The Lethbridge College Students’ Association Pride Club was started in the midst of the tragic suicides of gay students in the U.S but as that news wore off the group’s presence hasn’t.

Pride Club president Jessica Lloyd says that the group is formulating plans for next semester as this school year winds down. She wants to encourage and contribute to a “more diverse environment at the college on campus.”

“My intent is to have student-interest clubs more active, to give students more options than program-based clubs only.”

Lloyd is also hoping to be able to welcome new students coming to the college next fall and perhaps reach out to potential students over the summer through social events.

The group is also looking to tackle the college policy on human rights. Lloyd says there is no policy on protecting students from discrimination based on sexual orientation.

“It is the Policy and Procedures for Discrimination and Harassment (Code 6.18, Effective Date: September 1, 2005). Right now the prohibited grounds for discrimination and harassment are race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, physical disability, mental disability, marital status, ancestry, and place of origin.

“I would like to see it changed to include sexual orientation, sexual identity, gender expression, and gender identity or similar categories.”

Other plans of the Pride Club are to order “Safe Space” kits, which include stickers and posters that indicate that a person/area is safe for the queer community. The kits also include training materials and booklets for counsellors and other who wish to learn more about dealing with issues related to bullying and discrimination.

Lloyd says she wants to distribute them to the counseling office on campus and to interested faculty members.

Even as the school year closes, the Pride Club plans on being active over the summer and continuing their work into the next school year.