Pride Month: Standing in Solidarity With & Honoring Contributions of LGBTQ+ Colleagues & Students

Dear SMC Community:

June marks Pride Month, a time to reflect on those who fought for equality for LGBTQ+ individuals and communities, to celebrate the strides made, and to recommit to building a world where each individual can be their authentic selves—without fear of recrimination or fear, period.

Our nation stands at a critical watershed moment where the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals are at stake. This Pride Month, Santa Monica College reaffirms our institutional commitment to standing strong as a beacon of equity and inclusivity for all students, irrespective of gender/gender identity and sexuality as well as immigration status, race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, disability, age, or socio-economic background.

This commitment is made manifest in the transformative work and advocacy that takes place through the SMC Pride Center, where dedicated faculty, staff, and students/student leaders converge to help advocate for, honor, and prioritize intersectional LGBTQ+ identities at SMC. My deepest gratitude to each person involved in this work, which was evident in the recent Second Annual Lavender Graduating Students’ Celebration, held May 22, and on so many other occasions throughout the academic year. Also, and on a more practical note, SMC has begun construction on an all-gender restroom space at a central location on Main Campus, due to open next year—an important step towards ensuring privacy, dignity, and inclusivity for non-cisgender colleagues, students, visitors, and community members. Thank you to everyone involved in this important project!

We stand in solidarity with and honor the contributions of our LGBTQ+ students and colleagues at this critical moment in history. We will continue to seek out ways to build an inclusive, just world—for them, and ultimately, for all of us.

Kathryn E. Jeffery, Ph.D.

Superintendent/President