News

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Stanford Pride’s New Mission Statement

Last month, the Stanford Pride Board of Directors voted to approve the organization’s updated bylaws, including our new mission statement. Thank you to everyone who weighed in on our mission statement last year!

Mission Statement
Stanford Pride fosters meaningful connections among Stanford LGBTQ+ alumni and our campus community of students, faculty, and staff. We create space for and listen to the diversity of voices among us to understand and amplify our shared priorities. Through social, advocacy, and educational events, we create a more inclusive, diverse, equitable, and exciting future for our community at Stanford and beyond.

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The Champions Interview Series featuring Jay-Marie Hill

Join Stanford Pride for The Champions, a new interview series featuring Stanford alumni who are championing diversity and inclusion as members of the LGBTQ community.

The Champions featuring Jay-Marie Hill

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Host Jarreau Bowen (he/him/his) ’07, MA ’08, interviews Jay-Marie Hill (they/all) ’10 to learn about Jay-Marie’s advocacy for the Black Trans community and how their experience at Stanford shaped their path in activism and art.

Jarreau BowenJay-Marie Hill

The format will be a 20 minute interview followed by 10 minutes of Q&A from the audience.  Learn more about The Champions on our website.

The Champions Interview Series featuring Jay-Marie Hill ’10

When:Saturday, February 26, 2022, 1:00–1:30 p.m. PST
Where:Online via Zoom
Cost:Free
RSVP:Register on Stanford Groups to receive the Zoom link for this online event. We ask that you not share the Zoom link on your social media channels.  Stanford Groups is only available to Stanford alumni at this time.
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Dylan Simmons ’17, third-year Stanford law student, passes away

Dear Stanford Pride community,

It is with a heavy heart that we share news that we’ve lost Dylan Simmons, a cherished member of the Stanford LGBTQ community.

Dylan Simmons ’17 M.S. ’17, a third-year Stanford law student, passed away in a campus residence on Thursday night, Vice Provost for Student Affairs Susie Brubaker-Cole and Dean of Stanford Law School Jenny S. Martinez announced in a message to the community on Friday, January 21, 2022.

A gathering sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs was held in the law school student lounge on Friday afternoon with representatives from Counseling and Psychological Services, the Graduate Life Office and the Office of Spiritual Life. More gatherings and support resources will be available in the coming days.

Update: A memorial service was held on Friday, January 28 at 1:00 pm at University Park United Methodist Church, 4024 Caruth Blvd., Dallas, TX. View a recording of the memorial service.

Friends, family remember the life of Dylan Simmons ’17, M.S. ’17
– The Stanford Daily, Feb. 7, 2022

Below we are sharing a message from Stanford’s Queer Student Resources.

January 21, 2022

Dear community, 

We have some tragic news to share and are really sad to be writing this email.  We learned today that we’ve lost a deeply loved member of our community, Dylan Simmons. 

Dylan has been a cherished part of many communities on campus over the last several years as an undergrad, co-term and most recently as a grad student at the Law School.  For the last few years they’ve been on staff at QSR.  We are in deep mourning for our dear friend.

Over the next few weeks we’ll be finding ways to grieve, celebrate, remember, and honor their life and will make sure to share opportunities to engage in these processes collectively.

We’ll be gathering in front of QSpot (Firetruck House, 433 Santa Teresa St.) at 7:00 pm. tonight to be there for each other, to honor Dylan and to grieve. We’ll have candles and flowers and encourage folks to bring whatever else they want. 

As always, please stay safe, find support, and reach out in any ways that you need to and let us QSR directors know if there are ways that we can be there for you. 

Below is a list of resources–please share these widely and use these freely as we find our way through this hard time. We know how difficult such deaths can be to process, especially within our communities, and we encourage folks to find support in whatever ways feel right to them. 

With care, 

Danny, Michael, and Ben 
Queer Student Resources directors

Resources and support services

Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860
Trans Lifeline is an anonymous and confidential peer support phone service run by trans people for trans and gender questioning peers.

Trevor Project: (866) 488-7396 also available via online chat or texting
The Trevor Project is a crisis intervention program for LGBTQ youth. 

Weiland Health Initiative (for queer and trans* students)
To schedule an appointment go to:  https://weiland.stanford.edu
Phone: 650-723-2005 
weilandhealth@stanford.edu

Students can also call Stanford Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) 24/7 at (650) 723-3785. More Stanford resources are listed here.

Stanford Grief Resources:
https://grieving.stanford.edu

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Letter to the Editor – In Memoriam of bell hooks ‘73

This letter was submitted to The Stanford Daily in response to the December 22, 2021, article, “Stanford community reflects on passing of Black feminist scholar bell hooks ’73“

January 11, 2022 Update: The Stanford Daily has updated their original article to include information about her queer identity.

To the Editor:

On behalf of the Stanford Pride Board of Directors, we commend Sophia Ibrahim for bringing attention to literary icon and trailblazing advocate bell hooks in her article, “Stanford community reflects on passing of Black feminist scholar bell hooks ’73.” We were impressed with Ibrahim’s reporting as part of The Stanford Daily Winter Journalism Workshop.

However, we want to highlight an important omission in the article, because it does not bring up bell hook’s identity as a queer Black feminist. Just as Stanford University is currently examining and addressing widespread discrimination towards marginalized groups on campus, Stanford Pride has embarked on a similar journey to combat anti-Black racism and become a more inclusive organization. This starts by acknowledging and celebrating the contributions of our queer Black community.  

(Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

bell hooks defined queerness as “the self that is at odds with everything around it and has to invent and create and find a place to speak and to thrive and to live,” and Stanford Pride is committed to creating that space and amplifying the diversity of voices in our community.

Kyle Duarte, President, Stanford Pride

Allison Martin, Vice President, Stanford Pride

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Two $10k scholarships available for BIPOC+LGBTQ students

Applications Due January 15, 2022

Announcing The Mensa Foundation‘s first-ever Progress Pride Scholarship to lift and center marginalized students at the intersection of BIPOC and LGBTQ.

Two $10k university scholarships are available for those who identify as BIPOC and LGBTQ and who have a demonstrated record of positive service to the BIPOC and LGBTQ communities. This is the Mensa Foundation’s largest scholarship award ever!

An essay is all that’s required up front, due January 15, 2022. Open to all U.S. university students, inclusive of undergrads and grad students.  Awardees will be selected in early 2022 and will then need to furnish a résumé/CV.

For more information, visit https://progresspride.org/ and please share with your networks.

About the Mensa Foundation: Founded in 1971, the Mensa Education & Research Foundation is a philanthropic, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization committed to the pursuit of excellence in human intelligence. The mission and strategic focus are directed at scholarships, education, and awards.

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Stanford Pride Announces Board Structure

The Board consists of several committees: the Executive Committee, Community Relations (which has two subcommittees – one for on campus events and relations, and another for beyond campus events and relations), External Communications, and Recruitment & Membership. The 2021 Committee Leads, Committee Members and Committee Email are shown in the chart below.

CommitteeLeadMembersEmail Alias
Community Relations & Events – Beyond Campus SubcomitteeAngel Fabian / Anthony GutierrezAlex Bandza, Jason, Kelly, Kevin, Raulcmte.beyondcampus@stanfordpride.org
Community Relations & Events – Campus SubcomitteeLily Zheng / Mike GisondiChris Lucas, Jessie, Zsea Bowmanicmte.oncampus@stanfordpride.org
ExecutiveKyle DuarteAllison Martin, Laura Schact, Will Frankensteincmte.executive@stanfordpride.org
External CommunicationsClaude BaudoinGus Hernandez, Jarreau Bowencmte.communications@stanfordpride.org
Recruitment & MembershipBri ListerCenon Advincula, David Browncmte.recruitment@stanfordpride.org
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Board of Directors Applications Now Open

A hand places a piece of paper in a box. The objects are in black on a white background.

Stanford Pride is holding our annual elections for the Board of Directors. Please apply yourself or refer others to serve on our board, especially those who:

  • Have experience working with Stanford staff, faculty, and students
  • Are well-connected to local LGBTQ+ communities, including those at Stanford
  • Demonstrate leadership potential
  • Will represent Stanford Pride in their community

Eligible board members include: alumni, students, staff, faculty, and other members of the Stanford LGBTQ+ community.

How to Apply

We ask all candidates to submit their application by March 31, 2021.

How to Refer

If you know someone that you think could contribute their lived experienced to the Stanford Pride Board, please refer them to us by emailing Allison Martin (allison.martin@alumni.stanford.edu). We will reach out to them with information about being a Board Member and how to apply.

Board Commitment

Board Members hold their position for a two-year term, May 2021 – April 2023. In this time, they will support the mission and goals of Pride by:

  • Attending events and actively engage constituency
  • Serving on at least one board committee
  • Attending board meetings (monthly; 1 half-day meeting in February, May, and October and 1 one-hour meeting other months) and committee-specific calls scheduled as necessary

About Us

Stanford Pride (stanfordpride.org) is the LGBTQ+ club of the Stanford Alumni Association. The board consists of alumni volunteers (primarily) with students, staff & faculty welcome to join the board. Our Mission is to create and foster an affirming community of LGBTQ+ alumni, students, faculty and staff, and to represent the Stanford LGBTQ+ communities to the University and beyond.

A sample of community involvement and events includes:

  • We award the Stanford Pride Fellowship each year to 1-2 outstanding undergraduates, allowing them to pursue summer internships serving the LGBTQ community 
  • Reunion Homecoming event for LGBTQ+ alumni
  • Lavender Graduation, an event to celebrate the graduating class of LGBTQ+ students each year
  • Culture Club – a quarterly discussion of a book or a movie primarily focusing
    on queer people of color
  • Inter-generational Discussion: high school students, college students, and
    alums
  • Community service and professional networking events
  • Social gatherings at art galleries, pubs, athletic events, and private homes
  • Annual Stanford Pride Ski Trip to Lake Tahoe
  • Pride Parades
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Event: Resilience in the LGBTQ+ Community

Join Stanford alumni, current Stanford undergraduates, and high school students in a panel discussion of how resilience has shaped Queer narratives over time and the continued importance of resilience to our community in a distributed world.

Monday, October 12, 2020

5-6pm PDT

Join The Event

Panelists will draw from intersectional identities in race, faith, and professional communities to bring focus to the ways in which institutions have failed to support identity development, and to challenge our community to do better. The conversation will be serious yet up-lifting.

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Six Month Initiative for Organizational Change

At our town hall this July, we heard that Stanford Pride needs to change.  In response, we are embarking on a six month initiative for organizational change.   We are setting aside conventions, structures and bylaws to re-envision who we are and what we do.  To become a better and more useful version of what Stanford’s intergenerational queer community can be, we ask that you not only take part in – but also help steer – our journey in transformation.

The town hall and subsequent organizational change initiative came in the wake of our response to anti-black racism this past June, where we:

  • recognized the leadership of low-income Black and brown transgender people, sex workers, butch lesbians, homeless gay youth, and drag queens in the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights and justice
  • stated Black Lives Matter and Black Trans Lives Matter and
  • acknowledged Stanford Pride’s failure and silence in addressing racism and systemic injustices within and beyond the queer community.

We are committed to several actions to hold us accountable to change.

STATUSCOMMITMENTACTIONOUTCOMES
CompletedHost an open Town Hall to hear members’ thoughts and feedback on how we can become a more inclusive and responsive organization and expand on our mission to reflect the diversity of our community.Town hall on 7/15/20Recognized as a Board that we needed deep organizational change and committed to a process to enable that change
In progressSurvey new graduates, current Stanford students, and Pride Members with a focus on queer and trans students and alumni of color to inform how Pride can best serve our diverse communityTake our Queer and Trans Alum Survey or Queer and Trans Student Survey, which each end on 10/10/2020.Aggregated results will be shared with the community after the survey ends.
In progressHold a special election so that the composition of the Board better reflects the Stanford Pride community.Apply to the Board of Directors and/or Refer SomeoneSelected board members will be shared.
In progressCoordinate with Stanford National Black Alumni Association and other affinity alumni organizations to host more joint events about the shared history of our communities and about advocating effectively for societal change.Register for Diverse Alumni End-of-Summer Happy Hour.  A Film Tribute to Marsha P. Johnson was also held.Additional events to be shared in the monthly E-Updates
Soon to comeRevise and add new programming to attract and engage the full population of the community we serve.In progress.

At a high level, our organizational change process will adhere to the following timeline:

  • August – September:  Create and disseminate surveys.  
  • October – December:  
    • Share survey results with the Stanford Pride community.
    • Assemble focus groups
    • Meet with focus groups to define and refine Stanford Pride’s mission, goals, and activities 
  • January – March: 
    • Draft Stanford Pride’s strategic plan.
    • Finalize work with focus groups
    • Share strategic plan with the Stanford Pride community.
  • Beyond March:  Execute & evaluate.

If you are interested in working with us to create the future of Stanford’s intergenerational queer community, please indicate so in the alumni survey or student survey.  

Please also consider registering for our (virtual) Stanford Pride Homecoming Reunion and Connecting Across Generations: Queer Women* & Non-Binary Members of the Stanford Community and other upcoming events.   You can also stay in the loop through social media, below.

Our Website
Our Facebook Group
Our Facebook Page
Our LinkedIn Group
Stanford LGBTQ+ Alumni Mentoring Group
Princeton’s BTGALA Event Calendar
StartOut

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Special Election – Board of Directors

A hand places a piece of paper in a box. The objects are in black on a white background.

Stanford Pride is holding a Special Election for the Board of Directors as part of our commitment to better serve Black members of our community. This election is happening alongside ongoing efforts to better serve queer and trans people of color through cohosting events with SNBAA and POC alumni organizations, surveying queer and trans students of color, and rethinking our event programming. Stanford Pride recognizes that, while we have made progress on our Board diversity over the last few years, we have a long way to go to truly represent and support the diversity of the LGBTQ+ alumni community. This special election plays a key part in our work to achieve that goal.

Please apply yourself or refer others to serve on our board, especially those who:

  • Have experience working with Stanford staff, faculty, and students
  • Are well-connected to local LGBTQ+ communities, including those at Stanford
  • Demonstrate leadership potential
  • Will represent Stanford Pride in their community

Current students are eligible to apply (both graduate or undergraduate).

How to Apply

  • Fill out the brief application form
  • Email your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your interest to Eric Elkin (elkineric@gmail.com).

We ask all candidates to submit their application by December 10, 2020.

How to Refer

If you know someone that you think could contribute their lived experienced to the Stanford Pride Board, please refer them to us. We will reach out to them with information about being a Board Member and how to apply.

Board Commitment

Board Members hold their position for a two-year term. In this time, they will support the mission and goals of Pride by:

  • Attending events and actively engage constituency
  • Serving on at least one board committee
  • Attending scheduled board calls and committee-specific calls scheduled as necessary

About Us

Stanford Pride (stanfordpride.org) is the LGBTQ+ club of the Stanford Alumni Association. The board consists of alumni volunteers (primarily) with students, staff & faculty welcome to join the board. Our Mission is to create and foster an affirming community of LGBTQ+ alumni, students, faculty and staff, and to represent the Stanford LGBTQ+ communities to the University and beyond.

A sample of community involvement and events includes:

  • We award the Stanford Pride Fellowship each year to 1-2 outstanding undergraduates, allowing them to pursue summer internships serving the LGBTQ community 
  • Reunion Homecoming event for LGBTQ+ alumni
  • Lavender Graduation, an event to celebrate the graduating class of LGBTQ+ students each year
  • Culture Club – a quarterly discussion of a book or a movie primarily focusing
    on queer people of color
  • Inter-generational Discussion: high school students, college students, and
    alums
  • Community service and professional networking events
  • Social gatherings at art galleries, pubs, athletic events, and private homes
  • Annual Stanford Pride Ski Trip to Lake Tahoe
  • Pride Parades
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