CUNY Establishes LGBTQ+ Institute to Enhance Student Support and Preserve History
The City University of New York (CUNY) has launched the Institute for LGBTQIA+ Community Engagement and Public History, located at LaGuardia Community College. This initiative aims to support LGBTQ+ students, foster collaboration across campuses, and partner with community organizations. The institute builds on the work of CUNY's LGBTQIA+ Consortium, which has been active since 2017, expanding from five campuses to nearly the entire university system. The new institute will provide a permanent structure to enhance student support services and preserve New York City's LGBTQ+ history. Allie Brashears, director of the consortium, emphasized the importance of institutionalizing these efforts to ensure continuity and secure funding. The institute will also serve as a bridge between CUNY students and the broader New York City community, organizing public exhibitions, workshops, and events to promote understanding and inclusion.