West Virginia Wesleyan College Campus Life has opened a gender-inclusive learning community for students. The learning community is a space for students who identify with the LGBTQ+ community, providing a secure environment for those involved.

The community moved to a different residence hall this year, seeking a more accessible space. With numerous students identifying as LGBTQ+, the residence hall floor functions as a learning center designed to foster relationships and provide a safe space.

Kenna Whitcomb, the assistant director of Campus Life, said, “The floor is a learning community designed to foster relationships and provide a safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community. In this community, Resident Assistants implement programming surrounding current events, hardships, social and educational opportunities that involve the LGBTQ+ community.”

In addition to campus efforts, a student-led group, PRISM, is thriving with events. PRISM, the queer-straight alliance, allows the LGBTQ+ community and allies to interact, discuss campus happenings, and plan awareness events.

Cadie Kittle, a junior and secretary of PRISM at West Virginia Wesleyan College, said, “PRISM is WVWC’s queer-straight alliance. On campus, PRISM provides a space where students, no matter their identity, can feel empowered and supported. Education and Unity are two major drivers of the organization, and we hope to spread awareness on issues impacting the queer community.

“This semester, we brought back an event previously held by PRISM, but paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic: the Coming Out Door. The event is held annually on October 11, National Coming Out Day. Students, faculty and community members are invited to step through a door and symbolically ‘come out,’ a term used for an LGBTQ+ person disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity. Participants were welcome regardless of identity, with many ‘coming out’ as allies of the LGBTQ+ community.”

The group has also held discussions with Shauna Jones, director of the Counseling Center, on self-acceptance and survivor’s guilt, and with Title IX coordinator Amy Kittle about LGBTQ+ rights and resources.