October is National LGBTQ History Month, and several University organizations are drawing attention to challenges that LGBTQ and other minority students face.
“It’s important to celebrate the diversity amongst us,” said the University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs LGBTQ Project Coordinator Chad Freeman.
Freeman said LGBTQ History Month is a celebration for all individuals, not just students, and it’s about the struggles, history, movements and culture of LGBTQ people.
Spectrum, one of the University’s LGBTQ student organizations, began as the Gay Bisexual Lesbian Student Union and has since transformed into the organization students recognize today.
OUTLaw, ResLife Pride and First Contact are among the other resources available to LGBTQ students on campus.
“The LGBTQ community is one of the largest growing groups, not only on our campus but in our country,” said Student Government President Taylor Cox.
Spectrum celebrated LGBTQ History Month by coordinating an event for National Coming Out Day, which was earlier this month.
The event brought attention to issues LGBTQ students face by involving passersby with a photo opportunity and an art project.
The University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs educated the community about LGBTQ history by holding a screening for the documentary “Stonewall Uprising” last week.
The film spotlighted the Stonewall riots that kick-started the modern LGBTQ rights movement.
Additionally, the Office of Multicultural Affairs will host the Multicultural Student Leadership Conference on Oct. 27.
According to Freeman, the conference will include “learning tracks” for students to learn about leadership within different demographics on campus, such as women, student-athletes and LGBTQ students, to name a few.
All students are encouraged to attend the conference.
“It’s important to make sure people can talk about these issues every day of the year, not just one month,” Freeman said.
Cox said Student Government has created a Diversity Advisement Board as an initiative to be sure LGBTQ students, among other minority groups, are represented.
“It’s important that we’re conscious of those around us and the way we act and what we say,” Cox said. “At some point, we are all a minority or a majority. No matter what group you fall into, you deserve respect.”
Different paint colors combine to create a rainbow on a hand Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, at Spectrum's table in Free Speech Alley. Spectrum, a student organization for LGBTQ students and their allies, is creating a banner of rainbow handprints in celebration of National Coming Out Day.
