“As we become more siloed in our nation, places like the Y become crucial to the health and welfare of our community. Since I moved here 15 years ago, the Y has been the premiere place in town that fosters dialogue across lines of difference. It does that for both the university and broader community. Being open and affirming to LGBTQ+ people builds a bridge in itself; the commitments that the Y has made to become a space where the queer community can gather means that it is an entity that I can trust. We need more spaces where relationships can form, compassion can grow, and people can come together to listen, learn, and connect. The Y is an incubator for conversation, information sharing, and connection.”