What does The Butler Center do for LGBTQ students and awareness around queer issues?

The mission of The Butler Center is to strengthen and sustain an affirming, inclusive, and just campus environment that supports students of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations. We do this by:

• Providing 1:1 holistic mentoring for students
• Providing Teaching and Learning opportunities centered around LGBTQIA+ subjects (Spectrum & by request via the workshop request form)
• Advocating campus-wide to ensure that we have a safe and inclusive campus environment
• Providing social events for queer and ally students, faculty, staff, and alumni
• Providing opportunities for queer life student organizations to partner with the Butler Center in meaningful ways that encourage coalition building, organizing, campus unity, intercultural exchange, multicultural understanding, and leadership development.
• Providing resources about LGBTQIA+ subjects through materials, handouts, and books
• Maintaining membership to the Consortium of Higher Education Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Professionals and attends conferences and workshops annually to learn about innovative practices in higher education and social justice

What resources are available for queer students?

If you're looking for queer-related support or social opportunities, CC has plenty to offer you. There are queer and ally focused student organizations, such as Empowered Queers United for Absolute Liberation (EQUAL) and Queer Community Coalition (QCC). Some organizations are support-related, such as EQUAL, while others organize social events, such as QCC.

There are many faculty and staff resources at CC, who can offer support and point you in the direction of on and off-campus resources. If you're looking to connect with faculty and staff, attend our LGBTQIA+ Community Dinners, which allow identifying LGBTQIA+ students, staff, and faculty to share a meal, spend time in community, and get to know other identifying LGBTQIA+ students, staff, and faculty. The Gender and Identity Development Specialist and other members of The Butler Center staff can also aid in providing connections to identifying LGBTQIA+ staff and faculty at CC.

If you're looking to connect with or learn more about LGBTQIA+ student organizations, visit our Community page. Additionally, please feel free to visit our resources page or contact our Gender and Identity Development Specialist directly to ask any additional questions you may have.

The Chaplains Office, the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Boettcher Counseling and Psychological Services, as well as the Gender and Identity Development Specialist in the Butler Center are confidential resources for students. In addition to Colorado College resources, the Colorado Springs community has a lot to offer LGBTQIA+ students. Visit our Resources page for more information.

How many queer students are there at CC?

It's tough to give an exact number for how many queer students are at CC. Identities can change and shift, and CC does not ask our students to identify. The Colorado College queer community is active and visible on-campus and in the broader community. Rather than looking at numbers on a paper, we focus on building healthy environments for students to explore and grow, and examine the strengths and varieties of queer-focused student organizations, initiatives, and events. We aim to include new voices and perspectives, and tie LGBTQ issues to a larger community focused on diversity and social justice.

Is it OK to be 'out' at CC?

CC welcomes all individuals no matter their identity, background, beliefs or experiences. We have a no-tolerance policy for bias incidents.

What if I'm not gay, can I still be a part of the community and events?

Regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, we welcome all students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to attend our on-campus events and activities. We strive for an inclusive community that welcomes everyone.

What is there for LGBTQIA+ and ally faculty, staff, or alumni?

Faculty, staff, and alumni are important parts of our community! We welcome alumni, current and former faculty and staff, LGBTQ Discretionary Fund and the former Gill Scholarship donors, and parents to join our LGBTQ Affinity Group. As a member of the LGBTQ Affinity Group, you will hear about our LGBTQ Homecoming Dinner, LGBTQ potlucks that are hosted by faculty and staff throughout the year, LGBTQ-related events at CC, and you can stay connected to the community.

LGBTQ faculty and staff are also welcome to join the LGBTQ Listserv to receive information about LGBTQ issues pertinent to CC faculty and staff.

Finally, The Butler Center provides Resources for creating inclusive, welcoming, and LGBTQ-affirming spaces, whether in the classroom, an office, or a professional work environment. We also provide on-going trainings to any faculty and staff and upon request.

Please contact butlercenter@coloradocollege.edu with any questions.