The Free Speech Area will become a lot more colorful during the university's first Queer Week, Monday to Oct. 9.
Irma Rivera, program coordinator for Queer Week, is excited to know the campus is devoting a week to issues concerning the LGBTQ community, she said.
"PRIDE in the past never had that chance to do that longer than a day. Finally, the Women's Center does have that opportunity," she said. "It's for anyone. Queer means just about anything that is not heterosexual. Like any mixed feelings, anything that is not the norm."
The Women's Center will host the weeklong event to help students understand and accept their sexual intuitions, Rivera said.
Students of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning community will be given an opportunity to empower themselves by becoming visible on campus.
"I've always felt like we've never had enough attention to the LGBTQ community on campus, and it will make for a stronger community for those who are lesbigay," said Jessica O'Donnell, director of the Women's Center. "It will strengthen the campus community to show that people who feel different and don't have anyone to talk to will feel supported instead of silenced."
Students can look forward to intense, extravagant events on campus, Rivera said.
The events aren't meant to scare students away from the Free Speech Area, she said. But it allows all students the opportunity to learn more about their bodies and safe sex and be comfortable with their partners.
"On Wednesday, we're going to really hit it hard with the Good Vibrations table, with sex toys out there," she said. "Even the extreme events are talking about safe sex. I mean, not everyone is a sex expert, and it would be a good thing to learn a little more about their body and sex in general."
For students who may be offended by things they see during Queer Week, Rivera offers a different perspective: Students should see it as sexual humor and take the opportunity to get informed, she said.
"Just like Dr. Drew coming ... I think a lot of it proves a lot of students have questions," Rivera said. "Queer Week is giving students that opportunity to really open up."
Like Rivera, Diversity Coordinator Tray Robinson thinks the visibility of Queer Week allows students, faculty and staff the opportunity to feel pride in who they are, he said.
"Just like we celebrate Black History Month or Disability Awareness Month, this week is to educate people about the gay community," he said. "Of all the communities, we provide the least amount of information about the gay community, so this week will be a good forum to discuss those issues."
While Queer Week is meant to empower all students, it's also about giving voices to LGBTQ students who may feel silenced, Rivera said.
"It's also about sexuality and gender and just questioning those things," she said. "Students should walk away feeling a little bit more queer - comfortable with questioning their own feelings."
Sasha Knox can be reached at sknox@theorion.com
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