Speaking Panel opens diverse conversations

By Luke Nozicka

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer Resource Center is taking steps to reboot a much-needed program for students.

Sarah Self, graduate assistant at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer Resource Center, coordinates the Queer Mentors program at the university, and began to revive a speaking panel for LGBTQ members.

Coordinator of the LGBTQ Resource Center Wendy Weinhold started queer mentors two years ago and this is the first semester with the speakers’ panel initiative.

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The program trains members to become speakers about LGBTQ issues by inviting other presenters into group meetings. Most speeches will be given in the Illinois Room in the Student Center, and are open to the public.

Weinhold said the program is great because it is going to give members of the LGBTQ community the opportunity to become speakers in classrooms and events around campus about LGBTQ issues.

“LGBTQ issues are so distinct and unique that we sort of need a speakers panel in ways that other groups don’t,” Weinhold said.

Church of the Good Shepard Pastor Sonja Ingebritsen, will be giving a speech about queer faith March 20 and said she will relate the connections between religion and the queer community.

“One of the things that I’ll be talking about is that there is not an incompatibility between faith and sexuality,” she said. “And that all Christians and all people of faith are not of a common mind about homosexuality.”

Self said most of the speakers are doctoral candidates, professors or professionals.

As of now, there are eight confirmed speakers, but Self hopes to end up with 14. The first meeting was Thursday, where Self and Weinhold talked about Safe Zone preparation.

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Speakers will be discussing various topics such as horizontal discrimination, minorities within minorities, hetero-normative portrayal of romance and positive sexuality.

Luke Nozicka can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter at @LukeNozicka, or 536-3311 ext. 268.

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