The Annual Fall Reception for Queer Communities and Our Friends: The reception is held in the third week of September to welcome students and to introduce them to faculty and staff Liaisons for LGBT Students. Queer cultural icons such as comedians Karen Williams and Kate Clinton have hosted past receptions.

National Coming Out Week: National Coming Out Day falls on October 11th. Usually, programming around the central issue of queer visibility (i.e., “coming out”) occurs for the entire week. Historically, the week begins with an evening rally in front of Brower Commons. Our office cosponsors programs with student groups during the week.

“Out on the Job”: "Out on the Job" is an annual program, frequently presented during National Coming Out Week. It features a panel of queer people from the corporate, public and political sectors, who are out on the job about their sexual and/or gender identity, and have lived to tell the tale. Most panelists are Rutgers alumnae/i. Past programs have included people from AT&T, Citibank, New York Anti-Violence Project, New York City Council, Columbia University, etc. This program is always cosponsored with the Office of Career Services.

World Aids Day: Held in December, programs for this day aim to increase awareness of AIDS as a global community issue. Past speakers include activist and writer River Houston, Dan Renzi from MTV’s “The Real World,” and others living with and working in the field of HIV/AIDS.

“Gaypril”: Rutgers students have adopted this affectionate term for their celebration during the month of April. "Gaypril" is an opportunity for the entire campus to involve itself in educational and celebratory programming on queer issues. Past guests include: lesbian comic Elvira Kurt, Bisexual singer/songwriter Scott Freedman, allies Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard, and Rosie Perez, and many others.

Rainbow Graduation Dinner: Hosted by our office, this is a celebration of the triumphs and achievements of LGBT graduating seniors and graduate students. The Rainbow Graduation is meant to complement the regular graduation ceremony. The Lionel Cuffie Award for Activism and Excellence is also presented at this program. This year's Dinner will be held on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 at 5 p.m. at the Rutgers Club.

The Lionel Cuffie Award for Activism and Excellence: This award is presented to a graduating senior who has been selected from among a number of nominees for service to LGBT communities on-campus and off-campus and who has maintained a grade point average of at least 3.0. The activist-scholar receives a plaque and a cash gift of $500.

The nomination form can be downloaded by clicking here.