MC Pride and Allies
Fostering a welcoming environment for our LGBTQIA+ employees and students at Montgomery College.
We are an employee affinity group that works to foster a welcoming environment for our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA)+ employees and students at Montgomery College. Our vision and goals include:
- Offer safe and welcoming spaces for LGBTQIA+ employees and allies to connect and support each other
- Serve as a resource for LGBTQIA+ students and allies seeking information and guidance
- Affirm the urgent need for defending/supporting LGBTQIA+ people in our College community and beyond
- Affirm the continuing need for Safe Zone, Bystander, and Consent training
To learn more about our group structure and leadership, please review our Bylaws (PDF, 
) .
Join MC Pride and Allies: Sign upnew window to be added to the group's email distribution list to receive future updates and be added to our monthly meetings.
MC Pride & Allies, Montgomery College’s affinity group for LGBTQIA+ employees and allies, invites you to join us to celebrate Pride Month at the following events!
- Virtual Pride Kickoff Open House with MC Pride & Allies
Wednesday, May 22, 12:30-2:00 p.m. | Register here new window - MC Pride & Allies Table @ Rockville Town Square Pride festival new window
Sunday, June 2, 2:00-5:00 p.m. | Register herenew window - Coming Out 101: A Panel Discussion (virtual event)
Wednesday, June 5, 12:30-2:00 p.m. | Register herenew window - LGBTQIA+ Student Experiences at MC: Survey Presentation with Dr. Lucinda Grinnell
Wednesday, June 26, 2:00-3:00 p.m. | Register here new window
Montgomery College is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, 365 days a year.
Students, we want to hear from you! Share your experiences as a LGBTQ+ person at Montgomery College. The survey is open to current and former students at least 18 years old.
Complete the LGBTQ+ Student Experiences at Montgomery College Survey
This survey seeks to collect information about the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) identified Montgomery College students who have attended the college within the past 10 years. The information collected will be used to make recommendations for improving support at Montgomery College for LGBTQ+ students.
The survey is completely anonymous and no identifying information will be collected. Participant identities cannot be linked to their answers. Participation in this survey is completely voluntary. Respondents can decline participation, withdraw from the survey at any point, or skip questions as they see fit.
This survey is being conducted by Dr. Lucinda Grinnell, a staff member at Montgomery College with a background in the fields of LGBTQ+ Studies and Higher Education.
For questions, please contact Lucinda.Grinnell@montgomerycollege.edu.
By taking the SafeZone training, you help foster a welcoming academic environment for students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender--or questioning identity. LGBTQ students often feel unsafe at school, resulting in reduced attendance to avoid risk, bullying, or bias. Additionally, you can empower students to cope with ignorance or discrimination, build community among peers, and focus on their studies.
Visit the Safe Zone website for additional information.
- Women and Gender Studies website
- Check out our awesome Literature and Creative Writing Courses
- Earn a General Studies AAnew window with an ENGLISH focus at MC
- ENGLISH Option AA Academic Map (PDF, )
- Earn a Women and Gender Studies certificatenew window in 4 CLASSES!
Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) has been observed annually on November 20 for over two decades and caps off Transgender Week of Awareness. It is a time to honor the memories of transgender people who have lost their lives to anti-trans violence. The day is often marked with vigils, community gatherings, and celebrations of life. MC Pride & Allies holds the memories of those we've lost close as we work towards uplifting trans folks while they are still alive.
MC and Community Resources
- Trans Maryland websitenew window
- National Center for Transgender Equality websitenew window
- Contact MC Pride and Allies via email
- Sign upnew window to be added to the group's email distribution list to receive future updates and be added to our monthly meetings
The College offers the Gender Studies 102: Understanding LGBTQ+ Identities course for students.
GNDS 102 is an inter-disciplinary, cross-cultural examination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) identities in contemporary United States society that draws from history, literature, sociology, philosophy, psychology and communications studies to understand the diversity of gender expressions and sexual orientations. This course surveys who LGBT people are and how academic study of these identities has developed. It explores the connection between women’s studies and gender studies, and the ways women’s studies has grown to include analysis of how gender and sexual orientation interact and intersect, and how heterosexism and homophobia function in various contexts and affect everyone in society. This course requires students to engage both written and visual texts, to apply and connect material from the course to life outside the classroom, and to investigate sexual minority identities in terms of communities, cultures and political movements. Assessment Level(s): ENGL 101/ENGL 101A, READ 120 or consent of program coordinator. Three hours each week. Formerly GS 102.
View the Catalognew window for additional information.
MC Pride & Allies meets regularly. This is an informal meeting with the purpose of getting to know one another and discussing what we want from the group. The meeting is held on Zoom.
If you are an MC employee and/or student who is interesting in being part of the MC Pride & Allies group and want to join the meeting, please email us. We will forward you the Zoom meeting information.
Meetings: Tuesdays, 12:30-2:00 p.m.
E-mail: Tony Tran, ttran332@montgomerycollege.edu
Meetings: Fridays, 1:00-2:00 p.m., SC 459
President: Ruth Ella Karo
For more information, students should email or communicate with group leaders via Instagram or Xnew window. If you have questions, send an email.
MC Pride & Allies is holding our spring semester Open House in April at the Takoma Park/Silver Spring, Rockville, and Germantown Campus. Come meet some of our dedicated members, learn about some of our latest projects, and grab some treats. Bring questions with you. We will be happy to answer any questions you have regarding Pride and Allies.
We hope to see you at one of our Open Houses!
- Takoma Park/Silver Spring: Thursday, April 4, 2024, 11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m., ST 103 Atrium | Supporting Queer Tango workshop
- Rockville: Thursday, April 18, 2024, 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., SV Atrium | Part of Equity Week 2024
- Germantown: Wednesday, April 24, 2024, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., SA Lobby
If you have questions or feedback, please contact us via email.
Updated 5/17/2024