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The college prioritized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as part of the strategic plan it adopted at the beginning of last year, which led to the hire of the first DEI-focused position in the college’s history. While she’s not aware of any violence or threats to the LGBTQ+ community at the college, Hammerle does tell Northern Express that there are still signs of intolerance among some segments of the student body.
The NMC campus was also the venue for Up North Pride’s Pride Carnival earlier this month, and there are currently rainbow signs dotted across the NMC campus that proclaim “Everyone Is Welcome at NMC.”
Despite the strong track record for LGBTQ+ support at NMC, the student group that promotes some of that visibility has struggled to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to NMC Human Resources Specialist Denny Nguyen—who was a member of the NMC Pride group in the late 2010s when he was a student and who now serves as one of its faculty advisors—the organization was “very different” and “much more active” before COVID.
“I’ve gotten lots of communication from students who are interested in joining a group, and maybe the timing and scheduling just hasn’t worked out for them yet. They’d have a certain name in their computer, and wouldn’t know [a trans student had changed their name] unless they were told directly.”
As Hammerle explains it, the old process for changing names and genders within the NCMC system was difficult and convoluted, involving complex paperwork, identification documents, and more.
But I also have heard from other students who have had interactions where they don’t feel like they’re able to express themselves how they want to. GSA is also already in talks with students and professors to plan a similar celebration for the fall semester, which would focus specifically on highlighting queer voices—including songwriters, poets, and speakers—on the NCMC campus.
Keeping Pride Alive at Northwestern Michigan College
While GSA is still in its early days at NCMC, Traverse City’s Northwestern Michigan College has had a student Pride organization for years.
Even beyond that student group, NMC has grown over time into something of a hub for acceptance and inclusion in the community.
But they do want to have a space where they can hang out with other people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community and just share space with them. And I thought, ‘Maybe there’s a need on campus for an organization, and they could probably help.’”
Now about six months into its existence, the NCMC Pride organization—called the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA)—has adopted a mission of “making this campus safer and more welcoming to those in the LGBTQIA+ community.” During the school year, the group meets twice per month, providing a safe place for members to gather, enjoy one another’s company, and discuss “issues that might arise on campus.”
For Hammerle, who serves as GSA’s president, one of the first big accomplishments for the group was getting NCMC to implement a “name change request button” as part of the online student portal.
“Previously, a big, big thing on campus was that trans students didn’t know how to change their name in the system,” she explains—an issue that often led to teachers unintentionally deadnaming or misgendering those students in classes.
A 2022 graduate—and salutatorian—from Boyne Falls Public School, she says it didn’t take long for her to identify a clear need for more LGBTQ+ support and visibility on the NCMC campus.
“I really noticed when I got here that there was a need for change on campus,” Hammerle explains. “You can fill out a name change request, and it gets sent through the tech department to make sure that it’s an appropriate name and no one is abusing the system.
Kanteras case which included dissolution of marriage and child custody in Florida.
National Center for Transgender Equality – The NCTE is a 501(c)3 social justice organization dedicated to advancing the equality of transgender people through advocacy, collaboration and empowerment.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Out and Proud – A statewide effort in Missouri to raise awareness of LGBTQ health disparities and connect people with resources and community
Outserve – Founded in late 2009 and early 2010, OutServe is the association of actively-serving LGBT military personnel.
Palm Center – Formerly the Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military (CSSMM).
The Palm Center uses rigorous social science to study the flawed rationale behind Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and then aggressively distributes its research to military audiences during annual visits to West Point, the Army War College, the Air Force Academy, the Naval Academy and elsewhere.
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) —A support and advocacy group for allies.
The Trevor Project – 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 ages 13-24.
Trevor Lifeline: 24/7, LGBTQ & Ally focused – (866) 488-7386
Trevor Chat: https://chat.trvr.org/
Pride on Campus
Community college groups offering safe spaces for LGBTQ+ students
By Craig Manning | June 17, 2023
In 2022, the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor campus) was named to the “Best of the Best Colleges and Universities for LGBTQ+ Students” list by Campus Pride, an organization that has been working to create safer college environments for LGBTQ+ students since 2001.
From only two shows per year in 1988, The Chorus now hosts seven sold-out concerts every season, has released six successful CD recordings, and performed at GALA chorus festivals nationally and internationally.
Nguyen recalls how, prior to the pandemic, having an active NMC Pride group helped him feel “very supported” as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
“And that was through no fault of the teachers. That could mean adopting a different schedule, offering more mixers and social events on campus, promoting NMC Pride meetings to non-LGBTQ+ students as a place where they can learn to be better allies, or finding ways to partner with the NMC administration and the college’s DEIB Advisory Council to drive even more top-down efforts at making the campus a more accepting place.
One specific goal, Nguyen notes, is to expand NMC’s “clothing closet,” which works like a food pantry, but with the goal of offering professional clothing for students.
In response to increasing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation around the country, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC)—which describes itself as “the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization”—has declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. for the first time in its 40-year history.
So how do Hammerle and Nguyen feel about safety and acceptance on campus for their groups?
Overall, Hammerle says the quick growth of GSA and the support from college faculty and administration have made her feel “100 percent safe” on the NCMC campus.
The effort is spearheaded by Kaitlyn Hammerle, a sophomore at the Petoskey community college. U of M has an overall 5-star rating, which is calculated based on a variety of factors including campus safety, policy inclusion, institutional commitment, and recruitment and retention for LGBTQ+ students.
As the Campus Pride list is focused on major four-year institutions, Northern Express set out to see if some of the community colleges in our region offer the same welcoming vibe.
Each year the Chorus performs before 30,000+ people at venues that have included the Hanna, the State and Connor Palace Theatres at Playhouse Square, Cleveland State University, Notre Dame College and Severance Hall. We support one another by respecting individual members and cultivating a sense of team spirit.”
Diversity
“We value an atmosphere of welcoming acceptance by celebrating our diverse membership, audience, and community through our musical repertoire.”
Fun
“We value humor, light-heartedness, and playfulness to complement our musical goals.”
Integrity
“We value honesty, responsibility, and forthrightness in all chorus affairs.”
Vision Statement
What the North Coast Men’s Chorus strives for can be found in the following vision statement:
Many voices, singing as one, The North Coast Men’s Chorus will be an integral and valued member of the Northeast Ohio arts community through the music we sing, the pride we feel, and the people we cherish.