by Zachary Newcomb

The LGBT Center and the Office of Residential Education and Services will be starting its Stonewall Suites Living Learning Community this upcoming fall.

Six students will be participating in the pilot program in September. The living community will be one suite in Frank Sinatra Hall.

According to its mission statement, “The mission of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Center at Montclair State University is to create a campus environment inclusive and supportive of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression through education, advocacy and support for students, faculty and staff.”

Some of the ways that the Center does this is by offering many workshops and presentations for the community.

The Department of Equity and Diversity and the Office of Residential Education and Services have been collaboratively planning this community throughout this academic year.

“Stonewall Suites Living Community has been designed to create an educational experience for the residents of the community by linking coursework, advocacy and educational programming and services to the community,” Amie MacMath, program assistant of the Center, said.

The living community also plans to connect students with the means to educate themselves and their communities about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer/ally community.

This living community has many goals for its participants. Some of their goals include: exploring one’s gender identity in a safe, inclusive and open environment, developing a deeper understanding of issues facing the LGBT community and demonstrating the necessary skills to be an effective ally to this community.

The program encourages its students to take courses in areas, such as Women’s and Gender Studies, to help them be proactive in advocating for the LGBT community.

Stonewall Suites has a living agreement in which participants must adhere to maintaining a lifestyle free of gender or sexual discrimination.

Also, they will be participating in assessments of the living community in order to provide feedback and evaluate the community.

The name Stonewall Suites refers to the Stonewall Riots, which started in the early hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in New York City.

These riots are believed to be the first instance in America where people fought against sexual repression of gays and is deemed the start of the gay rights movement.

“We honor this important part of LGBT history by naming this community ‘Stonewall Suites.’ The name is empowering and allows for conversations about social movements and civil rights,” MacMath said.