From the University campus to the State Capitol, LGBT organization Spectrum fought hate and raised awareness for LGBTQ issues this year with both serious and playful events.
Spectrum, Equality Louisiana and other Louisiana LGBT organizations spent much of this year working with state representatives on the 2012 Louisiana School Bullying Prevention Act.
Spectrum members contacted legislators and promoted awareness about the legislation, which defines bullying and provides a list of characteristics that can motivate bullying.
Mary Catherine Roberts, mathematics senior, said on April 17 that working with Spectrum on the legislation was a new experience for her.
“You don’t really think about how many little steps it takes for a bill to have a successful run,” she said.
The House Committee on Education heard the 2012 Louisiana School Bullying Prevention Act on April 18. Spectrum members attended the hearing and wore purple ribbons to show their support.
State Rep. Patricia Smith, D-Baton Rouge, pulled the legislation after the committee voted to amend it. Smith described the amendments as “gutting” the legislation and said the bill will be submitted next year for consideration.
A few days after the committee hearing, Spectrum hosted the Louisiana Queer Conference in Coates Hall on April 21.
About 135 LGBT college students and allies from across Louisiana attended the second annual conference, which included a State of the Movement panel, 29 workshops and keynote speaker Mara Kiesling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality.
Representatives from Equality Louisiana, a statewide coalition of LGBT organizations, were present at the conference, where the organization had its beginning. At last year’s conference, attendees came up with the idea to form this statewide organization.
Kameron Kilchrist, biological engineering junior and co-chair of the conference’s planning committee, said on April 19 that the conference is about networking and creating a safe space to discuss LGBTQ issues.
In the fall, hate crimes took the forefront of LGBT issues. Spectrum and other organizations hosted a panel on Sept. 20 of federal and local law enforcement officials who discussed hate crimes and how to combat them.
A few days after the panel, a homosexual couple was allegedly assaulted at Reggie’s Bar in Tigerland.
The couple was allegedly beaten after being forcibly removed from the bar. One suffered injuries, but both walked away from the alleged attack. The couple did file charges, but nothing came of them.
In response to hate crimes in the transgender community, Louisiana Trans Advocates, a transgender advocacy organization, hosted a vigil on Nov. 16 with other LGBT organizations.
Spectrum and other LGBT organizations responded to the alleged hate crime and advocated awareness.
Along with advocating awareness, Spectrum also advocated student identity at their annual “Rainbow Door” event on National Coming Out Day, where students could “come out” of a rainbow door how they pleased.
Susie LeJeune, English senior and Spectrum vice president, told The Daily Reveille on Oct. 11 that the event wasn’t just for LGBTQ students.
LeJeune said Spectrum wanted all students to “be proud of who they are” on National Coming Out Day.
The University’s College Democrats chapter also partook in the celebration with speeches by Dawn Collins, chair of
East Baton Rouge Parish for Young Democrats of Louisiana, and Stephen Handwerk, co-chair of Stonewall Democrats political action committee.
 
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Contact Marylee Williams at [email protected]