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Rainbow Center Opened
After five years of planning, dreaming, and hard work the Rainbow Center is finally opened. The first director, Martha Nelson-Patrick, and administrative assistant, William Hickman, come down from the Stonewall Center at UMass Amherst to run the center with student workers. It was contained in a tiny office in the pre-renovation Student Union, in room 214. -
Rainbow Center Moves to Whitney House
The Rainbow Center moves from a small office in the old student union to the Whitney House on 195, across from Mirror Lake. Whitney House was formerly occupied by International House. -
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Homphobic Incidents on Campus
Twenty separate homophobic incidents occurred on campus between September and November. Rainbow flags were stolen from in front of the Rainbow Center and it was shot at with paintballs. There was a rash of homophobic graffiti, as well as gay bashing of heterosexual men who were in front of the Rainbow Center. -
Homophobic Incidents Spark Outcry
Because of the homophobic incidents on campus, greater awareness was raised about safety for LGBT students on campus. There were rallies and town meetings about how to best protect LGBT students and the Rainbow Center. While there was some resistance, there was overwhelming support. -
Rainbow Center Moves to New Student Union
Following the Husky 2000 Project, the Rainbow Center moved to its current position on the 4th floor of the renovated Student Union. It is the only cultural center on the 4th floor to have its originally planned rooms. -
CT Hate Crimes Law Covers Sexuality and Gender Identity/Expression
Connecticut state law explicitly addresses violence based on actual or perceived sexual orientation and/or gender identity and expression. -
Civil Unions in CT
Civil unions provided same-sex couples with some of the same rights and responsibilities under state law as marriage. Connecticut became the second state in the United States (following Vermont) to adopt civil unions, and the first to do so without judicial intervention -
Vu Tran First Out Homecoming King
Vu Tran was the first out member of the Homecoming Court and the first King to represent the Rainbow Center. -
Marriage Equality in CT
Connecticut joined Massachusetts as one of two states in the U.S. to perform marriages of same-sex couples. Connecticut was the third state to do so, but only the second where the decision was not repealed. On October 1, 2010, all existing civil unions were automatically transformed into marriages. -
True Colors Conference Comes To Storrs
The 16th Annual True Colors Conference was moved from Central Connecticut State University to the UConn Storrs campus. -
Transgender Anti-Discrimination Law in CT
Connecticut becomes the 15th U..S state, along with the District of Columbia, to provide protections based on gender identity or expression.
