Pride Community Centre (PCC)

Our Mission:

The Pride Community Centre is a service of the McMaster Students Union. We provide a contact point for McMaster students that may identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and/or any of the other diverse identities that make up our community. We offer educational programming and access to resources of interest, as well as peer support and a physical space for students to meet and socialize with each other. As advocates for gender & sexual diversity, the PCC’s mandate upholds that 2STLGBQIA+ students are entitled to a safe and supportive campus, absent of homophobia and transphobia, where the expression of one’s gender & sexual identity is welcomed and respected.

The Centre is a student-run service provided by the MSU that aims to challenge oppressive social attitudes and norms, patriarchy, homo/trans/bi/lesbophobia, and the like, at the systemic level. 

We Operate Through Three Main Pillars:

1.) Peer Support and Community

We offer confidential peer support and check-ins to 2STLGBQIA+ and questioning students in our virtual safe(r) space. Peer support and check-ins can be requested by filling out our anonymous form or by reaching out to us on any of our social media platforms. We also offer weekly identity-specific community groups through Zoom with live captioning offered via Otter.ai as well as a virtual community space provided through Discord.   

2.) Advocacy

We advocate for queer, trans and two-spirit folks with an emphasis on amplifying BIPoC and disabled 2STLGBQIA+ voices through the delivery of monthly campaigns and events which aim to empower 2STLGBQIA+ students and create a culture of awareness towards issues faced by the 2STLGBQIA+ community. This includes running our week-long campaigns: Mac Pride Week, 2STLGBQIA+ History Week and Trans Week. 

3.) Education and Awareness

We provide 2STLGBQIA+ Competency Training which can be requested by any MSU club, service or student group at McMaster. Through this initiative, we strive to increase awareness, knowledge and education of students on McMaster’s campus to help other student groups create inclusive spaces. We also run frequent social awareness campaigns to draw attention towards 2STLGBQIA+ issues, history, and health.