LGBTQIA+ Life at Emerson College

Written By Rachel Oshinsky

For LGBTQIA+ students navigating the college search, good information can be difficult to find. To help prospective students and families access in-depth and accurate information, I have set out to publish interviews with university staff members who provide support for the LGBTQIA+ community on different campuses.

Shoutout to Dana Ponsky, whose Being Jewish in College video series inspired this project!

For my first interview in this series, I had the good fortune of speaking with Ellie Martinez, Assistant Director of Intercultural Student Affairs for LGBTQIA Services at Emerson College. It was so much fun to speak with her and learn about her work! I hope prospective students and their families will find this helpful.

Key takeaways:

  • There is a large LGBTQIA+ presence on campus

  • Students feel like they are surrounded by LGBTQIA+ people

  • Some of the programming that Intercultural Student Affairs offers are Lavender Graduation, trivia nights, and yoga for trans folks and people in larger bodies

  • There is LGBTQIA+ staff in many offices on campus, including the career and counseling center

  • Queerphobia and transphobia on campus takes the form of microaggressions, and staff supports students when this happens

  • Emerson offers gender-inclusive housing and gender-inclusive restrooms

  • Students are empowered to express their queer and trans identities through a variety of media including film

Rachel Oshinsky
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