Human Rights Campaign Foundation Hosts Third Annual #HBCUOutLoud Day

by Alberto Morales •

Today, HRC is hosting its third annual National #HBCUOutLoud Day. It is a day when Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) coordinate events on LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusion on their respective campuses. The HRC Foundation created the day as a way to celebrate LGBTQ+ people and develop innovative inclusion efforts.

#HBCUOutLoud Day is a time to celebrate LGBTQ+ communities at HBCUs. It is also a day to take stock of all the challenges that LGBTQ+ students face in their daily lives at HBCUs and to have discussions on how to foster even more inclusion on their campuses. This is the third time that the Human Rights Campaign has hosted the day, and we couldn’t be more excited to continue to expand upon the LGBTQ+ inclusion work that we have been doing for years alongside HBCU administrations and student leaders.

Leslie Hall, HBCU Program Director

This year, several universities will be hosting events to honor #HBCUOutLoud Day, including:

  • Kentucky State University

  • North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

  • Prairie View A&M University

  • Savannah State University

  • University of the District of Columbia

  • Virginia State University

  • Xavier University

HRC will also participate in an Instagram Live conversation titled LIVING OUTLOUD: On Campus and Beyond with the hosts of Surface Level podcast on October 20, 2021, 7:30-8:30 PM ET. The topics will include LGBTQ+ visibility and representation on campus, destigmatizing identity and health, and how to engage HBCU alumni in campus LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts. The participants will include HRC HBCU Program Senior Manager Rishard Butts, and the hosts of Surface Level: Damon Epps, Tony Jermin, and Jordan Randall.

Participating schools include colleges and universities that have student leaders who commit to providing programming that centers LGBTQ+ students during the yearly event and work with their administration to establish more inclusive campus cultures.

The HRC Foundation’s HBCU Program mobilizes and supports HBCUs in enhancing policies and services that promote excellence in LGBTQ inclusion, equity, and engagement. The program focuses on promoting individual competencies and collective action, empowering leaders and stakeholders, and building a network of committed leaders in pursuit of eliminating stigma and enriching the college experience for LGBTQ+ students and the entire student body. The program’s initiatives include yearly national and regional leadership summits, an HBCU LGBTQ+ Alumni Network, campus diversity and inclusion training, and HIV-related public education and prevention campaigns among others.

HRC’s HBCU Program was founded to support LGBTQ+ students at HBCUs by providing resources and training to advance affirming and supportive college campuses. The program is supported by the Coca-Cola Foundation, the David Bohnett Foundation, Gucci, State Farm, and PVH. For more information about HRC’s HBCU Project, visit www.hrc.org/hbcu.

Contact Us

To make a general inquiry, please visit our contact page. Members of the media can reach our press office at: (202) 572-8968 or email press@hrc.org.