A dozen LGBT and LGBT-allied groups, ranging from Spectrum to Planned Parenthood tabled and planned future activities Tuesday night at the 2015 Rainbeaux Rush — an event where LGBT students and faculty met with organizations catering to the LGBT community.
“This is basically just a coming together, a welcome back for the LGBTQ community at LSU as well as their allies,” said Noah Bryant Ballard, mass communication junior and past president adviser for Planned Parenthood Generation Action.
Among the off-campus organizations present were the HIV/AIDS Alliance for Region Two, which offers access to free healthcare and resources to combat the virus’ spread. “Baton Rouge ranks number four [in the U.S.] for HIV cases and number two for newly diagnosed AIDS cases,” said Jaclyn Martin, a volunteer and outreach coordinator for HAART.
Ernesto Finales, Director of the Baton Rouge Wellness Center working with HAART at the event, said many people — including physicians — are unaware of new options available for treatment and sometimes outright prevention of HIV.
People at a high risk of contracting HIV can regularly take medications known as PrEP to prevent infection, and post-exposure prophylaxis drugs can stop someone from developing HIV if the patient seeks treatment within 72 hours.
In light of Louisiana’s high HIV/AIDs rate and an ongoing syphilis epidemic, Finales encouraged people to get tested for diseases regularly.
“It’s literally pricking your finger,” Finales said.
Other off-campus organizations at the Rainbeaux Rush included BR Pride, Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response and PFLAG.
Community Engagement Coordinator for STAR and LSU alumna Angela Schifani hoped to raise awareness for the counseling and legal support options offered by the organization for victims of sexual violence.
Victim-blaming remains a major problem, and people need to take the claims of those reporting sexual violence seriously, Schifani said.
“It’s not just a women’s issue,” Schifani said. “We do see a lot of female perpetrators and a lot of male victims, and their voices aren’t heard enough.” Biology senior Julianne
Martin, Spectrum’s Vice President of Administration, said the group looked forward to future cooperation between on and off campus organizations.
“This is kind of a network opportunity, as well as a chance to just talk and have a nice, good, happy time with everyone,” Martin said.

Gallery • 4 Photos

Ari Ross

A board by the Qroma group illustrates LGBT support Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, during Rainbeaux Rush in the African American Cultural Center.