Students linked arms and walked together across campus with students of the same sex as part of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Awareness Week.
A week-long leadership conference inspired Jennifer Fleming, Gays, Bisexuals, Lesbians and Supporters United vice president, to create a program called “Gay-At-A-Glance.”
“What we do is we pair up a willing participant with someone of the same sex and walk either hand-in-hand or arm-in-arm, and we walk from [Free Speech Alley] to the Quad and back,” the general studies senior said.
Jennifer Vitter, GBLSU president and general studies senior, said the program has several goals.
“I think we could help the campus be more aware of LGBT students on campus,” Vitter said. “It also raises awareness to a lot of students who support us but aren’t aware of the issues that we go through on a daily basis.”
As of 1 p.m., three female students and two male students participated in the program.
“I ideally would prefer a little bit more participation, but I didn’t really expect it,” Vitter said.
Monica Nguyen, biology senior, linked arms with Fleming and walked through campus.
“I did get a couple of looks,” Nguyen said. “People were looking.”
Nguyen said she did not feel uncomfortable or nervous when she noticed people looking at her. She said Fleming talked to her about the program and GBLSU while walking through the Quad.
“I just really respect their organization for standing up for who they are,” Nguyen said.
Matthew Calamia, GBLSU member and psychology senior, said he walked with one student through the Quad.
“This guy was actually really cool about it,” he said. “He thought it was an interesting idea.”
Calamia said the student seemed surprised at the reactions they received from other students.
“I don’t think he expected people to look at him that much,” he said. “He seemed like a very laid back guy, so it didn’t bother him or make him uncomfortable or anything. He just didn’t realize that that would happen.”
—–Contact Angelle Barbazon [email protected]