Annual and Reoccurring Events
Year-Round
Community Dinners
Graduate Students, Faculty, and Staff are welcome to join us at the K.C. Potter Center for our inaugural Community Dinner night. Share a meal with the Vanderbilt LGBTQIA+ community once a month on Thursday 6-7:30 p.m. at the K.C. Potter Center. Email lgbtqi@vanderbilt.edu to sign up to bring something.
Open Forum
This event is for LGBTQIA+ students to voice their concerns and be in a space where the director of the center and a partner from the UCC will be present to hear, facilitate conversation and build a better understanding of what the LGBTQIA+ students are going through at Vanderbilt.
The space is a kind, constructive space where we can raise ideas for programming and belongingness. Together we can build what comes next at the center and with partners on campus!
Rainbow Connection
Rainbow Connection is a peer support and resiliency building group for students who are new to the LGBTQIA+ community and/or new to Vanderbilt. Rainbow Connection is a place where students can meet other LGBTQIA+ people, talk about issues that matter to LGBTQIA+ students, and learn skills to help navigate difficult situations in college and in life. Rainbow Connection meets in the K.C. Potter Center in Fall 2024 on Fridays at 3pm and in Spring 2025 on Tuesdays at 3pm.
Fall Semester
Fall Semester Welcome Week
Welcome Week is a group of events that kick off the academic year and welcome LGBTQ2S+ and ally individuals to campus as first-year students, back from the summer, or as transfer students. It’s your chance to connect with others and find out what the community here at Vanderbilt has to offer.
Diverse ‘Dores Day
Explore some of the Vanderbilt diversity and inclusion offices on campus by attending Diverse ‘Dores Day. Free food, music, office tours, and activities will be open to all Vanderbilt students. If you visit all the participating spaces, you can snag a free t-shirt! #diversedores
interNational Celebrate BiSExuality day
This day, celebrated on or around September 23rd, is a call for the LGBTQ2S+ community, friends, and supporters to recognize and celebrate bisexual history, the bisexual community, and bi culture. Events are typically co-sponsored with the Vanderbilt Lambda Association, including a Bi-B-Q dinner!
October LGBTQ2S+ History Month
October is a celebration of LGBTQ2S+ history and people. It includes the celebration of National Coming Out Day (October 11th) and educational programs around the wide variety of LGBTQ2S+ identities, providing LGBTQ2S+ and allied individuals a space to come together. Featured guest speakers, the Vanderbilt Lambda Association’s Annual Drag Show, and various events with faculty and staff on campus highlight the month’s worth of events. #BeYouatVU
Transgender Day of Remembrance and resilience in NOvember
This day, observed on or around November 20th internationally, is a day to memorialize those who have been killed as a result of transphobia, the hatred or fear of transgender and gender nonconforming people. We partner with several community organizations across middle Tennessee for this event, such as the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition, T-Vals, PFLAG, and many more. Learn more about these community groups here.
Spring Semester
LGBTQIA+ Conference
Hosted in collaboration with The Paq, this 18+ queer summer camp-style conference is packed with curated learning spaces + all the camp classics with queer flair. This conference pinky promises a transformative space to nurture a reconnection to nature, queer magic, and summer camp bliss.
Dates: April 5-6
Location: Cedar Crest Camp, Lyles, TN
Lavender Celebration in May
Lavender Celebration is a tradition that began in 2008 at Vanderbilt, held in addition to regular commencement activities. Its aim is to celebrate the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and allied graduating undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty and staff. All members of the Vanderbilt community are welcome to join us for this special evening ceremony and community dinner. Find out about our Lavender Celebration here.
Summer Semester
Nashville Pride parade
The Office of LGBTQI Life organizes Vanderbilt’s group to walk behind a banner at the Nashville Pride Parade. All members of the Vanderbilt University and VUMC are invited to join us. We will reach out to all who sign-up with further instructions on our meeting place.
Be sure to check out our Events Calendar and our Instagram for other great programs and events sponsored by LGBTQI Life. #BeYouatVU