Queer Folks and Friends

Event flyer with illustrations of dolphins and rainbows.

Queer Folks and Friends is Shoreline’s 2-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Trans, Queer, Intersex and Aro/Ace affinity group! We welcome all staff and faculty to join including allies.

We meet monthly, online over Zoom.

Next meetings:

  • Aug. 18 at 1:15pm
  • Sept. 15 at 1:15pm

Contact Roberto Lopez at rlopez@shoreline.edu or message over Teams to join the Teams chat for the affinity group.

Queer Folks and Friends

Cartoon image of dolphins and a rainbow heart.

Queer Folks and Friends is Shoreline’s 2-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Trans, Queer, Intersex and Aro/Ace affinity group! We welcome all staff and faculty to join including allies.

We meet monthly, online over Zoom. Next meeting:

Contact Roberto Lopez at rlopez@shoreline.edu or message over Teams to join the Teams chat for the affinity group.

Happy Disability Pride Month

Happy first week of the quarter and Happy Disability Pride Month!  

This July we are excited to welcome Disability Pride month and recognize our relatives with disabilities, along with the rich history of advocacy for equal rights and protections in our country. July commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act which was signed July 26th, 1990. It is important not only to recognize the rich diversity in visible and non-visible disabilities but equally the value and worthiness of respect our relatives deserve.  

Later this week we will start flying the Disability Pride Flag in recognition of our relatives with disabilities and the advocacy work we must continue to do. Although new in the context of flags and recognition, folks with disabilities, including visible and non-visible disabilities, have always enriched the diversity of our community. The flag that will be flown will include 

  • Faded black background to represents “the anger and mourning over the eugenics and the neglect that disabled people have to fight against.” 
  • Red represents physical disabilities. 
  • Gold represents neurodiversity. 
  • White represents invisible disabilities and disabilities that haven’t yet been diagnosed. 
  • Blue represents emotional and psychiatric disabilities, including mental illness, anxiety, and depression. 
  • Green represents sensory disabilities, including deafness, blindness, lack of smell, lack of taste, audio processing disorder, and all other sensory disabilities. 

Although this year we are unable to hold a formal ceremony due to capacity constraints, we are nonetheless excited to have this flag proudly displayed for our campus and hope that this is the start of a traditional awareness for our institution.  

As a reminder Shoreline College has a dedicated Student Accssibility Service Office that strives to support all students with a variety of accommodations supports and continues to advocate for our students through accessibility focused workgroups and one on one support. A big shout out to Miranda and Clarke for their dedication and the Heart work they bring to our campus every single day.  

Celebrating Pride Month:  The intersection of Accessibility and the LGBT+ Community

This image has flag related symbols of Pride Month

In 1973, homosexuality was officially removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), marking a historic shift in the medicalization of queer identity. Yet, even after this major milestone—and the later removal of “ego-dystonic homosexuality” in 1987—the queer community has continued to grapple with intersecting systems of oppression. 

Today, it’s estimated that 3 to 5 million LGBTQ+ people in the United States live with a disability. Despite the queer community’s history of resilience and mutual support, LGBTQ+ individuals with disabilities still face significant barriers to inclusion, even within LGBTQ+ spaces themselves. Pride events, for example, can be inaccessible due to physical limitations like a lack of ramps, accessible restrooms, reserved seating, or the absence of sign language interpretation. As a result, many queer disabled people are excluded from the very celebrations meant to affirm their identities.

Fortunately, organizations like  The Trevor Project are pushing back. They’re working to dismantle ableism and heteronormativity together, recognizing that liberation for one part of the community must include all of us.

The statistics are eye-opening.  A study by The Trevor Project found that among LGBTQ+ youth with disabilities:

  • 48% had been diagnosed with ADHD
  • 32% with a developmental or learning disorder
  • 28% with a physical disability
  • 72% with a mental health disorder

To put that last number in perspective, the national average of depression among all adults aged 18–25 is 18.6%. The disparity speaks volumes. LGBTQ+ individuals, especially those with disabilities, are more likely to experience discrimination, bullying, and social rejection, all of which contribute to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.

It’s also important to understand that disability does not determine a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation. Disabled people can be gay, straight, trans, nonbinary, or anywhere else on the gender and sexuality spectrums. Yet, disabled individuals are often infantilized, their identities questioned or dismissed entirely, even in adulthood. This dehumanization deepens the disparagement they face and limits their access to affirming spaces.

The overlapping experiences of ableism and queerphobia lead to compounded challenges in schools, where bullying is more common; in healthcare, where bias can lead to inadequate care; and in the workplace, where discrimination and lack of accommodations contribute to higher unemployment and poverty rates.

These realities highlight a call to action for college campuses, healthcare providers, employers, and LGBTQ+ organizations alike. True inclusion means recognizing and actively removing barriers, not only physical ones but cultural and systemic ones as well. Creating accessible and affirming environments isn’t optional; it’s essential. Shoreline has a unique opportunity to push this conversation forward. When we are organizing events, designing buildings, working on policy, or simply being a better ally, our actions can help shape a world where disabled LGBTQ+ people are not only included, but truly celebrated.

How are we doing? 

Please submit feedback about the information that the Accessibility Advisory Committee shares to Miranda Levy via email at mlevy@shoreline.edu so that the committee can review together and serve the campus community better.

Pride Festival

Rainbow flag flyer.

3rd Annual Pride Festival

In recognition of Pride month, the campus will celebrate the LGBTQIA2S+ community with a festival on June 11th from 1 pm to 5 pm.

There will be live performances, activities and refreshments.