Grand Valley provides plenty of opportunities for LGBTQ+ students to show their pride and find a supportive and equitable environment at the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center. With multiple weekly programs such as Colors of Pride, Bi-Furious, Ace of Clubs, T2, and Queer Connections, the LGBT Resource Center provides a sense of community to all queer and trans students. One student who has become particularly involved through their work is Mel Godwin.

Mel Godwin is a student worker at the LGBT Resource Center. They work at the front desk and are a co-facilitator of the First Year Queer Alliance (FQA). They encourage students looking to get involved with the LGBT Resource Center to just pop in at any time.

“The center is open 9-6 p.m. on weekdays, and there's always room to come in and hang out,” Mel says. They encourage students to attend campus events that bring together the LGBT community on campus, like the upcoming pop-up clothing shop Wear the Rainbow.

Wear the Rainbow provides access for queer and trans people of all financial statuses to wear clothes that celebrate their authentic selves. You can wear your pride on your sleeve on Saturday, November 13 at the resource center from 1-4 p.m. In addition, anyone is welcome that afternoon to attend free workshops on LGBT inclusivity.

If you want to donate to this event, you can drop off any clean and gently used clothing, shoes, larger size heels, unopened makeup, lingerie, accessories, binders, and professional clothing at the LGBT Resource Center.  Donations can also be brought to Career Services at the Pew Campus (101 B DeVos Center), Grand Rapids Pride Center, or the GRCC Student Life Office before November 5 at 5 p.m.