The Lawrence University community is working to create an environment that welcomes the world to contribute to and benefit from the liberal arts education we provide. We aspire to be a diverse and inclusive community, stemming from the very founding of our institution.

Lawrence University’s mission statement affirms that we are “committed to the development of intellect and talent, the pursuit of knowledge and understanding, the cultivation of sound judgment and respect for the perspectives of others.” Diversity is central to this commitment, and to the objective of preparing all Lawrentians for lives of engaged citizenship in our global society.

Mission

The Gender & Sexual Diversity area exists to create community and serve the needs of 2SLGBTQ+ students, faculty, staff, Lawrence community members, and their allies by providing high-quality support services that contribute to the academic and personal growth of community members and allies, and to offer a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment.

What does 2SLGBTQ+ even mean?

The shorthand for sexual and gender diverse communities expresses a long tradition of adding letters to the acronym in order to include groups whose identities were eclipsed or erased historically.

The current 2SLGBTQ+ -- sometimes 2SLGBTQIA+ -- stands for

  • 2S - Two Spirit (a term recognized within indigenous community to represent sexual and gender diverse individuals and should only be used by indigenous peoples).
  • L - Lesbian
  • G - Gay
  • B - Bisexual
  • T - Trans
  • Q - Queer, or Questioning
  • I - Intersex
  • A - Asexual, or Ally
  • + - recognizes all those not currently listed in the acronym.
Campus Pride Index