Members of Spectrum, the University’s LGBT organization, and other organizations from across the state traveled to Lafayette on Saturday for the Equality Louisiana Summit and learned about lobbying for legislation to prevent bullying in schools.
Equality Louisiana is a non-profit organization that unites LGBT and allied groups across Louisiana. This was the group’s second statewide conference, but the first time the general public was invited to the open session.
Partners met for a board meeting Saturday morning, then broke for the training and advocacy session.
Last semester, Equality Louisiana had its first summit at the University. Tucker Barry, Capital City Alliance political director, said the summit was the first time LGBT organizations from across the state had come together in a meeting of that magnitude.
This weekend’s meeting made the connection between those groups more concrete.
“The summit Saturday solidified the fact the we have a functioning statewide coalition of 32 LGBT organizations,” Barry said.
Equality Louisiana partners with several local and collegiate organizations. Spectrum had about 20 members at the open session and a representative at the morning session.
Shane Cone, geology junior and president of Spectrum, described the summit as “a gathering of minds that were really committed to stop bullying around the state.”
Matthew Patterson, a physics graduate student who works with Equality Louisiana, said Spectrum’s involvement with Equality Louisiana last year impacted what the summit did this year.
Stephen Handwerk, founder of Louisiana Stonewall Democrats, led a session with marriage and family therapist Dena Moore that coached attendees on productive conversations with legislators about the School Bullying Prevention Act.
Cone said he enjoyed the training session because it brought people together to learn about advocacy and encouraged attendees to realize that an impact is possible.
After learning effective communication, attendees broke into groups and practiced persuasion strategies in practice conversations.
Patterson said his goal for the summit was for people to leave knowing which
representatives they need to talk to and what to say.
“If we want people to advocate for the legislation, we need them to have the tools to do it well,” Patterson said.
The Louisiana legislature reconvenes on March 12. Until then, Equality Louisiana and its partner organizations will reach out to legislators and the public for support.
Barry said college LGBT organizations have an energy level that is crucial for promotion of the School Bullying Prevention Act.
Equality Louisiana will give all attendees contact information for their legislators this week.
 
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Contact Marylee Williams at [email protected]