Spectrum Community

Mission: Spectrum is a lab resource group dedicated to building awareness and providing resources for the LGBTQ+ community to foster an environment of understanding, acceptance, and equality for all within the laboratory community.

Vision: The group will focus on promoting equity at all levels, advancing LGBTQ+ friendly policies and benefits, promoting an inclusive and welcoming workplace environment, and participating in outreach activities.

We welcome everyone who is interested in seeing our lab community grow stronger, safer, and more open. Spectrum is an inclusive community made up of people of all orientations with allies especially welcome; out or not, Spectrum needs you!

Fermilab’s Spectrum is modeled after and will closely cooperate with Argonne National Laboratory’s Spectrum organization, formed in 2015. The two groups will hold joint events and trainings, but will remain separate entities. Participation in this lab-wide resource group is open to all employees, visitors, and guests of Fermilab.

 

Getting Involved

  • An Inclusive Resources Guide is now available for the Fermilab community. The site includes benefits, procedures, points of contact, and more!
  • To join our Listserv, please send an email to listserv@fnal.gov with SUBSCRIBE SPECTRUM in the email body.
  • Add your pronouns to your Fermilab e-mail signature with this step-by-step guide.
  • Add your gender identity and chosen name to your workforce profile with this step-by-step guide.

Celebrate 2024 Pride!

Fermilab marched in the Aurora and Chicago Pride Parades in 2022 and 2023! Join our listserv for more information on 2024 events.

 

June 6, 2024: SafeZone Training: This interactive presentation on LGBTQ+ Safe Zones was created especially for the Fermilab community by the Spectrum LRG. Its focus is on fostering a welcoming environment for our colleagues in the LGBTQ+ communities, with takeaways that can be applied generally. Presenters of this workshop are Fermilab employees who discuss the laboratory’s expectations regarding inclusivity; what inclusion looks like; what a safe zone is; the science of gender; as well as how we can put LGBTQ+ inclusion into practice every day. Please contact Anahi Ruiz Beltran with questions.

Continue celebrating Pride with us! We are offering the following resources and suggestions to help you show your support.

  • Show your support through Zoom! Open and save one of the images below and set your Zoom background to it

Resources and News

News: 

 

Tools:

As a part of Inclusion Matters, Spectrum provides Safe Zone Training multiple times each year. This presentation available to the Fermilab community for ongoing reference here: Fermilab LGBTQ+ Safe Zone Presentation July 2023

 

General Resources

LGBTQ Youth Resources

  • PFLAG (Northern Il. Council) | Supports LGBTQ people, their families and friends through local PFLAG chapter help lines, support group meetings and locally and nationally produced resources
  • Youth Outlook | Local group focused on providing support, safe space and drop-in centers for LGBTQ teens in Naperville, Elgin, DeKalb, Ottawa, Sterling, and Palatine
  • Resources for LGBTQ+ Youth by State

Fermipoint: Spectrum Documents and Materials (login required)

Past News & Events

Contact Erica Snider or Pete Cholewinski for more information; Executive Sponsor: Steve Brice, PhD, Division Head, ND