By Parker Leipzig

Freshman psychology major Nyomi Fox said she was surprised to see the large size of the University of Maryland’s LGBTQ+ community after being on campus for only a week. She messaged friends from home and asked them one question. 

“Why the heck is UMD so gay?” Fox said she remembered texting.

Fox volunteered at the 21st Quelcome for LGBTQ+ students and allies hosted by the LGBTQ+ Equity Center and the Office of Multicultural Involvement Community Advocacy on Thursday. She identifies as gay and nonbinary and uses both she and they pronouns. Fox wanted to assist at the event and show off her pride in her own identity.

Shantala Thompson, the program manager of the LGBTQ+ Equity Center, wanted Quelcome to bring the community together.

“The goals are very simple: to get LGBTQ+ students, faculty and staff to have a chance to meet up with each other for community building and also to see what resources are available on campus,” Thompson said. 

Community building, especially in the LGBTQ+ circle, had been halted by the pandemic — isolating a group of people that need support when they are coming to terms with their identities. 

Thompson stressed the importance of having a physical space for the community, given the mental health struggles LGBTQ+ people often face. The Trevor Project cites studies on the high rates of suicide among LGBTQ+ youth.

Events like Quelcome can bring visibility to the equity center, even from upperclassmen who might be interacting with the center and its resources for the first time. 

Joey Haavik, a coordinator for LGBTQ+ involvement and advocacy with MICA, said it is crucial for students to have in-person safe spaces for people to be authentically themselves. 

He wanted the event to allow students to engage with the variety of different resources for LGBTQ+ students.

“It’s such a huge campus and by having this all in one place, you truly get the sort of buffet style to choose and learn about different organizations,” Haavik said. 

Thompson had one main objective for students at Quelcome: She wanted everyone to make a new friend. 

Fox is among many who did exactly that. The freshman talked with people she had never met before. She said she felt like the large size of the school actually came with the advantage of many different niche but accepting groups

“There is no homogenous community,” Fox said. “No one has to conform to one standard so everyone’s just doing what they want as an individual and then finding pockets for their acceptance,” Fox said. “Because there are pockets everywhere.”

Featured photo: Students learn about resources from the University Health Center. UHC representatives passed out condoms and pamphlets with information about birth control and safe sex. Photo by Minnie Stephenson.