OMA Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Allies (LGBTQA) Programming

LGBTQA Programming Staff at the OMA

Lea Robinson, Assistant Director OMA/Manager LGBTQA Programming and Advising
Phone: 212-854-1675
E-mail: lr2476@columbia.edu

Office Location: 552 W. 114th St., New York, NY

Follow us on Twitter: CU_OMA_LGBTQA

Brown Bag Lunch Series

The Brown Bag Lunch Series is an informal lunch held monthly at the Intercultural Resource Center (IRC).  It gives LGBTQA students an opportunity to discuss pressing issues in their lives or just have fun.  You bring your lunch, we'll provide dessert.  

Spring 2013:

Wednesday, February 27th, 5-6:30pm

Wednesday, March 27th, 6-7pm

Wednesday, April 24th, 5-6:30pm

Location:  IRC (552 W. 114th)

Coming Out Discussion Group

Are you thinking about coming out?

Have you recently come out and are looking for community?

What does coming out mean to you and others?

Join us for our biweekly discussion to connect, support, and encourage.

The group meets every 1st and 3rd Thursday from 5-6pm.

Spring 2013

Thursday, February 7th

Thursday, February 21st

Thursday, March 7th

Thursday, March 28th

Thursday, April 4th

Thursday, April 18th

Thursday, May 2nd

For more information & location, contact Lea Robinson (lr2476@columbia.edu) or Daniel Chiarilli (dbc15@columbia.edu) or call Lea @ 212-854-1675

OMA Teach-In Series

The OMA Teach-In Series explores issues, challenges, and current affairs impacting diverse LGBTQA communities specific to higher educational settings and possible impacts on learning and social membership experiences.  

Past topics have included:

Trans Teach-In

Queer & Religious

Institutionalized Homophobia & Heterosexism 

Columbia Mentoring Initiative (CMI) – LGBT Family Tree

CMI/ACOP connects both new students with undergraduate Peer Advisers and returning students with Alumni Mentors. CMI/ACOP will offer LGBTQ students, as well as others, the opportunity to develop relationships with other LGBTQ students and alumni to share perspectives and experiences about life at Columbia and in the work world.

CU SpeakOUT

CU SpeakOUT provides an avenue through which straight-identified allies and LGBTQA people can actively express their affirmation for the LGBTQA community at Columbia University. CU SpeakOUT members are identified by displaying the CU SpeakOUT logo and thus signifying that their space is safe to talk about LGBTQA issues. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to join.

Fall 2012

TBA

Contact Lea Robinson at 212-854-1675 or lr2476@columbia.edu for locations.

Lavender Graduation

Lavender Graduation is a cultural ceremony that celebrates our graduating LGBTQ and allied students. First started at the University of Michigan in 1995, the ceremony is now conducted at hundreds of universities nationwide including Princeton, Duke, MIT and NYU.

LGBTQ Leadership Retreat

Do you want to meet new people and have a wonderful new experience?

Do you want to build connections with other LGBTQA identified students at Columbia and Barnard?

Do you want to strengthen your LGBTQA community at Columbia and Barnard while learning how to be agents of change within the larger Columbia community?

If you answered yes to any of the above, The LGBTQA Community Retreat is the perfect opportunity for you!!!

The LGBTQA Community Retreat is co-sponsored by the Columbia Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Barnard Office of Diversity Initiatives.  Spend the weekend making new friends, building community, experiencing personal growth, and discovering leadership opportunities. We will explore what brings us together within the LGBTQA community, as well as how our different experiences and identities create spaces for ally-building and activism.

Join us for interactive activities, dialogue, and of course a tremendous amount of FUN!  This year's retreat will take place during QuAM 2012 on the weekend of October 26-28, 2012 at an off-campus facility.  

The applications will be available soon! 

Additional questions?  Check out our blog:

http://lgbtqaretreat.wordpress.com/

LGBTQ Students of Color Mixers

Proud Colors & the Office of Multicultural Affairs jointly support this informal and fun opportunity for students to mix and mingle, build community, and make some new friends (or reconnect with old ones!).  Held monthly in the IRC.  Light Refreshments Provided.  

Queer Awareness Month (QuAM)

Queer Awareness Month (QuAM) is a collaboration between Columbia University and Barnard College. QuAM strives to celebrate queer identities, as well as, to increase awareness about lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender issues and history.

Columbia University's "It Gets Better" Campaign

http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/taxonomy/term/2660/all

http://spectrum.columbiaspectator.com/spectrum/columbias-it-gets-better-...

Columbia Queer Alliance (CQA)

Since 1967, the Columbia Queer Alliance is proud to continue its legacy of pioneering activism and social justice, breaking down barriers and fostering strong, engaged communities along the way. We have continued to stand up, speak out and organize for queer students and their allies by facilitating educational workshops, open forums, speaker series, and social events such as First Friday.

Email: cqaboard@columbia.edu 

Everyone Allied Against Homophobia (EAAH)

Everyone Allied Against Homophobia (EAAH) is Barnard/Columbia’s anti-homophobia task force and queer political activist group. We work to fight homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of oppression within the CU community and beyond; we work on activist campaigns on campus and in the city, and run regular educational programming for NYC high school students. We welcome allies!

Email: eaah@columbia.edu

Gayava

Gayava is the Jewish lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, and queer student group of Columbia University. We tend to the social, cultural, and religious needs of LBGTQ Jewish students of all backgrounds, and we can’t wait to get to know you!

E-mail: gayava@hillel.columbia.edu

GendeRevolution

GendeRevolution is Columbia’s first organization devoted solely to equal rights for transgender individuals. We aim to provide safe spaces on campus for all gender non-conforming and trans members of the Columbia community.

E-mail: columbiagenderevolution@gmail.com

Proud Colors

The overall objective of Proud Colors is to implement a comprehensive action program to promote an understanding of the past, present, and future experiences, problems, and needs of queer students of color. One of the functions of Proud Colors is to further knowledge and acceptance of the queer of color community through discussions, lectures, and other social events. Proud Colors also serves as an independent social, political, support, and discussion group and welcomes all people concerned with the advancement of the interests queer of people of color.

E-mail: pc-board@columbia.edu

Q

The LGBT Organization of Barnard College but is open to students of all school affiliations, sexual orientations, and gender identities. Q provides a safe space for queer students to meet, mix, mingle, and come together as a community. Our weekly
E-mail: clubq@barnard.edu

LGBTQ Community Spaces on Campus

LGBTQ Resource Hub (“The Hub”) at the IRC

The Office of Multicultural Affairs operates a LGBTQ resource hub within the Intercultural Resource Center (IRC). The Hub is staffed by the OMA and contains information about campus resources and events. Additionally the space has resources for student organizing including computers, phone, fax, copier and file storage.

Location: 552 W. 114th St., across the street from Lerner Hall.

Q House

Q House is a unique residential community dedicated to providing a safe living environment for LGBTQA students at Columbia.

Stephen Donaldson Lounge

Previously called the “Gay Lounge” – located in the basement of Furnald Hall.

Other Campus Resources

LGBTQA at Barnard

Graduate School Student Groups

The majority of the graduate schools of Columbia University offer LGBTQ related student clubs and programming.  Many of the groups and their events are open to students from other colleges, including the undergraduate schools.