UCCS faculty, staff and students will have a chance to test their “gaydar” at the Guess Who’s Gay Panel event at 7 p.m. Oct. 11 in UC 116.
The event, which is produced by the LGBT+ Resource Center in collaboration with the SPECTRUM student organization, is one of four to celebrate UCCS’s Coming Out Week.
“Coming Out Week is our chance to celebrate the LGBT+ community and to show how inclusive UCCS is,” Vanessa Delgado, program director, Multicultural Office for Student Access, Inclusiveness and Community said. “We want to let LGBT+ students and community members that they’re not alone on this campus, and that we, as faculty and staff members, are supportive and welcoming.”
According to Delgado, LGBT+ is the only social identifier that crosses all categories of difference within our community.
“LGBT+ members are the people in your classrooms and offices, whether they’re students, teachers or staff,” she said.
Coming Out Week will kick off with Safe Zone Training at 7 p.m. Oct. 8 in UC 116. Participants will learn about the coming out process, how to combat homophobia and techniques to make UCCS a safe and affirming environment for LGBT+ students, friends, family and colleagues.
A Healthy Relationships Workshop will take place at 12 p.m. on Oct. 9 in the Upper Lodge. The workshop is sponsored UCCS Respect on Campus and will focus on how trust, respect and communication can positively influence relationships.
LGBT+ faculty, staff and students are invited to will share their stories with local high school LGBT groups during Buddy Night: Coming Out Stories at 6 p.m. on Oct. 9 in UC 301.
The week’s events will conclude on Oct. 11, National Coming Out Day, with a Guess Who’s Gay Panel. During the event, six panelists will be asked questions while audience members try and guess their sexual orientation based on their answers.
According to Delgado the event helps to break down stereotypes surrounding the LGBT community.
“A lot of people have a preconceived notion as to what LGBT+ community members look and act like,” Delgado said. “This is a fun and interactive way to educate people that not all stereotypes are true.”
For more information about the UCCS LGBT+ Resources Center, visit: www.uccs.edu/lgbtresourcecenter
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