Monday, October 12, 2015

More Events From Coming Out Week

Queer People of Color will host “What’s the TEA” on Tuesday at 3 p.m. It is a closed panel for students of color who identify with the LGBTQ+ community. Following the panel, the Speaker’s Bureau will host an open panel on bullying at 5 p.m. by Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays, also known as PFLAG, and Q&A.
On Wednesday at 6 p.m., the USU Program Council and ASI will host an open mic night in the USU, room 103.
To show support for all the LGBTQ+ who have experienced bullying, Q&A encourages everyone to wear purple on Thursday for Spirit Day. Q&A, which was previously known as Gay Straight Alliance, will be handing out purple ribbons at the Multicultural Center patio for students who want to participate.
The final event for the week is Students Burn the Hate at Bolsa Chica Beach at on Friday at 5 p.m. Pens and paper will be provided to attendees so LGBTQ+ students can write down all the negative names or phrases they do not want to be affiliated with and toss the paper into the fire pit.
The staff and faculty on campus can also demonstrate their support by signing up for theCSULB OutList publication. The OutList publication is a newsletter in which anyone that is LGBTQ+ or affiliated, can send in letters and “come out” in the publication.
“I hope that students from all identities come together and support one another,” said Christian Lozano, the assistant director of Multicultural Affairs and Resource Centers. “It is also my hope that the LGBTQ+ community on campus feel supported and know that we embrace everyone.”
For more information on LGBTQ+ issues, students can visit the LGBTQ+ Resource Center located in the Faculty Office-4, room 165.

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Coming Out Week Kicks off at CSULB

In honor of National Coming Out Week a student writes “No Label” on a black chalkboard to represent what he is most proud of.
The chalkboard, located in front of the Multicultural Center, is for students to tell everyone who are. It is one of the many activities for National Coming Out Week.
“If I had to label myself, I would be considered queer,” said Todd Wallenius, a graduate student from the education department. ”But I feel more comfortable with no label at all.”
In collaboration with the Queers and Allies organization on campus, Wallenius is hosting five of seven events this week in celebration.
National Coming Out Week features educational programs and events to raise LGBTQ+ visibility. Organizations like Q&A, the LGBT Resource Center, the University Student Union Program Council, Associated Students, Inc. and various staff members at California State University, Long Beach work in conjunction to bring National Coming Out Week to fruition.
“People wrote messages of support and courage,” said Alejandro Muro, a graduate assistant at the LGBTQ+ Resource Center. “It was really nice to witness strangers supporting a cause that [I] really care about.”
Students discussed LGBTQ+ support topics at an event in the Rainbow Cafe Monday. They also shared personal experiences on sexual and gender diversity inside the Multicultural Center, Monday evening, over free beverages and snacks provided by the Department of Counseling and Psychology Services and the LGBTQ+ Resource Center.
“We want everyone to know that they are not alone and that there’s always a place for them if they are ever in need of some kind of support,” former vice president of Q&A Helen Phan said.