Celebrate Pride with a fresh milestone: ACS has launched the Committee on the Advancement of LGBTQ+ Chemists to engage, recognise and champion queer scientists, marking the first new society committee in 13 years and offering a strategic plan to support inclusion across the chemical enterprise.

Essential Takeaways

  • Historic step: ACS formed the Committee on the Advancement of LGBTQ+ Chemists (CALC) in 2025, its first new committee in 13 years.
  • Clear mission: CALC’s three pillars are to engage, recognise and champion LGBTQ+ people within the scientific community.
  • Founding team: The inaugural roster includes 12 members, two associates and a consultant; they met formally in Atlanta and held a strategic retreat in Chicago.
  • Practical outreach: ACS members can express interest via the committee preference form and contact [email protected] to get involved.
  • Joy and resilience: The committee emphasises queer joy as a form of community, resistance and renewal alongside policy and programming work.

Why this matters: a milestone for queer scientists with a human touch

This isn’t just a new line on a governance chart; it’s a visible gesture that queer chemists have a seat at ACS decision-making. The committee’s launch comes after an official announcement in 2025 and follows early organising by the Pride Subdivision. People involved describe the mood as quietly celebratory, there’s relief, pride and a sense of responsibility to make the role meaningful for everyday scientists. For LGBTQ+ members who’ve long navigated workplaces and conferences with mixed levels of support, CALC promises structural backing and more opportunities to be seen.

What the committee will actually do: engage, recognise, champion

CALC’s strategic plan sets three practical goals. Engaging means building programmes and networks so queer chemists can connect at meetings and online. Recognising covers awards, visibility campaigns and telling stories that highlight achievements and struggles. Championing points to advocacy inside ACS governance and guidance for inclusive policy. The approach mixes community-building with governance work, so you’ll see both celebratory events and policy conversations that aim to improve belonging and safety.

How the committee formed and who’s on it

After ACS authorised the committee last year, an inaugural slate of members was appointed; they met at ACS Spring and later ran a strategic-planning retreat in Chicago. The roster is small but diverse, with staff support and external facilitation to help shape priorities. That early investment in planning matters, when a committee starts with a clear strategy, it’s likelier to move quickly from ideas to programmes that actually help people on the ground, from mentoring schemes to conference inclusion practices.

How this fits into ACS governance and broader trends

ACS hasn’t created a new standing committee in over a decade, so CALC’s arrival aligns with a broader push in professional societies to formalise diversity and inclusion work. According to ACS strategic initiatives, the society has been expanding efforts around membership engagement and inclusive practices, and CALC plugs straight into that framework. Other groups, like the Committee on Minority Affairs, show how governance-level committees can influence recruitment, retention and culture, so CALC could have long-term impact if it’s resourced and connected to existing committees.

Practical ways to get involved or benefit from CALC

If you’re an ACS member interested in queer chemist issues, start simple: send a note to [email protected], or complete the committee preference form at cmte.acs.org and indicate your interest. Attend Pride-related sessions at national meetings and look for mentoring or recognition opportunities as they emerge. If you run a local section or student chapter, invite CALC members to speak or collaborate on inclusive events, small partnerships can amplify outreach and make conferences friendlier for attendees who might otherwise stay away.

It's a small change that can make every workplace and conference a bit more welcoming.

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