On April 2, Bowie State University in Maryland will open the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Allies Resource Center on campus. The university says the center is the first of its kind on the campus of a state-operated historically Black college or university. The center’s stated goal is to educate the Bowie State community on issues related to sexual orientation and to provide a supportive, welcoming environment for LGBT students.
“HBCUs usually don’t want to address LGBT issues,” says Adrian Krishnasamy, director of the center and an assistant professor in the department of communications. “It also gives Bowie State’s LGBT community visibility. Now that we’re visible, we can arm people with knowledge and fight ignorance.”
“It troubles me that many students, particularly African-American students, are afraid to discuss their issues with sexual identity and that’s who we want to reach,” Dr. Krishnasamy continued. “We want people to feel comfortable with who they are.”
