While the subject of Saturday’s community breakfast was “What it Means to be Queer in Baton Rouge,” diversity, tolerance and unity were the underlying principles of the meeting and dominated the discussion.
Amber Vlasnik, manager of the Women’s Center, said the community breakfasts are part of an ongoing series of programs provided by the Women’s Center.
“Historically, community breakfasts in Baton Rouge were an informal gathering for neighbors and friends to talk about a variety of issues,” she said.
Members of The Lambda Group, Spectrum Alliance, Safe Space hosts, Lesbians Gays Bi-sexuals Trans-genders, and other civil rights supporters and members of the queer community were in attendance.
As each person present introduced themselves and shared why they had decided to attend the breakfast, the program’s common theme began to emerge – to seek understanding and improve communication among all members of the Baton Rouge community.
Shad Duplessis, from the Lambda Group, said there must be unity and equality in all aspects of human rights.
He also said it is important for the Baton Rouge community to work together to achieve it.
“We cannot fight the oppression of homophobia if we do not join in the fight for oppression and racism,” Duplessis said.
One of the ways the Lambda Group plans to begin working toward this goal is by co-sponsoring an anti-racism workshop with the National Association of Black and White Men Together.
Duplessis said the program is open to all those interested and will be held on the Jan. 31 at the Casey Family Programs Office on Westfork Drive.
“Our united efforts are what make the difference among our community,” Duplessis said.
Unity efforts are exactly what Spectrum Alliance Co-Chair Marisa Fyre is hoping to incite.
“We would like to motivate more people to become members and get involved in Spectrum Alliance,” she said. “Not all of our members are gay or lesbian.
Spectrum is open to all students.”
Spectrum Alliance Education Chair Becca Hebert said there are many ways students can get involved in promoting unity just by incorporating personal activism in their daily lives.
“When you hear friends or people you know make inappropriate or derogatory remarks, call them on it,” she said. “It may not stop them from making these remarks altogether, but the next time they may stop and think about it.”
Safe Space Coordinator Kelly Kromer said she was glad to see how many people came out to the community breakfast and excited some Safe Space hosts were present.
“Safe Space gives people a language to talk about the issues and find out how they feel,” she said. “So I would like to see more [people] become hosts and get involved.”
Vlasnik said having the breakfasts on-campus allows students and community leaders to connect and engage in a dialogue over a wide range of topics.
“The breakfasts are free and open to anyone who would like to meet new people and share in a group discussion over contemporary issues,” she said. “The breakfasts are potluck events so attendants are encouraged, but not required to bring something to share.”
Vlasnik said when a community breakfast is held it is usually on a Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Women’s Center and features a facilitator to lead the group discussion.
The subject and date of the next community breakfast have not yet been established.