Our Mission
The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center’s mission is to enrich the experiences, foster success, celebrate victories, and affirm the existence of Penn’s LGBTQ+ undergraduates, professional and graduate students, staff, faculty, and alum using the lenses of social justice and intersectionality. Through education, support, and advocacy, the Center cultivates a campus climate where all students, regardless of their gender or sexual identity, can live authentically.
Penn LGBT Center
3907 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
LGBT Center Hours – Summer 2024
Monday – Friday: 10am – 4pm
Saturday – Sunday: Closed
Our Team
Eric Anglero (they/them) previously held the role as the Associate Director for Princeton’s Gender + Sexuality Resource Center. In this role, Eric provided trainings across campus to various community partners, supervised center staff, and helped oversee the direction and mission of the GSRC. Currently they serve on the executive board at COLAGE, an organization for people with one or more queer parents and/or caregivers. They are also an alumni board member at Stockton University.
Eric received their Master’s degree (M.A.) in American Studies and their Bachelor’s of Arts in History (B.A.) from Stockton University. After they completed their degree, Eric worked as an adjunct professor at Rowan College teaching African American History. They then accepted a position at a non-profit (CANDLE) in New York to coordinate LGBTQ youth services for Rockland County, New York. During this time period, they were the coordinator of the New York State LGBT Network’s Youth Services committee and handled trainings for state employees and local organizations on LGBTQ cultural competency. Eric has been a consultant for Howie the Harp in Harlem, NY, CANDLE’s youth services programs, and for Putney’s Student travel programs. They also volunteer at a summer program, the Harold M. Marsh Connections Institute, for high school students with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities
Eric enjoys listening to records, watching Steven Universe, and time at home with their new kitten named Ghost!
Wesley Alvers is honored to support, celebrate, and advocate for Penn’s queer and trans community members as an Associate Director at the LGBT Center. Wes holds a Master of Social Work degree from Penn’s School of Social Policy and Practice, with a specialization in macro practice on behalf of LGBTQ+ people and populations. Prior to their time at Penn, Wes spent the majority of their career as a counselor at an Oregon-based abortion clinic where they developed a deep interest in health equity and reproductive justice. Wes brings this framework to the LGBT Center, where they are committed to advocating for affirming practice, fostering networks of community support, and expanding pathways to individual and collective joy. If you want to talk with someone about gender, fashion, life, love, and/or the pursuit of the greatest snack foods, Wes is here.
Our Values Statements
- Welcoming everybody
You are welcome at the Center, no exceptions. We accept you as an individual whether queer, heterosexual, questioning or something else, ‘in’ or ‘out’, of any race or ethnicity, young or old, and so on as we value and appreciate everyone. - Respecting varied ways of being
We acknowledge there are many ways to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or allied and celebrate our community, diversity. - Maintaining confidentiality
We provide a confidential, non-judgmental place in which to embrace and discuss sexuality and gender. - Making no assumptions
Assumptions are not made about anyone, identity, reason(s) for coming to the Center, or any other status, as we believe everyone is a unique individual. - Ending all forms of oppression
We strive to end all oppression because if one person is diminished by oppression, then we all are. - Fostering and maintaining a sense of community
Creating a sense of community is vital for LGBTOA persons on campus to engender pride, a safe space, and learning and leadership opportunities. As we build campus community we also hope to stimulate a connection to the broader LGBTQA community in Philadelphia, the US and the world. - Recognizing our forbearers’ contributions
We stand on our forbears’ shoulders, as their work has enabled us to be where we are today. We are grateful to them and aim to recognize their contributions on a regular basis. - Giving back
Just as our forbears have given to us, we strive to serve others through volunteer, activist, and community work. - Engaging with Philadelphia-area, organizations
We partner with city-based organizations to the best of our ability, particularly those serving the next generation of college students. - Being open to feedback
Patron opinion is important and Center staff takes it seriously. Please let us know how we are doing either in person, by email, or anonymously via our website or suggestion box (located near the printers on the second floor).
Our History
Penn is proud to be the home of the second oldest LGBTQ+ center in the US (the University of Michigan was first). What eventually became the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center (Center) was created in 1982 followed several homophobic campus incidents, including the severe beating of a gay sophomore by a fellow student. Student leaders and several progressive administrators took action by hiring founding director Bob Schoenberg to work three days a week as a point person for lesbian and gay concerns (there was no mention of bisexual or transgender people at that time) via Student Activities in Houston Hall.
When the Student Activities office restructured, the program moved to 3537 Locust Walk, eventually acquiring the entire third floor. Although he had assistance from a few work-study students and eventually a half-time staff person, more help was needed. In fall 1998 a second fulltime position was filled and by 2002, the Center was granted a third staff member; a staffing pattern which holds true today. Meanwhile, the Center’s name grew as well, including ‘bisexual’ in the late 1980s and ‘transgender’ in 1999.
In October 2000, Penn President Judith Rodin announced a major gift to the Center from David Goodhand, C’85 and Vincent Griski, W’85. At the same time, the University committed an entire campus building to become the LGBT Center’s home. With this gift and ensuing donations from many alumni and friends, the exterior of the historic 1870s Carriage House was restored and the interior was gutted and redesigned providing two floors of space for the Center and its affiliated student organizations, making it the physically largest LGBTQ+ center in the nation.
After 40+ years, we are incredibly proud of the Center’s progress and status as an invaluable campus resource. That said, we are constantly working to better serve the ever-changing and diverse LGBTQ+ community.