For Pride Month 2025, the University of Cauca continues its educational campaign “The Magic of Being”, an initiative launched in 2023 as a commitment to recognizing and celebrating diversity. This year, we seek to deepen this journey, decoding the clues that will help us transform our university into a safe haven for everyone. We firmly believe that acknowledging and making visible our history, and advancing in its rewriting, is essential to reflect on and transform ourselves as a community attuned to the dynamics of the present.

Being part of the University of Cauca means inhabiting a space that demands continuous transformation and evolution, critical reflection on our knowledge, and the deconstruction of practices that may reproduce exclusion and violence. Therefore, embracing a respectful stance toward sexual and gender diversity is not merely an ethical act, it is a tangible expression of our commitment to building a more just and equitable society. And if you're wondering why we engage in these conversations, the answer is simple: the university is not only a place for reflection but also for progress.

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As an institution with nearly two centuries of history, the University of Cauca has taken important, though for some, seemingly small, steps to promote development and inclusion. “The Magic of Being” emphasizes that these advances have been made possible thanks to our diversity; a diversity that lies at the very heart of who we are. Yet we are aware of the challenges that remain: only by eradicating all forms of violence can we build a university that is truly safe for everyone.

Undoubtedly, throughout almost 200 years of history, our institution has cultivated a valuable legacy shaped by a diverse population that has carved out space within the university. It is vital to recognize and honor this legacy, as its very existence and resilience have laid the foundation for today’s celebration of the pride in being diverse.

From this house of thought, we strive to make visible the diversity that defines us and to contribute to greater understanding of key issues such as inclusive language, name changes, and bodily autonomy important parts of a global journey that is unfolding everywhere. These are not abstract topics; they arise in our classrooms and campuses every day, especially when someone expresses their pronouns or asks to be addressed according to their gender identity or sexual orientation. These transformations are integral to our institutional development and our commitment to building peace.

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It’s important to recognize that within our community, some individuals are more familiar with these changes than others. That’s why it's essential that we all—todos, todas y todes—work toward a safe environment where being is truly possible. In this third annual edition of our educational campaign “The Magic of Being”, we focus on collectively uncovering clues that will help us move forward in building a truly inclusive university. Over the coming days, we’ll be sharing content through our communication channels, and we invite everyone to follow along and engage with the guidance we offer as part of this shared mission.

How familiar are you with these topics? Below are some basic guidelines to help foster a respectful and safe environment for all:

Use the name and pronouns a person shares with you, as doing so affirms a fundamental right to identity.

Avoid intrusive questions about personal topics such as legal names, medical procedures, or other intimate matters.

If you witness someone being disrespected, intervene respectfully to help create safer, more inclusive spaces.

If you're still learning, that’s okay. Acknowledge that you're in a process, and understand that honest communication and unintentional mistakes are also part of change.

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These are just starting points. Being part of our University means committing to a continuous journey of knowledge and learning. Understanding that gender identities and expressions are diverse and constantly evolving calls us, as the Unicaucano community, to share in the responsibility of fostering broader, more respectful, and empathetic perspectives.

In conclusion, the Pride we honor in June isn’t just about flags or celebrations, it’s about resistance, vision, and deep reflection that touches our classrooms, our hallways, our language, and our daily gestures. So, we extend a warm invitation to think, feel, and act with respect and mutual recognition, making every university space an opportunity to build a more just and compassionate society.

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You already know: in this edition of “The Magic of Being”, we invite the entire university community to keep learning and growing together, because in this house of thought that is #HeritageForAll, being also means transforming, and to transform is, in itself, a powerful act of pride. At Unicauca, we proudly embrace our diversity.

 

Written by: Communications Management Center