What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 8pm Tuesday 9am - 8pm Wednesday 9am - 8pm Thursday 9am - 8pm Friday 9am - 5am

URI Gender & Sexuality Center

Home
United States
Kingston, RI
URI Gender & Sexuality Center

Providing education, engagement, and support. All events open to the public unless otherwise stated. Open 9am-8pm M-Th, 9am-5pm on F

Visit our blog at
https://gendersexualitynews.wordpress.com

09/08/2026

Tomorrow 9/9! Join us for the 15th Annual Big Gay BBQ, the URI Gender & Sexuality Center's annual welcome-back celebration. Whether you’re new to URI, returning for another year, or still figuring out where you fit, the Big Gay BBQ is a chance to find your people, discover your resources, and celebrate who you are. Come grab a plate, meet campus partners, make connections, and explore the many communities waiting for you at URI. Bring your whole self. Find your place. Belong boldly

Wednesday, September 9, 2026 | 4–6PM URI Memorial Union Ballroom

All attendees must register using the link in our bio or scanning the QR code above. Admission is free and all are welcome! 🌈🍔✨

What to Expect:

• BBQ favorites & sweet treats
• Music, games, and activities
• Drag performances
• Community connection & networking
• Resource Corner featuring campus offices and organizations
• Opportunities to get involved throughout the semester  Featured Host & Show Lineup:
PVD's N***y Nothin, with performances by Darren Tashine, Gigi Von Shee, Lucy Diamonds, Nadia Nice, & Shania Taint

Resource Corner:
Meet representatives from campus offices and organizations including: Academic Enhancement Center, Academic Testing Center, Campus Recreation, URI Counseling Center, Disability Access & Inclusion, Free Mom Hugs, URI Health Services, Hillel Center, MAVE, URI Minority Stress & Trauma Lab, Office of International Students & Scholars, Rhody F1rst, Rhody Outpost, and the URI Women’s Center

Accessibility:
If you need a reasonable accommodation or have a question about accessing an event, please call 401.874.2894 at least five business days in advance. For teletypewriter assistance, please call the Rhode Island Relay Service at 711.

09/02/2026

Coming Soon! The URI Gender & Sexuality Center is excited to welcome you into the new semester with our Fall Semester Open House! Join us for an afternoon of tours, connection, sweet treats, and opportunities to get involved.

🌈🍨 Monday, September 14 | 4-6PM

Come take a tour of the center, meet our staff, and learn about the programs, activities, and opportunities available throughout the semester. Enjoy an ice cream sundae, take part in a fun scavenger hunt, and get to know others in the community.

Whether you’re new or returning, this is a great opportunity to explore the center, connect with our community, and discover ways to get involved this semester.

📲✅ To attend click the link in our bio to register or scan the QR code above.

Belong boldy, find your place. All are welcome!

We look forward to seeing you there!

If you need a reasonable accommodation or have a question about accessing an event, please call 401.874.2894 at least five business days in advance. For teletypewriter assistance, please call the Rhode Island Relay Service at 711.

09/01/2026

Coming Soon! Join us for the 15th Annual Big Gay BBQ, the URI Gender & Sexuality Center's annual welcome-back celebration bringing together students, staff, faculty, campus partners, and community.

Wednesday, September 9, 2026 | 4–6PM URI Memorial Union Ballroom

All attendees must register using the link in our bio or scanning the QR code above. Admission is free and all are welcome! 🌈🍔✨

This year’s theme, Find Your Place: Belong Boldly, celebrates the many ways we find connection, community, and belonging at URI. Come enjoy food, music, games, activities, and opportunities to meet people and discover resources that can help you feel at home on campus.

What to Expect:
• BBQ favorites & sweet treats
• Music, games, and activities
• Drag performances
• Community connection & networking
• Resource Corner featuring campus offices and organizations
• Opportunities to get involved throughout the semester  Featured Host & Show Lineup:
PVD's N***y Nothin, with performances by Darren Tashine, Gigi Von Shee, Lucy Diamonds, Nadia Nice, & Shania Taint

Resource Corner:
Meet representatives from campus offices and organizations including: Academic Enhancement Center, Academic Testing Center, Campus Recreation, URI Counseling Center, Disability Access & Inclusion, Free Mom Hugs, URI Health Services, Hillel Center, MAVE, URI Minority Stress & Trauma Lab, Office of International Students & Scholars, Rhody F1rst, Rhody Outpost, and the URI Women’s Center

All Are Welcome:
Whether you’re new to URI, returning for another year, or still figuring out where you fit, the Big Gay BBQ is a chance to find your people, discover your resources, and celebrate who you are. Come grab a plate, meet campus partners, make connections, and explore the many communities waiting for you at URI.
Bring your whole self. Find your place. Belong boldly.

Accessibility:
If you need a reasonable accommodation or have a question about accessing an event, please call 401.874.2894 at least five business days in advance. For teletypewriter assistance, please call the Rhode Island Relay Service at 711.

08/13/2026

Save The Date! Celebrate Rhody pride on the 1st day of classes at the GSC’s 15th annual Big Gay BBQ on Wednesday, September 9th from 4-6pm! Invite a friend and join us for food, activities, community, and drag performances! 🌈🍔🍽️💋✨

Admission for this event is free. Register using the QR code above or the link in our bio.

All are welcome!

07/14/2026

Welcome to the 3rd installment of The First Voice Series at the URI Gender and Sexuality Center! In case you missed us, be sure to check out the previous two posts if you haven’t already. 🏳️‍🌈⚓️🏳️‍⚧️

The Hidden Histories of Rhode Island keeps the spirit of Pride season going, showcasing the smallest state and the lasting impact that has been made here.

This post covers a variety of topics, from laws to establishments to iconic figures. We also highlight niche moments in time to celebrate the stories we don’t want to see erased down the line. In addition, we also recognize traditions and groups that you can still be a part of today.

At the end of this post, our special engagement question asks:
“What was your favorite piece of Rhode Island history?” Anything we missed? Comment below and let us know what you would have liked to see included.

Looking back, thank you for coming along with us this summer on our archival journey. Even though this will be our concluding post of the series, be sure to continue to interact with the URI Digital Commons and our URI Gender and Sexuality Center. Our center’s hours during the academic year are Monday-Thursday 9 AM-8 PM and Friday 9 AM-5 PM. If you are a student, staff member, or community member, we look forward to seeing you stop by and check out all of our resources and programming. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your summer and remember: Pride isn’t limited to just one month, it lasts all year long!

+

07/01/2026

Coming soon! On Sunday, August 9th, join the University of Rhode Island Gender & Sexuality Center and the Society for Women and Marginalized Genders in Marine Science as we celebrate Rhody Pride community and professional women's soccer with fellow URI students, faculty, staff, and community members. All are welcome!

All attendees must complete this registration form to participate. (Link in bio!)

URI Discounted Ticket Price $29 (plus fees) with A limited number of complimentary tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis

In collaboration with the Society For Women And Marginalized Genders In Marine Science & Graduate Assistants United.

🌈⚽️🥅🏟️✨

06/30/2026

Happy end of Pride month, everyone! Welcome to week two of The First Voices series at the URI Gender and Sexuality Center. If you missed week one, be sure to check out our previous post about the first LGBTQIA+ student organizing at the University of Rhode Island.

In today’s post, we take you through how Pride first emerged in the USA and discuss its importance. We go from riots and rebellions to marches and parades. Representation then begins to emerge more often in media, music, drag, literature, social spaces, and ballroom. Although it is important to celebrate our freedoms, we must learn the history of how we got here. As the end of Pride month approaches, this post aims to elevate its history and provide context. Be sure not to forget that Pride takes place all year long, and it is up to you to make an impact in your own community.

At the end of this post, the special engagement question reads: “How have you celebrated Pride so far this year? How has pride differed between this year and previous years for you?” Please engage in the comment section!

Don’t forget to check out these links below for more LGBTQIA+ history:

Thank you for your time, and we will see you in a couple of weeks when our series continues!

🏳️‍🌈💖🏳️‍⚧️

06/16/2026

Happy Pride! 🏳️‍🌈💖🏳️‍⚧️ The Gender and Sexuality Center is proud to present The First Voices At URI, a series dedicated to sharing the history of LGBTQIA+ visibility over the years at the University of Rhode Island.

Looking ahead, this is only a teaser of more to come: Bi-weekly, we will be releasing new content related to URI Pride. Kicking off the series, ‘The Emergence of LGBTQIA+ Visibility and Student Organizing at URI’ honors the warriors that came before us and keeps their legacies alive.

At the end, our 1st special engagement question reads: “What would you tell or ask a past LGBTQIA+ student at URI?” Please add your thoughts in the comment section below or answer the question: What does Pride mean to you?

Outside of this post, be sure to interact with the digital archives of URI where the much of this content was obtained. There you will find more information about this post and much more!

Have a safe, eventful Pride season and we will see you in a couple of weeks! 🌈✊💙

06/02/2026

💙 TODAY! 6/2 💙 In collaboration with URI Campus Recreation, celebrate Rhody pride at the Gender & Sexuality Center’s annual cookout with beautiful bay views. Enjoy food, friends, and community while staying connected to URI this summer–all are welcome! 🍽️🌈🌊

To register, scan the QR code or visit the link in our bio to register. (URI Gmail account required)

#2026

05/26/2026

Happy Pride from the URI Gender & Sexuality Center! We look forward to seeing you soon at one of our upcoming events this June 🌈🫶💕

🏳️‍⚧️🌊⚓️🍽️🏳️‍🌈

✨Tuesday, June 2nd
PRIDE ’26 BARBEQUEER
In collaboration with URI Campus Recreation, celebrate Rhody pride at the Gender & Sexuality Center’s annual cookout with beautiful bay views. Enjoy food, friends, and community while staying connected to URI this summer–all are welcome!

To register, scan the QR code or visit the link in our bio to register. (URI Gmail account required)

✨Saturday, June 13th
SOUTH COUNTY PRIDE
The URI Gender & Sexuality Center is proud to be part of the 6th annual
South County Pride Festival, celebrating in solidarity with our community partners. All are welcome! For more info:

✨ Friday, June 19th
2026 DTPOC MARCH
Join the URI Gender & Sexuality Center as we march in solidarity with q***r,
trans, nonbinary, and intersex people of color and their families, both blood
& chosen. All are welcome! For more info:

#2026

Address

19 Upper College Road
Kingston, RI
02881

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 8pm
Tuesday	9am - 8pm
Wednesday	9am - 8pm
Thursday	9am - 8pm
Friday	9am - 5am

Telephone

+14018742894

Website

http://web.uri.edu/gender-sexuality

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when URI Gender & Sexuality Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your organization to be the top-listed Government Service in Kingston?