Stonewall Resource Center Celebrates a Lasting Legacy

On a campus that prides itself on community, the Stonewall Resource Center (SRC) has long been a place where students find connection, belonging, and the freedom to be fully themselves. 

In 1986 nearly 100 students and allies rallied outside Nollen House to protest and demand action following acts of homophobic vandalism on campus. Their calls for safety and visibility led to the creation of what was first known as the Human/Gay Resource Center. In 1991, the Center took on a new name, the Stonewall Resource Center, honoring the legacy of the Stonewall Riots and anchoring Grinnell’s efforts within a broader movement for queer liberation.

This April, marks 40 years since those students first demanded a dedicated space for LGBTQIA+ community at Grinnell. What began as a response to harm has grown into one of the College’s most vibrant, student-centered spaces. And 40 years later, that student-driven spirit still defines the Center.

“As I reflect on what it means to be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Resource Center, I think of that first group of students way back in 1986 who cared so deeply for the community and its future,” says Micho Adler, assistant director of intercultural affairs and LGBTQIA+ student specialist. “Their desire to create a safe space for the queer community on this small liberal arts campus in the middle of the Iowa prairie set the foundation for what the Stonewall Resource Center has grown into today.”

Staffed by a student management team, the SRC offers support for individuals, educational programming, activities, and a confidential, safe space for Grinnell’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning communities and allies. 

Students can stop by to borrow from the Drag Closet, explore identity through the Affirming Clothing Closet, or simply spend time in a space where they don’t have to explain themselves. The Center’s “Werk Room,” stocked with makeup and wigs, invites creativity and self-expression, while a queer resource library and gender-affirming product program offer practical support.

Just as important are the relationships built there. With more than 35 events each year — from discussions and workshops to celebrations — the Center acts as a hub that connects students across identities and experiences. Its advisory board, made up largely of students, ensures the space evolves alongside the community it serves. For many students, the most important part of the SRC is simply being able to walk into a space and know they belong. 

“I am thankful to every student, alumni, faculty and staff who year after year understood the importance of keeping this community resource space going and growing,” Adler says.

That sense of celebrating the past while looking to the future is at the heart of the 40th anniversary celebration. On Tuesday, April 28, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., students, faculty, staff, and alumni are invited to gather at the Center in Younker Hall for an evening that blends reflection with celebration.

There will be cupcakes and snacks, games, prizes, and commemorative swag, along with a historical slideshow that traces the Center’s evolution. Visitors can enjoy a photo booth, yard games in North Campus Grove, and activities designed to bring people together in the same spirit that sparked the Center’s founding.

The celebration is part of a broader series of events, including a Rainbow Alumni Network talk on April 27 and a themed Pub Quiz later in the week, all aimed at honoring the Center’s legacy while strengthening its future.

And that future, Adler emphasizes, is just as important as its history.

“What is even more exciting, is the how the Stonewall Resource Center will continue to grow and expand with each new curious first year student looking for community, to the graduating seniors entering into the distinguished alumni collective,” Adler says. “Cheers to 40 more years!”