A Message from the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Multicultural Affairs, Queer Community Coalition, and University Counseling Center to the University of Wyoming Queer Community

(Content warning: homicide, violence, shooting, homophobia, transphobia)

 

Dear University of Wyoming Queer Community,

     We at the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Multicultural Affairs, University Counseling Center, and the Queer Community Coalition want to acknowledge the recent horrific mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs over the weekend. Our hearts go out to the 5 victims killed and 25 injured in this bias-motivated attack in a queer-affirming space. We are sending our love and support to University of Wyoming (UW)’s campus queer community and family/friends of those who were victims of this senseless assault. We firmly stand against discrimination and attacks targeted toward the queer community and extend our deepest appreciation to those who stopped the attacker from committing further violence.

     It is important to reiterate that UW and Laramie are no strangers to fatal violence towards the queer community, as Matthew Shepard was murdered almost 25 years ago in Laramie. Therefore, this attack feels very close to home for many LGBTQIAP2S+ people. Additionally, many in our community have roots in Colorado and frequent Colorado queer nightclubs, including Club Q, to access queer spaces, as there are few to no similar spaces in Wyoming. While we recognize the lack of queer-affirming spaces across the state of Wyoming, it remains vital to uplift the resources and spaces on and off-campus queer-identifying folks have to turn to during this time.

     The holidays can be a difficult time for queer community members, especially in the wake of this weekend's mass shooting and announcement of a new campus dining option moving into the Wyoming Union. We want you to know that you are not alone. There is a queer and affirming community on this campus, in Laramie, and in Wyoming. Even though many of our UW staff and faculty members are on Fall Break, we want to let you all know there are resources available listed below.

 

Resources

 

University of Wyoming LGBTQIAP2S+ Resources

Rainbow Resource Center (RRC)

106 Wyoming Union

• Monday, November 21 to Wednesday, November 23: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Monday, November 28 and beyond: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Multicultural Affairs (non-crisis resource)

Multicultural Affairs staff will be out for Fall Break during this week (November 21-25) but can be contacted via email.

• Melanie Vigil (she/her) | Program Director | mvigil8@uwyo.edu
• Wolfgang (they/them) | Queer Program Coordinator | twolfgan@uwyo.edu
• Bri White (she/her) | Black Student Program Coordinator | bwhite37@uwyo.edu
• Cass Underwood (she/her) | Native Student Program Coordinator | cunderw4@uwyo.edu

University Counseling Center

341 Knight Hall | (307) 766-2187 |After Hours: (307) 766-8989 |http://www.uwyo.edu/ucc/

The university counseling center offers free student counseling services, including crisis intervention, to currently enrolled University of Wyoming students. UCC counselors are queer affirming. The UCC will be open Monday – Wednesday of this week, closed Thursday – Friday.

Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

408 Old Main | (307) 766-6672 | diversity@uwyo.edu

Queer Community Coalition (UW Student Organization)

queercc.uwyo@gmail.com 

Off-Campus Community LGBTQIAP2S+ Resources

Wyoming Equality

(307) 222-8178 | https://www.wyomingequality.org/

Wyoming equality strives to achieve equity for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, and queer Wyomingites by building broad and inclusive communities, shifting the hearts and minds of our neighbors, and achieving policy victories.

The Trevor Project

(866) 488-7386 | Text “START” to 678678 | www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now

The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people. Visit the website above for online support
 through Trevor Chat.

GLBT National Help Center

(888) 843-4564 | (800) 246-7734 | www.glbthotline.org

Provides a safe space that is anonymous and confidential where callers can speak on many different issues and concerns including, but not limited to, coming out issues, gender and/or sexual identities, relationship concerns, bullying, workplace issues, HIV/AIDS anxiety, safer sex information, suicide, and much more. Visit the website for access to online chat support.