UW-Eau Claire has again been recognized as a leader in support for LGBTQ students, having been cited in early Juneas the “most LGBTQ-friendly” campus in the state.

In recognition of Pride month throughout June, BestColleges.com, a national database and resource guide for college searches, in partnership with Campus Pride, a resource for tracking LGBTQ-friendly policies, programs and practices in higher education, have mapped out each U.S. state’s most LGBTQ-friendly college for students.

UW-Eau Claire is one of 19 schools on the list to receive the highest overall rating on the Campus Pride ranking index. In August 2022, Campus Pride rated UW-Eau Claire at a perfect five stars for LGBTQ inclusion based on its strength in supporting students, faculty and staff in the following categories:

• Sexual orientation.
• Gender identity/expression.
• Student support and institutional commitment.
• Student life.
• Housing and residential life.
• Campus safety.

Kallie Friede, director of the campus Gender & Sexuality Resource Center, is pleased to see such concrete affirmation of the year-round advocacy work that she and the GSRC interns promote across campus.

“Over the past 10 years, there have been so many positive changes for queer students on our campus,” Friede says.

“I am excited to continue to foster growth both in the GSRC and at UW-Eau Claire holistically. In this moment in history, it is so important for universities to make clear that we see our queer students, that their queerness is a strength, and that we will continue to work to make our campus community a place where LGBTQIA+ students feel seen, supported and celebrated.”