Campus Life

Eastern Michigan University

Fifth annual BBQueer approaching

YPSILANTI -- Eastern Michigan University’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center will be holding its fifth annual BBQueer at Big Bob’s Lake House from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17. This welcome back event for the 2013-14 school year, open to all students and staff members, will demonstrate the scale of support for the LGBT community present on campus.

“I think students might not know that we are a gay friendly/queer friendly environment. It puts it right out there because we’re outside, we’re out at the Lake House and there are a lot of people,” Mary Larkin, program coordinator of the LGBT Resource Center, said. “I think the struggles that our students face are twofold. I think a lot of new students don’t know we exist because they come from places maybe where that was not acceptable. And the other part is for a transgender and genderqueer students there’s definitely a different struggle in what they have on this campus to deal with.”

Samford University

LGBT equality group fundraising for concert

BIRMINGHAM -- SAFE Samford – Students, Alumni and Faculty for Equality – is hoping to gain visibility about Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues at Samford.

“SAFE exists to provide a space for LGBT members and their allies to feel welcomed and loved–a space where they’re free to be themselves and to learn more about what that means,” said Brit Blalock, a 2008 Samford graduate and the group’s founder.  The group began on Facebook in 2011.

“We encourage constructive dialogue on issues related to sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity and faith,” Blalock said.  “Accordingly, we strive to develop and enact practical strategies to promote and secure equal rights for LGBTQ individuals and their supporters at Samford.”

San Jose State University

LGBT Resource Center: Five years of support

SAN JOSE -- September marks the five year anniversary of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center at San Jose State University.

The center hosted an LGBT Welcome to celebrate on Sept. 5 in the Umunhum room of the Student Union.

According to Bonnie Sugiyama, director of the LGBT Resource Center, the welcome event is a way for individuals to network, reconnect with old friends and meet new ones in the process.

“We are unveiling our updated logo but I haven’t decided if we are going to do a big bash or not,” she said. “If we do it will probably be in the middle of the semester near National Coming Out Day (Oct.11).”