History of the Arcoíris Center
The University of New Mexico’s Arcoíris Center, previously the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) Resource Center, began as a student initiative. Inaugural Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Dr. Josephine “Jozi” De Leon collaborated with students Jeffrey Waldo, David Griffith, and Adam Quintero to secure funding from the UNM Student Fee Review Board. The Arcoíris Center’s doors opened in August 2010 at 608 Buena Vista Drive. In October 2010, Alma Rosa Silva-Bañuelos was hired as professional staff to oversee day-to-day operations of the Center, and Safe Zone trainings began to be offered to students, staff, faculty, and community. Silva-Bañuelos led the Center for the next six years.
In February 2011, the Arcoíris Center received a $300,000 grant from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration) to provide suicide-prevention and de-escalation trainings across all UNM campuses, as well as to create events and programs to provide holistic care to students on campus. The Arcoíris Center was the first non-counseling site ever to receive this grant.
In May 2011, the first Rainbow Graduation was held in Hodgin Hall to honor LGBTQ and Ally students. In June, the Arcoíris Center represented UNM in the Pride Parade and Pride Fest. Starting in August of that year, after celebrating the first anniversary and welcome-back event, the Arcoíris Center began offering free, confidential HIV testing as well as counseling for students, staff, faculty, and community.
Also in 2011, the Queer Voices Roundtable was convened—a collaborative bringing together undergraduate and graduate student groups across campus. In October, the Out and Ally List was published in the Daily Lobo. This list of out students, staff, and faculty as well as Allies became a resource for individuals seeking a trusted person on campus. The Arcoíris Center partnered with Albuquerque Public Schools on the Don’t Just Stand There, Stop Bullying Now campaign to bring awareness to the damage bullying could cause. In November, the Arcoíris Center hosted the first annual Transgender Day of Remembrance Candlelight Vigil to honor members of our Trans family who were taken from us. The Center also helped found a Delta Lambda Phi chapter at UNM, a gay-specific fraternity.
In Spring 2012, the Arcoíris Center received an increase in SFRB funding to provide more resources to the UNM community. The Arcoíris Center, in keeping with its mission, began creating programming aimed at staff and faculty. ASUNM approached the Arcoíris Center to help sponsor legislation that would support Universal Restrooms on Central Campus. In the summer, UNM Comes Out for Pride began—the first campus-wide collaborative event that included departments and organizations across Central, South, and North Campuses as well as the Health Sciences Center and UNMH.
Starting in Fall 2012, the Arcoíris Center began showcasing artwork from UNM students, staff, and faculty. The Center, at the behest of students, began student peer-support groups—Out Womyn and Gentlemen’s Society—to help students with particular identities. Partnering with Projects for New Mexico Graduates of Color, Out Queer Grads, Graduate Studies, and Graduate Resource Center, the first Grad Networking GAYla was held. With the assistance of counseling practitioners, “Queer? Let’s Talk” was founded. This support group, led by a counselor, allowed students a safe space to discuss stressors surrounding school and being Trans/Queer. In October, UNM hosted the AJAAS (Association for Joteria, Arts, Activism, and Scholarship) national conference. The three-day conference, the first of its kind, launched AJAAS as a national entity. A Queer Course Guide highlighting courses with a Trans/Queer focus was published online.
In January 2013, the Arcoíris Center expanded into the entire basement level of the Buena Vista location, leading to an increase in student hires as well as counseling services. The Center also teamed up with the Santa Fe Mountain Center and the NM Gay/Straight Alliance for the All Colors Youth Summit; this convening of LGBTQ high school students became a predecessor for Rainbow Road to College, a program designed to transition high school students to college. ASUNM involved the Arcoíris Center in creating legislation that would allow for inclusive homecoming voting.
Due to increasing concerns brought forth by students, the Arcoíris Center began the Preferred Name Initiative to find a solution for students, staff, and faculty who were transitioning but had not taken legal steps yet. At the end of the academic year, Lavender Graduation was held to honor graduating high school LGBTQ students who at the time were forced to wear graduation gowns that did not correspond to their gender identity.
In Fall 2013, the first Trans/Gender Nonconforming peer-support group convened to support the Trans/GNC community. The Arcoíris Center began developing the Caring @ Every Connection program, with suicide-prevention trainings offered to students, staff, faculty, and community. Frankie Flores joined the professional staff and eventually served as Education Coordinator. Frankie Flores is now Director of the Arcoíris Center.
In Fall 2014, the NM LGBTQ Roundtable was established to bring together LGBTQ and Ally organizations across the state so that organizing was streamlined and master calendars were created. Responding to a pressing need from the Gallup branch campus, a satellite office was opened to serve students in Gallup as well.
The University of New Mexico was identified by BestColleges.com as one of the Top 30 Best Colleges in the nation for LGBTQ Students for providing inclusivity and resources to LGBTQ and non-conforming students.
In Spring 2015, the Arcoíris Center received the Models of Hope Award from Pride and Equality.
In Summer 2015, UNMH LGBT Collaborative along with the Arcoíris Center hosted the first social on North Campus to increase LGBTQ visibility. MALCS (Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social/Women Active in Scholarship and Social Change) was brought to UNM. Over 200 scholars attended the conference, helping to grow the group.
In Fall 2015, the Leads with Pride program was launched to engage incoming freshmen and help track their progress. This group created study sessions, information sessions, and social outings to engage and work with freshmen. Felicia Flames, legendary Transgender activist, came to UNM to speak at the 5th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance event.
In Spring 2016, the Arcoíris Center was selected to present at the QTPOCC (Queer and Trans People of Color Conference) at UC Berkeley. The UNM community rallied behind the LGBTQ community after the mass shooting of 49 people in Orlando. A candlelight vigil was held at the Duck Pond to honor the lives of the community lost.
In Fall 2016, the Universal Restroom Initiative became UNM policy.
In December 2016, Dr. Lawrence Roybal was appointed to lead the Arcoíris Center and concurrently served as Acting Vice President for Equity & Inclusion.
In Fall 2017, the Preferred Name Initiative began setting benchmarks for the program. The Arcoíris Center moved from its original location to a renovated space at 1919 Las Lomas NE. The new, more accessible space was made possible through a state capital allocation by UNM Alumnus and New Mexico Senator Jacob Candelaria.
In Spring 2018, the Preferred/Affirmed Name Initiative launched phase one which allows students, staff, and faculty to obtain their Lobo IDs with their affirmed name on them. Phase two of the Preferred/Affirmed Name Initiative launches and graduating students are able to receive diplomas with their affirmed name on them beginning in Summer 2018.
The University of New Mexico is honored as the top educational institution at the 9th Annual Outstanding Awards, hosted by Albuquerque Pride, and is ranked as one of the 2018 Most Affordable LGBTQ-Friendly Online Colleges in the nation, and among the Best LGBTQ-Friendly Online Schools. The rankings are based on the Campus Pride Index, which grades schools based on their tools and resources dedicated to supporting LGBTQ-Friendly policies, programs and practices.
In celebration of our 15-year anniversary, we think it important to look toward what our future holds. We may be living in times of uncertainty, but we want to assure folks that Trans and Queer people will continue to exist at UNM. We will show up and show out like we always have, because our light is too bright to dim. We don’t just weather storms; we come through them and shine brilliantly.
We have been thinking for quite some time about our name. LGBTQ Resource Center does not fully encapsulate the scope of who we are. This name was a compromise between the Board of Regents and the students who worked to open us. After consulting with many students, advisory board members, staff, faculty, and alum, we have decided to change our name. We are elevating our name to the Arcoiris Center.
We are deliberately using Spanish and English in our name to honor the breadth of experiences at UNM. Arcoiris means rainbow in English. We know that the rainbow is comprised of all colors, and without one, we do not have all. This name is not only a symbol but a reminder of our mission. We are here to serve everyone. Our home is open to all.
We want to emphasize this name change is coming from within. We tried at year 5, but were not ready to do so; year 10 was not convenient, so now in our 15th year is the right time. We are ushering in a new era, one that will be even brighter than the last 15. As we hoist this flag to wave high and proud, let it remind us that our existence on this campus is celebrated today and always.
