Rio Hondo College opened its first Pride Center on campus this week, which will provide an inclusive space that supports students who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Students, staff and local leaders celebrated the newest addition to the campus with a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 15, with resource booths, cupcakes, a chance to tour the center, and more.
“Within its 60 years of youth, our campus has continued to raise visibility and support to LGBTQIA+ students and employees,” said Martin Covarrubias, adjunct counselor for the Pride Scholars Program and Student Life and Leadership program at Rio Hondo.
“The Pride Center that you see today is a monument for this campus,” Covarrubias said during the ceremony. “This Pride Center is a torch that will be passed down, and tailored to support the students where their needs may be met.”
Located outside of the administration building on the upper level of campus, Rio Hondo officials say they are proud to have a home for LGBTQ+ students and allies to interact with each other and have a safe space to be themselves.
“We understand that student success is not possible without making every single student find themselves and find a physical space where they can thrive,” said Board of Trustees Vice President Oscar Valladares. “This is just another step in the right direction at Rio Hondo College.”
The center holds the new home for the college’s LGBTQ+ academic support program, which has more than 200 students who receive support such as individualized counseling, book vouchers, and offers an LGBTQ+ support group, Covarrubias said.
It will also be a space for the Queer Initiative Club – a club that promotes inclusivity by hosting workshops, activities, and meetings where LGBTQ+ members and allies collaborate to make campus more inclusive.
Covarrubias said there have been many efforts from previous community members who raised their voices and worked with allies to create a safe space for students to earn degrees.
“For our LGBTQIA+ students, the Pride Center will be seen as a home, a space where they can be themselves and promote their activities to our campus at large,” they added. “I believe it is important to provide spaces for students to be themselves as this campus is many students’ homes away from home.”
Superintendent-President Marilyn Flores said that student voices were heard and that Rio Hondo’s administration and Board of Trustees will continue to work on providing an even better space for Pride Scholars Program and LGBTQ+ students.
“I want to make it clear that while this space is beautiful and gorgeous it is temporary because we plan to go bigger, we’re just waiting to see where we have additional space because we want to treat this program like we do all programs,” she said. “This is your community, this is your chosen family, and so we want to make sure that we’re there for you to deliver.”
Financial support also came from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.
Students were excited to cut the ribbon to their new center and continue fostering community on campus. Rio Hondo student Gee Gonzalez was holding back tears of joy when seeing the Pride Center’s grand opening.
Gonzalez recommends other Rio Hondo students part of the LGBTQ+ community to check out the center.
“I don’t feel alone, I feel supported and loved and I didn’t really have a supportive family so this is my chosen family,” they said. “We’re always here with open arms.”
