A Campus of Dignity, Respect and Justice 

At Dominican University, our Catholic and Hispanic-Serving identity calls us to affirm the inherent dignity of every person. Grounded in the Dominican pillars of Caritas and Veritas—love and truth—we recognize that our LGBTQIA+ community is an essential and valued part of the university. 

As a Catholic HSI, we understand that identity, culture, faith and lived experience intersect in complex and meaningful ways. Our commitment to our community’s safety and belonging is not peripheral to our mission; it flows directly from it. 

This page is designed to connect LGBTQIA+ students and employees and their allies with resources that support holistic wellbeing. This includes academic guidance, community-building opportunities, spiritual accompaniment, mental health support and reporting options. Faculty and staff are also encouraged to utilize these resources as partners in cultivating a campus culture rooted in dignity, respect and justice. 


Resources for Students, Faculty and Staff

Dominican University follows Title IX, a federal law that prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or gender in educational institutions that receive federal financial assistance. Title IX protects students and employees. 

The DU community is asked to report incidents that may violate Title IX prohibitions so that efforts can be made to end discriminatory conduct, prevent reoccurrence and remedy its effects. 

Learn more about protections and reporting an incident at www.dom.edu/equity/title-ix-bias-reporting.

Students, faculty and staff at Dominican University are given the option to identify themselves using a lived first name different than their legal first name within select university systems. 

Declaring a lived first name can be an important part of a person’s identity, especially as it relates to affirming one’s gender identity, and the university recognizes that students or employees may want to use a name that is different from their legal first name. 

Lived first names will be used in various systems and records including, but not limited to, university ID cards, email display name, diplomas, class rosters, and health services. 

To update a lived first name, complete this request form. 

And questions or concerns should be directed to the vice president for Justice, Equity and Inclusion at pporras@dom.edu.

An individual’s preferred pronouns can also be added to university systems. To include a preferred pronoun, complete this form.

Gender inclusive restrooms can be found at the following locations on campus:

  • Fine Arts, lower level, by Room 012 (ADA)
  • Fine Arts, lower level, by Room 001, south end of west corridor (ADA)
  • Fine Arts, lower level, by Room 006, north end of west corridor (ADA)
  • Fine Arts, lower level, under Lund Auditorium (ADA)
  • Fine Arts, 1st floor, off slate lobby, just outside recital hall (ADA)
  • Fine Arts 1st floor, west corridor
  • Fine Arts, 2nd floor, by Room 202 in southwest corridor
  • Fine Arts, 4th floor • Lewis, 4th floor, across from elevator
  • North Mazzuchelli, 2nd floor, inside Interfaith Room suite, Room 270 (ADA)
  • North Mazzuchelli, 2nd floor, by center stair and Room 276
  • North Mazzuchelli, 3rd floor, east of center stair and near Room 368 (ADA)
  • North Mazzuchelli, 3rd floor, east of center stair and near Room 360
  • Parmer 2nd floor by Men’s and Women’s restroom (ADA)
  • Power 1st floor, south wing (ADA)
  • Power 1st floor, east wing (ADA)

Rebecca Crown Library’s LGBTQ Library Guide can aid in research and help readers identify books and materials on a myriad of topics.

The following off-campus organizations provide supportive services to LGBTQIA+ individuals:

On-Campus Support

Justice, Equity and Inclusion Logo

Office of Justice, Equity and Inclusion

OJEI ensures the community is free from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
CCL Mural

Center for Cultural Liberation

The CCL stands in solidarity with all LGBTQIA+ students, faculty and staff who enrich DU’s community and campus culture.
PRISM logo

PRISM

A DU student organization hosting pride-related events and offering safe spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Wellness Center Hall with mural

Wellness Center

DU offers a full range of healthcare services for students, including counseling services and care that is gender-affirming.

Mission and Ministry Support

St Domincan Mass

The Division of Mission and Ministry affirms the dignity of the human person and upholds the Catholic teaching that are all welcome, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Dominican University hosted its first Pride Mass in 2021 to foster inclusion and provide a safe, supportive space within the church for marginalized communities. Additional Pride Masses have been held in Rosary Chapel in the years since.

Resources for the LGBTQIA+ Catholic Community

AGLOChicago, LGBTQIA+ outreach from the Archdiocese of Chicago. 

Dignity USA, building an LGBTQIA+ inclusive Catholic Church. 

New Ways Ministry, building bridges between the LGBTQIA+ community and the Catholic Church. 

Outreach, an LGBTQIA+ Catholic ministry.

Transgender Bodies, Catholic Schools, and a Queer Natural Law Theology of Exploration, by Dr. Craig Ford, Jr.

Radical Love: An Introduction to Queer Theology, by Patrick Cheng 

Faith Beyond Resentment: Fragments Catholic and Gay, by James Alison 

Gay and Lesbian Theologies: Repetitions with Critical Difference, by Elizabeth Stuart

QueerTheology.com: podcasts, devotionals, and study guides 

The Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion 

Q Spirit, a guide to LGBTQ saints and religious leaders, queer church history and resources. 

Believe Out Loud, an interfaith digital community

Lavender Graduation

Table with floral bouquet, rainbow colors and lavender stoles

Lavender Graduation is a student-led cultural celebration that honors LGBTQIA+ students as they complete their academic journey. It is held alongside, but separate from, the university’s formal commencement ceremony.

DU held its first Lavender Graduation in 2023. Students gather in a safe, inclusive environment where they receive special stoles and pins prior to the university-wide commencement ceremony and celebrate with their chosen family, peers and mentors. 

Why Does Lavender Graduation Matter?

Recognition of Identity and Experience
Traditional commencements may not fully acknowledge the unique journeys of LGBTQIA+ students—especially those who have navigated marginalization, invisibility or discrimination. Lavender Graduation creates space where their identities are centered, affirmed, and celebrated.

Counteracting Isolation in Higher Education
Many LGBTQIA+ students—particularly those who are also BIPOC, first-generation or from faith-based backgrounds—experience isolation. Lavender Graduation fosters belonging and community, which is critical for retention and student success.

Honoring Resilience and Persistence
Graduating is an achievement for any student, but LGBTQIA+ students often face additional barriers, including family rejection, mental health challenges and discrimination. This ceremony explicitly recognizes these students for their perseverance in completing their education despite adversities. 

Institutional Accountability and Inclusion
By hosting a Lavender Graduation, Dominican University is making a visible commitment to inclusion and upholding Catholic values of recognizing human dignity, accompaniment and a justice-centered mission. 

Affirmation of Chosen Family
This ceremony includes a student’s “chosen family”—the friends, mentors and community mentors who have supported them in their journey. It is a powerful reframing of what “family” means in academic spaces. 

For more information,
please contact:

Dr. Precious Porras
Vice President
Office of Justice, Equity and Inclusion
pporras@dom.edu
(708) 524-6629