National organization dubs campus as among most LGBTQIA+ friendly

���鵺��̳ has placed third in the United States in a ranking of the most LGBTQIA+-friendly colleges and universities in the nation.

It is the highest ranking among New England schools in the new analysis from BestColleges.com. The report identifies institutions that excel in providing academic, financial and social resources for LGBTQIA+ students.

“I am really happy to see this,” said Nate Carey, ’27, a theater major from Burlington. “A lot of people, including me, choose this school because of the LGBTQIA+ friendliness. .... It’s a very safe school and a very supportive school.”

BestColleges.com, which based its analysis partly on federal data, called ���鵺��̳ a “best value” institution and praised the many opportunities for “students to understand and explore LGBTQ+ identity and culture.” It also highlighted Pride Center activities such as Big Queer Welcome, the Pride365 mentorship program and Queer Prom.

“It brings a lot of positive feelings,” Carolyn Taggart, director of the Pride Center, said of the ranking. “It really highlights the good work that’s being done campuswide.”

New this school year, Pride365 connects first-year students with upperclass peer mentors who help ease the transition to ���鵺��̳. Participants also take a one-credit class.

“It’s not lost on me or our students that we’re very fortunate as we see the political climate in other parts of the country where (similar) centers are not allowed to operate or not allowed to operate in the way that we do – very loud and proud,” Taggart said.

At ���鵺��̳, 14 percent of students openly identify as LGBTQIA+.  And approximately 94 percent of LGBTQIA+ full-time students who started in fall 2023 returned for the spring semester, a retention rate that is up by 11 percentage points in five years.

The university offers support in all areas of campus life. Those initiatives include gender-inclusive bathrooms and housing, trans-inclusive student health insurance, and easy processes to update names and share pronouns.

Even seemingly small things like using accurate pronouns make a huge difference, Nate said.

“Bridgewater wasn’t initially on my radar when I was in high school,” said Nate, who first came across ���鵺��̳ while researching LGBTQIA+-friendly colleges. “I came here and instantly fell in love with the campus. Especially when I saw all the housing supports and gender-neutral bathrooms and the Pride Center, all of it definitely played a part in my decision.”

Now Nate is fully immersed in campus life. He performed in the theatrical production Spamalot and is taking the stage this fall in a production of Marie Antoinette.

Nate also works as a peer liaison at the Pride Center, where he plans community-building events for students. He appreciates opportunities to explore LGBTQIA+ issues from a social justice lens.

For Taggart, ���鵺��̳’s strong ranking underscores the caring, welcoming environment that she helps cultivate.

“It’s a definite privilege of mine that I get to do this work,” they said. “I wish when I was a college student that there were these opportunities for me.”

Do you have a ���鵺��̳ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I am really happy to see this. A lot of people, including me, choose this school because of the LGBTQIA+ friendliness. .... It’s a very safe school and a very supportive school.

As a first-generation student and an immigrant from Trinidad, Cindy Mack, ’23, ’24, has seen firsthand the power of public higher education to transform lives. Now, he’s doing his part, representing his peers as a member of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education.  

“I can’t repay Bridgewater for what it’s done for not just my academic but personal wellbeing,” said Cindy, who earned a degree in criminal justice and is pursuing a second bachelor’s in political science. “This is how I can say ‘thank you’ and give back.”  

Cindy has long been involved in representing his peers. As a Massasoit Community College student, he successfully advocated for a change in state law to allow part-time students to serve in student positions on their institutions’ boards of trustees.   

And, as a member and now chairperson of the statewide Student Advisory Council, Cindy pushed for expanded use of Open Educational Resources (OER) instead of expensive textbooks. Students attending public universities and colleges in the state saved $7.6 million in one recent year because of OER.  

“I know Bridgewater is heavily invested in OER,” said Cindy, who was recently sworn in as a voting member of the Board of Higher Education. “I’m very proud of that because it’s what is giving me opportunities to learn and not have to be burdened by the cost of textbooks.”

Cindy, who moved to the U.S. 22 years ago, didn’t think American higher education was in his future. But his brother urged him to enroll in classes at Massasoit, which led him to ���鵺��̳.  

“It’s a personal journey,” Cindy said. “It’s a humbling opportunity to achieve the things I have been able to achieve with the support of Massasoit and Bridgewater. … Going back to school saved me from having a mental breakdown. It gave me a purpose.”  

Soon after starting at Bridgewater, Cindy learned three family members were murdered in Trinidad. Thinking he would need to take a leave of absence, Cindy instead discovered flexible faculty willing to help him in the face of tragedy.   

For his honors thesis, Cindy produced a documentary exploring the LGBTQIA+ community in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, where same-sex intimacy was historically a criminal act and transphobia and homophobia remain pervasive. He received funding from ���鵺��̳ to travel to his home country and conduct interviews.

“As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, it’s hard to be here and see that where you’re from it’s a criminal offense,” Cindy said. “It’s a human rights issue.”  

Cindy appreciated the encouragement of many faculty including thesis advisor Emily Brissette and part-time faculty member James Moore, who helped with the technical aspects of making the documentary. The Honors Program embraced an unconventional thesis format.  

This unwavering support, Cindy said, is emblematic of his Bridgewater experience and motivates him to serve at the state level.  

“Bridgewater has been there for me since the first semester,” he said.  

Do you have a ���鵺��̳ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I can’t repay Bridgewater for what it’s done for not just my academic but personal wellbeing. This is how I can say ‘thank you’ and give back.

When a rainbow appears in the sky after the storm, it is often viewed as a sign of hope. For others it carries a more personal meaning, a representation of diversity and inclusion. 

Using the colorful symbol, the ���鵺��̳ Pride Center recently created a new logo. Meet rainbow bear, a fashionable way to support the university’s LGBTQIA+ community. 

Twelve percent of ���鵺��̳ students openly identify as LBGTQIA+ and the Pride Center strives to offer resources to promote their success and foster a campus climate of inclusion and equity. 

“Visuals matter,” said Pride Center Director Carolyn Taggart. “It’s important for our alumni and students – those that currently go here as well as prospective students –  to have visual representation, to show everyone that ���鵺��̳ is a place where you can be your authentic self.” 

Currently shirts with what Taggart calls “Rainbow Bristaco” are available in the ���鵺��̳ bookstore, located in the atrium of East Campus Commons, as well as online. 

Taggart, who took over at the Pride Center director in 2021, would like to take credit for the inclusive logo, but said she came across it by accident. 

Last year, when organizing the ���鵺��̳ Pride Games Taggart was looking through old files when she discovered the brightly colored bear. 

“I’m not sure of the lineage of it, but I liked it when I came across it,” she said. 

From there Taggart went through the proper channels to get it approved and created stickers that were handed out during various events. 

“We did eight local pride events last May and June and many alumni were excited to see and receive a Rainbow Bristaco sticker. It was fun to be able to hand them out and alums appreciated seeing ���鵺��̳ showing its pride,” she said. 

This year Taggart took it one step further to create the rainbow bear shirts and hopes to add more items, including hats and tumblers in the near future. 

She can’t stress enough why symbols like the rainbow bear and the pride crosswalk, located near the Turchon Tunnel, matter. 

“We really want people to know, that when they come here, that we welcome you, we care about you and to see that visibility, to see that symbol means a lot,” Taggart said. 

These visuals of inclusivity represent how ���鵺��̳ actively lives its values, she said. 

“���鵺��̳ sees you for you, Taggart said. “We work hard to put resources in place for not just the LGBTQIA+ population to succeed but for all students to succeed. We want folks to know when they come here, they can be themselves authentically.” 

Do you have a ���鵺��̳ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu 

Visuals matter. It’s important for our alumni and students – those that currently go here as well as prospective students –  to have visual representation, to show everyone that ���鵺��̳ is a place where you can be your authentic self.

Carolyn Taggart brings both passion and experience to position

Carolyn Taggart has long served as an advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community. Now she brings that experience to her new role as director of the Pride Center at ���鵺��̳.

Taggart and her wife recently moved to the area from Pennsylvania, where Taggart worked at Bloomsburg University as coordinator of sexual and gender diversity.

“To do this kind of work, you have to be super passionate, which I am. I love getting to work with students in general, but especially with LGBTQIA+ populations,” Taggart said. “My goal is to give students a better experience, to help remove the roadblocks and obstacles that I had as a student.”

While an undergraduate, Taggart initially wanted to be a music teacher but after working as a student leader in her college’s LGBTA organization, discovered her passion was in advocacy.

“I got more than halfway through the (music) program and realized this was not what I wanted to do with my life,” she said.

As a student leader, it was apparent to Taggart that her school didn’t have proper supports in place for the LGBTQIA+ community.

“We saw how our (LBGTQIA+) friends were struggling, we noticed they weren’t graduating…they were not thriving, not succeeding and needed better resources in place on an institutional level,” she said.

Taggart and others reached out to administrators and lobbied for better supports that led to a new LGBTA center.

It’s that sort of ambition that stood out to the search committee when looking to replace founding ���鵺��̳ Pride Center director Lee Forest, who held the position for just over 14 years.

“We wanted someone who would continue to deepen our framework of practice around intersectional support as we understand all queer students are not the same and come from an array of experiences,” said Sabrina Gentlewarrior, vice president of student success and diversity. “Carolyn really stood out as exemplary in regard to the kind of work she will bring to ���鵺��̳.”

For Taggart, knowing Bridgewater State already had an established Pride Center was a big reason she applied for the job.

“It is unusual in this work to find an LGBTQIA+ pride center that’s been in existence this long,” Taggart said. “Bridgewater has a lot of great things in place and done amazing work in supporting the LGBTQIA+ community.”

But, she said, the work isn’t done.

“Diversity work isn’t formative, we don’t check a box, reach a goal, and say we’re done,” Taggart said. “I want to look at what ���鵺��̳ has done and see where else we are going and trying to get to.”

Do you have a ���鵺��̳ story you'd like to share Email stories@bridgew.edu 

Diversity work isn’t formative, we don’t check a box, reach a goal, and say we’re done. I want to look at what ���鵺��̳ has done and see where else we are going and trying to get to.

Pride Center founding director departs, but the mission continues

The ���鵺��̳ Pride Center is losing its founding director, Lee Forest, but administration officials vow to continue its tradition of supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

“���鵺��̳ owes Lee Forest a debt of gratitude for their extraordinary leadership of the GLBTQ Pride Center for its first 14-and-a-half years,” said Sabrina Gentlewarrior, vice president of success and diversity.

Forest brought about important institutional changes that included housing assignments based on gender identity and using “lived” names which allow those to use a name that aligns with their gender identity.

“As our understanding evolves, we are able to identify more language that’s more reflective of our realities. It took some time to make that happen, but now it’s everywhere across campus, it’s fantastic,” Forest said.

These changes, and other important efforts, have helped to create a more supportive and inclusive environment for the Bridgewater State LGBTQ+ community.

From the start, as director of the Pride Center, Forest set specific goals.

“I wanted to educate the world but am happy to start with ���鵺��̳…I want to educate as many people as possible about the truth of LGBTQ+ lives. There’s a lot of misinformation out there, as is true with all minoritized populations,” Forest said.

Within the Pride Center Forest also wanted to create a welcoming environment: “I think creating that home away from home for students…anytime a student or alumni tell me I made a difference in their lives, that makes me incredibly proud.”

For Cristina Dudziak, ’22, a psychology major who works at the Pride Center, she has a hard time describing the impact the center and Forest have had.

“I didn’t think the Pride Center would be such an enormous part of my life and ���鵺��̳ experience. Through many conversations with Lee, they really helped me understand myself so much better. I got to know myself,” Cristina said.

Fine Arts major Elliot Philie, ’23, who also works at the Pride Center, said the center has done exactly what Forest intended, provided him/them with a home away from home.

“It made me aware that there are many people like me, or at least allies,” Elliot said. “With so many different identities and races (at ���鵺��̳), Lee has made sure everyone feels comfortable in the Pride Center.”

The foundation Forest built will live on. A nationwide search for a new Pride Center director is underway and the successful candidate will be expected to pick up where Forest left off.

“We look forward to welcoming a new colleague to continue the GLBTA Pride Center’s important work,” Gentlewarrior said.

As for Forest, they will continue to help educate the campus community and are looking to offer a Name in Use training this fall.

The online, self-paced course will focus on ways people can be respectful and use correct and current terminology when interacting with members of the transgender community.

“I am thrilled that ���鵺��̳ will continue to benefit from Lee’s skill, compassion and equity-mindedness as they continue their work on behalf of ���鵺��̳ students through their role in the Teaching and Technology Center,” Gentlewarrior said.

Do you have a ���鵺��̳ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu 

I think creating that home away from home for students…anytime a student or alumni tell me I made a difference in their lives, that makes me incredibly proud.

Athletic Department Earns LGBTQ Award

The summer before entering his freshman year at ���鵺��̳, Thomas “TJ” Scalese, ’21, who is a member of the school’s swim team, decided it was time to be true to himself.

“Only a few months before coming to college I came out,” he said. “It was scary, I didn’t want to be known as ‘the gay swimmer,’ ‘the gay guy.’ I didn’t know what to expect.”

His fears quickly vanished, because upon his arrival TJ discovered a welcoming and supportive environment.

“I found I really had nothing to be scared of,” he said. “I met other swimmers, coaches, and the athletic department helped me to be open and allowed me to be myself.”

Creating an environment where student-athletes can focus on their sport and academics instead of worrying about how they will be perceived, is no doubt part of the reason why the ���鵺��̳ Athletic Department was recently named the 2020 D-III LGBTQ Athletics Department of the Year.

“For the NCAA to acknowledge us for doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do, it’s such an honor,” said ���鵺��̳ Athletic Director Mary Beth Lamb. “It really comes down to our coaches, staff, our student-athletes, and everybody coming together to create an inclusive environment.”

This is the first year the NCAA has given the award, that recognizes a Division III athletic department or conference office that’s demonstrated proactive efforts to create and sustain an LGBTQ-inclusive culture.

“Being the first is great recognition. Now we have to pick up, and raise the bar on ourselves,” Lamb said.

Lamb and the rest of the athletic department worked together to develop a safe and inclusive environment, that includes a transgender student-athlete policy.

The school was the first in its conference and New England in 2012 to introduce such a policy, which “prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression.”

Through collaboration with the Pride Center, a new student-athlete diversity inclusion committee has been created that will focus on education and programming to create a more inclusive experience for all student-athletes.

And when the new Bear Paw Pavilion, a 6,800-square-foot building that includes team locker rooms is complete, it will include gender neutral bathrooms.

“We are being deliberate with our decisions as we move forward, always thinking, what can we do to make it a welcoming environment,” Lamb said.

While all these efforts have led to the ���鵺��̳ Athletic Department being recognized by the NCAA, Lamb said the work doesn’t stop here and she hopes that student-athletes feel comfortable in the space they’ve created.

“I hope they are proud of us and proud of being a Bear,” she said. “But wouldn’t it be great if someday in the future, it’s not so much that it’s great, but that’s the expectation.”

For TJ, having that support makes all the difference.

“I’m having the best experience of my life,” he said. “Having Bridgewater and the athletic department pushing me to do my best, has been really reassuring.”

Do you have a ���鵺��̳ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu 

Having Bridgewater and the athletic department pushing me to do my best, has been really reassuring.

English professor reflects on the varied aspects of ‘The Boys in the Band’

As a teenager growing up in southern California, Dr. Matt Bell had yet to come out as gay and was struggling to find images in the world of people who looked like him.

One day, while deciding upon a movie to rent at a local video store, he came across the 1970 film, The Boys in the Band. Little did he know how that decision would impact his life.

The film, based on the play written by Mart Crowley, portrays nine gay men at a party in a New York City apartment in the late 1960s. Each character depicts a gay stereotype.

“I was shell shocked,” Bell said, after first viewing the film. “I had a powerful negative reaction…those characters were not what I wanted to become.”

Throughout his life Bell, who is an English professor at ���鵺��̳, specializing in queer studies, film and critical theory, kept coming back to the film. Ultimately, his opinion of it changed.

“I could see more of the positive qualities in it…there is a sense of power in some of the conversations,” he said.

In 2012 the idea of a book started to form, one that would challenge academics to re-examine the film. Bell took his idea and ran with it, and in 2016 edited and contributed to

The timing was ideal, as the play recently celebrated it’s 50^th anniversary with a Broadway revival, and this year Netflix released an adaptation of the film starring Jim Parsons, of television’s Big Bang Theory, as well as other well-known Hollywood actors.

“I think (why there is a revitalization) is because of the lesson (The Boys in the Band) might have for us, it’s useful to reflect,” Bell said. “The idea is to look back 50 years, to see a different world and how far we have come.”

However, Bell said, with all that’s going on in the world right now it forces the question: How far have we really progressed?

“There is nothing inevitable about the arc of the universe bending toward justice…there are plenty of forces that want injustice and inequality, we have to make it happen if we want a just world, we have to come forward and fight for justice,” he said.

There are 11 contributors in the book, each tackling issues portrayed in the film, including the history and politics surrounding The Boys in the Band.

And while he doesn’t require his students to read his book, he does encourage them and other members of the ���鵺��̳ community to consider taking a look.

The book also helps Bell show his students that it’s possible to get published and to be a working scholar.

“It’s important for students at Bridgewater to see that being a working scholar isn’t something that happens in outer space, it’s not that far removed from their world. I like to show students examples of my writing to make that clear,” Bell said.

He hopes his students can draw inspiration from him, just like he did from Crowley, whom Bell was fortunate enough to meet before the playwright died earlier this year.

After their encounter, the ���鵺��̳ professor sent Crowley a copy of the book.

“He read it and sent me a very lovely note,” Bell said. “He was such an important pioneer of the 1960s and kind of person who made my life possible and I realize that now.”

Do you have a ���鵺��̳ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu 

There is nothing inevitable about the arc of the universe bending toward justice...there are plenty of forces that want injustice and inequality, we have to make it happen if we want a just world, we have to come forward and fight for justice.

This homecoming weekend at ���鵺��̳ isn’t just about reconnecting with old friends and watching the football game, it’s also a chance for the school to promote equality and celebrate diversity.

Through the Office of Student Success and Diversity, ���鵺��̳ is hosting its second annual You Have a Home at ���鵺��̳: LGBTQ+ Alumnx and Allies reception.

The LGBTQ+ Alumnx and Allies group was formed last year to support past and present members of the campus community by providing education, advocacy, networking and engagement opportunities.

“We are still a new group, but our plan is to be highly visible and available to support students and alumnx in our community,” said founding member Kate Hayes-Huer, ’11.

The reception is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 18, from 6-8 p.m. in Weygand Hall, room 1047.

Jason Cahoon, ’12, G’15, and Jason Stocker, ’04, serve as co-chairs for the council and both say it’s rewarding to see returning to Bridgewater older alumni, who may have struggled as students during a time when society wasn’t as accepting of the LGBTQ+ community.

“The country as a whole was a different place for some of our senior alums, they didn’t feel they could be out as LGBTQ…We welcome them, and we encourage them to come here as their true authentic selves,” Stocker said.

Recent graduates have also been heavily involved with the new group.

“The council has been well-received by two distinct populations; alumnx who attended ���鵺��̳ during a time when the LGBTQ+ community maybe wasn’t supported like it is today, and more recent graduates who miss the space and camaraderie offered by the Pride Center and student organizations,” Hayes-Huer said.

The LGBTQ + alumnx and allies group also benefits current students.

“Students find value in their alums and it also encourages students after they graduate to contribute back to the university,” Stocker said.

Those wanting to learn more are encouraged to attend the reception.

“It would be great to see as many alums as possible to let them know what our mission is and get their feedback on how they think we could best serve our ���鵺��̳ community for current students and alums and to join us as our group evolves,” Cahoon said.

For anyone unable to attend event there are other ways to get involved, such as donating to one of the school’s causes including: the Achieving the Dream Fund, Barney Frank Scholarship and Student Emergency Fund. 

To learn more or to donate visit, .

“There are a variety of ways to get involved, and we welcome any level of commitment,” Cahoon said.

Do you have a ���鵺��̳ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu 

Students find value in their alums and it also encourages students after they graduate to contribute back to the university.

June is National Pride Month, and ���鵺��̳ is celebrating diversity and inclusion by striving to live up to the motto of the campus’ Pride Center, “Here for you no matter how you identify.”

The university was ranked 36^th in the nation by in supporting LGBTA student success. Many factors led to ���鵺��̳’s excellent reputation in this area.

In 2006, Bridgewater State College opened the GLBTA Pride Center. It was the first public institution of higher education in Massachusetts to do so.

Since then, director of the Pride Center Lee Forest has collaborated with students, faculty and administrators across campus who are dedicated to LGBTQ equity and inclusion.

“I can say with the utmost confidence that we at ���鵺��̳ bring a heartfelt and informed commitment to LGBTQ student success,” Forest said.

���鵺��̳’s commitment to the LGBTQ community includes:

• 73 gender-inclusive single-occupancy restrooms across campus
• Health insurance covering all transgender-related surgeries and hormone replacement therapies
• Student-athletes participating according to their gender identity
• Campus housing assignments based on gender identity
• An inclusive study abroad program
• LGBTQ students enjoy the same or better retention rates as their non-LGBTQ peers
• The LGBTQ-focused Lavender Living Learning Community
• Campus police respect all student identities
• Professors hold weekly office hours in the Pride Center
• Students and employees may use a preferred name wherever legal name is not required

As an undergraduate, Lindsy Osgood, ’17, G’19, experienced anxiety while discovering her identity. Because of the support available on campus, particularly the Pride Center, Osgood was able to get the support she needed.

“The Pride Center significantly impacted my time at ���鵺��̳, making me a better and more well-rounded person… It is a huge asset to ���鵺��̳,” she said. “I feel my overall success at Bridgewater was a combination of hard work and the love and support from the Pride Center.”

 Do you have a ���鵺��̳ story you'd like to share? email stories@bridgew.edu 

Vibrant decorations, music and laughter dominated the second floor of Boyden Hall during the “You Have a Home at ���鵺��̳” reception.   

The event was held to celebrate the launch of the university’s first-ever LGBTQ+ alumni group. 

“I think this is one of many good first steps I’ve seen in the past few years,” said Peter Wood, ’18. “This creates more spaces for alumni, to remind them that connections and spaces to network do exist.”

Wood came to the event to celebrate the extended supports being put in place to support members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies on campus and beyond.

As an alumnus, Cam Hall, ’17, plans on volunteering to help get the newly established group up and running.

“I definitely will be part of it. It feels good to be able to come back to ���鵺��̳ and have a socially inclusive place to gather,” Hall said. 

The university is currently  in the nation as a best college for LGBTQ students, a statistic that President Frederick W. Clark Jr. shed light on during the reception.

“Let’s applaud 36 for just a minute, then go after 35, 34… I really want to be number one,” Clark said.

Dr. Jean MacCormack, board of trustees vice chairwoman, announced she is planning to donate $50,000 to the new Achieving the Dream Fund. 

“This is something I believe will have a lasting effect,” Dr. MacCormack said of the new fund; she encouraged others to  if they are able. 

Money raised will create pilot retention programs to help struggling students find  and close achievement gaps, said Dr. Sabrina Gentlewarrior, vice president of Student Success and Diversity.

“���鵺��̳ is taking the right steps and we invite everyone to be part of the conversation,” said Dr. Luis F. Paredes, director of Institutional Diversity. (Photos by Heather Harris Michonski, University News & Video)