Our Crowdfunding Groups
This project has now closed. If you are interested in supporting LGBTQA+ Student Initiatives, please contact Andi Sharp at sharpa5@nku.edu. Thank you!
Who are we?
The Office of LGBTQA+ Student Initiatives envisions an identity-affirming and inclusive environment for all students on the gender and sexuality spectrum to feel welcome, seen and supported. We purposefully cultivate spaces for our students to feel welcome by acknowledging and validating their lives and experiences. We see the student for who they are and we do what we can to support them. We strive for students to walk away from each program, service and interaction with us knowing that they can be their most authentic selves with us.
How do we make our vision a reality?
The purpose of what we are calling the “Be You” campaign is to offer support to transgender and gender non-conforming students by providing them with gender-affirming items. Our efforts to support transgender and gender non-conforming students are a response to a current need where there are attempts to erase their identity and their humanity. Northern Kentucky University is located in an area that has been given a ranking of 9.25 out of 42.5 by the Movement Advancement Project*, measuring how state laws affect transgender youth and adults. Additionally, current litigation prohibits healthcare professionals from providing gender-affirming care and services to youth at the risk of losing their licenses. We will not let our students be erased and walk this journey alone.
How you can help!
We need you to help us in the process of offering gender-affirming information and items to support students as they journey toward their most authentic selves. All of our students are unique, therefore, their “Be You” kits will be customized to their individual needs. The “Be You” kits could include access to free chest binders accompanied by safety/educational material, make-up, undergarments, gender-neutral clothing and more.
All donations will enable us to purchase items for the student’s individual need to include (1) piece of educational information and (2) gender-affirming items. Each kit is a physical representation of our aspirations of creating an identity-affirming and inclusive environment for all students on the gender and sexuality spectrum to feel welcome, seen and supported.
"Be You means being able to confidently be my authentic self without fear of judgment." ~ Casper Hafley, QPLUS Scholar
"Be You means to me that really expressing myself how I truly feel on the inside. I can be all of me." - Anonymous
*Find out more information on the Movement Advancement Project here: https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/profile_state/KY