binary community, we wanted this network to be prepared to self-care and to offer information and support to those around you. 

Campus Health Wellbeing, SDAB resource centers, and Dean of Student’s Office are available to provide assistance, guidance, and support. Below are additional details regarding support services that we invite you to engage in:

• The Pride Center Locked Hours with Cal Poly ID Entry Only
• Show Your Pride: OUDI Boothing & Pride Swag Pick Up UU Plaza 11:00am-1:00pm
• Employee Assistance Program by calling 800-367-7474 through the LifeMatters app, or at the website mylifematters.com

In addition, a number of programs are happening that day, that we encourage you to attend, including:

• A Queer/Trans Celebration with food and activities hosted by the Pride Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Center.
• A Womxnhood Brunch hosted by BAEC and GEC from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Chumash West Wing.
• A Poetry Slam featuring Bay Davis  hosted by the Pride Center on Friday night from 6 – 8 p.m. in the YTT community center.
• Drag Bingo hosted by ASI and the Cal Poly Drag Club in Chumash at 7:00pm.

We hope you stand with OUDI, as we say to our LGBTQ+ students, faculty, staff, and allies: you are seen, you are heard, and you are valued. We stand in solidarity with you today and every day, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to creating a campus environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and empowered to be their authentic selves.