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TechnographStudent organizations address LGBT issues
By Mary Zemaitis
Posted: 10/10/05 Section: News
Two new registered student organizations, Greek Allies and Colors of Pride, are seeking to counteract homophobia and address Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) issues in communities that commonly ignore them.
Greek Allies, an organization comprised of people in and outside of the Greek system, wants to break the homophobic stereotype of Greek life and the LGBT community, said Brenda Lo, member of Alpha Delta Phi and junior in LAS.
"Greek Allies is not an activist program; it's an educational program," said David Stefanski, member of Phi Sigma Kappa and sophomore in LAS.
Members of the organization, which began last year, receive training on how to be an ally; they then facilitate workshops with Greek houses, Lo said.
Stefanski said that Greek Allies has activities to simulate the experiences of someone who is coming out, in order to gain a respect and understanding for LGBT people.
"(They) reenact what you have to give up when you come out," Stefanski said.
Colors of Pride provides a safe space for LGBT and questioning students of color to discuss what people of color face in society, said Sara Clemons, graduate student and assistant at the Office for LGBT Concerns. A questioning student is one who is not sure of their sexual orientation.
Colors of Pride is an informal, discussion-based group. Any student can come to the meetings, which take place on Mondays from 8 to 9:30 p.m. in the Office for LGBT concerns. Clemons said the group goes to hear speakers and will be attending "New Age Racism," a program from Allen Hall's Guest-in-Residence Elaine Brown, at 8 p.m. on Monday. Colors of Pride will also send students to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Creating Change conference.
"The focus (of the conference) is creating an antiracist movement (with in the LGBT community)," said Khristian Kemp-Delisser, the assistant director of the LGBT office.
Colors of Pride started at the beginning of last year when it noticed that the needs of LGBT students of color were not being met in existing LGBT support groups.
Greek Allies, an organization comprised of people in and outside of the Greek system, wants to break the homophobic stereotype of Greek life and the LGBT community, said Brenda Lo, member of Alpha Delta Phi and junior in LAS.
"Greek Allies is not an activist program; it's an educational program," said David Stefanski, member of Phi Sigma Kappa and sophomore in LAS.
Members of the organization, which began last year, receive training on how to be an ally; they then facilitate workshops with Greek houses, Lo said.
Stefanski said that Greek Allies has activities to simulate the experiences of someone who is coming out, in order to gain a respect and understanding for LGBT people.
"(They) reenact what you have to give up when you come out," Stefanski said.
Colors of Pride provides a safe space for LGBT and questioning students of color to discuss what people of color face in society, said Sara Clemons, graduate student and assistant at the Office for LGBT Concerns. A questioning student is one who is not sure of their sexual orientation.
Colors of Pride is an informal, discussion-based group. Any student can come to the meetings, which take place on Mondays from 8 to 9:30 p.m. in the Office for LGBT concerns. Clemons said the group goes to hear speakers and will be attending "New Age Racism," a program from Allen Hall's Guest-in-Residence Elaine Brown, at 8 p.m. on Monday. Colors of Pride will also send students to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Creating Change conference.
"The focus (of the conference) is creating an antiracist movement (with in the LGBT community)," said Khristian Kemp-Delisser, the assistant director of the LGBT office.
Colors of Pride started at the beginning of last year when it noticed that the needs of LGBT students of color were not being met in existing LGBT support groups.
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