Sam Dunaway | News Editor
Multicultural Student Union, one of the longest running clubs on Western’s campus, demonstrated their mission of promoting diversity and cultural awareness through their most recent event, Out and Proud.
The weeklong celebration focused on informing people about the LGBTQ community and opening up discussions on the topic. Gabbie Acevedo-Solis, sophomore and Social Membership Director of MSU, explained that the club aims to be as inclusive as possible.
“When we plan our events, we try to focus not specifically on one certain group,” Acevedo-Solis commented. “We try to be very inclusive, and we are a multicultural organization … Really, Out and Proud is not only to recognize the LGBTQ community, but specifically people of color within that community. We want to recognize their achievements and success and also educate people.”
Events for the week included a Queer People of Color student panel, a formal dinner with keynote speaker Mia Vargas and educational presentations on LGBTQ topics.
A presentation led by Stonewall Coordinator Sam Fennel and ASWOU Director of Public Relations Sophie Gilbert focused on providing definitions for terms like queer, intersex, cisgender and transgender. This was an opportunity for students to ask questions about sexual and gender identities that they might not feel comfortable doing otherwise.
A term that can cause confusion is “queer.” Once used as a slur, the term queer has been reclaimed by many in the LGBTQ community to refer to anyone whose sexual orientation, gender identity or expression is not standard in society. Gilbert explained that she identifies as queer, noting, “To me, queer means that I don’t require gender to play into who I’m attracted to or who I’d romantically be interested in.”
Fennel commented on the importance of non-queer individuals in the community. “We’re not separate. We’re all people and we all work together. LGBTQQIAAP, that long entire acronym, it has an “A” for allies. Those are our straight allies … I cannot accomplish what I accomplish without my straight allies.”
The Queer People of Color Panel consisted of six Western students that identify within the LGBTQ community as people of color. Questions were asked about coming out stories, religion playing a part in their background and the representation of LGBTQ individuals in the media.
An audience member asked the panel if their identity as a queer person clashed with their identity as a person of color. Senior Shanna Thomas replied, “I think the hardest part for me is when I’m constantly wanting to fight for my black community and I want awareness on police brutality and young black boys constantly being murdered, but yet my black community isn’t speaking up about black trans women who are constantly being murdered … When you are a black person and you also have another minority identity on top of that, it’s even worse. We need to start focusing on those other minority groups in the black community … I want my black family to recognize that their black sisters who are trans are getting murdered every day, and if they’re not going to speak up for them, who is?”
Acevedo-Solis encourages everyone to attend future MSU events. “We don’t limit our events to just people of color. It’s open to everybody. Everybody is welcome, no matter who you are or where you come from. It’s a way for them to understand and get to know about other cultures. It gives a space for people to get to know people and learn more and educate themselves.”
Search Multicultural Student Union on OrgSync for more information regarding upcoming events.
Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu
Photo by: Paul F. Davis
