10 Years of Visibility

Both from a personal and professional knowledgeable in the scientific literature - having a sense of belonging, visibility, and not being isolated allows people to do their best work. I know because I have found LGBTQ+ community at UB I am thriving and not just surviving.

Being part of the LGBTQ FSA means having a home at UB. Home is a place where you feel safe, it is a place where you can laugh about life's little absurdities, it is a place that recognizes you and welcomes you, and it is a place where you can share your truth and be heard. 

LGBTQ+ visibility means living authentically and creating spaces where others can do the same. Over my career at UB, I've witnessed the remarkable evolution in how our community has become increasingly visible and supported on campus. LGBTQ+ visibility isn't just about being "out" – it's about fostering an environment where everyone can bring their whole selves to work, where younger faculty and staff can see role models, and where students can envision their future selves in academia.

The growth and success of the LGBTQ FSA over these past ten years demonstrates that when institutions provide support and recognition, communities can thrive. What once seemed impossible – an open and active LGBTQ+ faculty and staff organization – is now an integral part of UB's institutional fabric. This transformation serves as both an inspiration and a reminder of our responsibility to continue building a more inclusive university for future generations.

I was at UB for many years before the FSA was finally able to gain traction as an organization representing LGBTQ+ people on campus. Many attempts had been made, without success. Before the FSA, there was no nexus of solidarity, as if our identities were somehow disconnected from everyday life.

It's important to make sure that future generations are not forced to dissociate parts of themselves in pursuit of personal and professional success.

Visibility is critial - the UB community and the Buffalo community in general needs to see that UB is a leader within the LGBTQ+ community. 

This FSA gives me a voice, an outlet and a chance to make an impact within UB and Western NY.  Through this group I have a sense of community and it allows me to work with a like minded individuals with common goals and priorities.

I love what this FSA has done and our vision for the future. 

It is important for folx to know that our community is vast, spanning and crossing identities - race, gender, class, educational levels, and so much more. We look, speak, act, and express ourselves differently, and that is ok because we are not a monolithic community. Rather, we are rich beautiful tapestry of diversity. Visibility is just the beginning.

For me, visibility brings people together, this togetherness builds community, which leads to change. As a new member of the UB community, the LGBTQ FSA afforded me the opportunity to connect with other LGBTQ+ faculty and staff at UB that I would not have otherwise had the chance to meet. Many of these connections have led to meaningful friendships and amazing work collaborations - for that I am grateful.

Our visibility normalizes our lives for people that have never been exposed to people living free of judgement.

I am new to UB and the FSA was definitely part of my decision to come. It's fun and provides so much diversity to our university.

The biggest way for us to make change is telling our stories. It is our personal life experiences that can make others change their mind. We need to make sure our students, faculty, and staff are exposed to a diverse group of people especially those who are willing and able to share their stories.

Being part of any marginalized community can feel very isolating, but having the FSA has allowed us to find community within each other. The FSA also helps with being able to feel like you can be out at your job. It’s very easy to feel like you are the only one around that is a part of the LGBTQ+ community, but having the FSA allows you to be able to look around the group and say “I’m not alone.” The FSA helps you be more of your true and authentic self at your job, which only helps you have better connections with each other and our students. We are all better by being able to bring our true selves to our work.

When LGBTQ+ employees feel seen and valued, it not only affirms their right to bring their full selves to work, but also creates an environment where creativity and collaboration can flourish and sends a message that every university employee is valued and encouraged to thrive in their work.

Having an opportunity to connect with other faculty and staff across the university through this one aspect of our shared identities has helped break down the many silos that exist at UB that can sometimes be isolating, especially for new employees. Though our shared work advocating on behalf of students and driving the strategic vision of the LGBTQ FSA forward, I’ve been able to connect with colleagues I would have otherwise never met and have collaborated in new ways with colleagues I’ve known for years. It’s rewarding to know that even though my primary work at the university is more behind the scenes, I’ve been able to put my own stamp on the culture of UB through the work of the LGBTQ FSA.

It's important to be authentically me, so students can feel safe to be them. Visibility is symbolic and an active form of allyship and representation.

This FSA has made UB feel like a home. I feel valued, appreciated, and understood. The FSA provides a platform to support colleagues in my community and helps students feel represented, valued, and supported.

The visibility of the LGBTQ FSA has done so much for students and I can't wait to see what else it does!

LGBTQ+ visibility means the possibility of a life and a future. It's hard to imagine a future for yourself if you never see it for anyone else like you, so it's vitally important that queer and trans people get to see people like them living, working, and succeeding in the world. It is particularly important at a university because it signifies that queer and trans lives, stories, and experiences are knowledge worth having and passing on.

It is important to foster LGBTQ+ community because we deserve to live fully as ourselves in ways that are more possible in community with each other. We are part of a community and a legacy that has survived through millenia of human existence, including dark times when various groups would have seen us silenced and snuffed out. Through all of that we have history, experience, insight, and value we bring to our university community and to the world.

LGBTQ+ visibility helps create a sense of belonging at UB. Being part of the FSA helped me feel safe enough to embrace my identity which is important to my sustainability work and when I work with students. When I’m speaking with students about the massive problems our world is facing like climate change and environmental justice, I connect them to the root cause of systematically oppressing marginalized people. Telling students in the classroom about my queerness is not only a signal that sustainability work is personal for me, but it is also a signal to anyone that is working through their sexuality and gender expression that they have an ally in the room.

Participating in the LGBTQ FSA has allowed me to bring my authentic self to work. I’ve been able to lean into my gayness in my role at the university which wasn’t always something I was willing or comfortable to do. I have found a new sense of joy and pride in my work without having to carry the weight of who I am on me. 

Given the history of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, visibility is important (and necessary) to not only demonstrate and create a welcoming and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff at UB, but also to help normalize and celebrate the individuality of our community.

As someone who moved to the area a few years ago, it’s been challenging to find and connect with others in the Buffalo LGBTQ+ community. Early in my employment at UB, I attended an event hosted by the LGBTQ FSA and shortly after joined as an official member. Although I’ve only participated in a few events, the FSA has become an extremely welcoming group where I feel I can express myself and connect authentically with other UB professionals from the queer community. I’m extremely grateful to have found this inclusive group as it’s directly contributed to my sense of belonging as both a new UB employee as well as a relatively new resident of WNY.

Fostering an LGBTQ+ community at UB is so important because it lets everyone know - faculty, staff, and students alike - that they have a place here. It can be so easy to feel isolated, like you’re navigating challenges all on your own. But when you know there’s a group of people who understand, who’ve got your back, it makes such a difference. For me, it’s about creating those spaces where people feel safe and supported - spaces where we can show up as ourselves and know we belong. Having this kind of community is empowering. It’s a reminder that no matter how big UB is, there are people here for you, rooting for you, and ready to help you find your way.

What’s so special about the FSA is how it makes this huge institution feel smaller and more personal. It’s not just about meeting people; it’s about forming real, lasting relationships that make you feel seen and supported. Being part of the FSA has given me a place where I can show up as my full self and be part of something bigger.