CGS is preparing for "OUTober" with a series of events open to students and faculty. The celebration will run through the end of October, which is nationally recognized as LGBTQ+ History Month.
This year's theme is "Queer and Gender-Diverse Visibility and Joy!" As the center celebrates its second year of operation, the theme aims at emphasizing inclusion for all people. Director of CGS Gregory Pulver said this year's celebration feels different after a year dominated by advocacy and defense.
"Everything is surrounding queer awareness,” Pulver said. “What I want people to see is a community of people who support all of these identities.”
On Oct. 8, OUTober festivities will begin with International Lesbian Day, where students, staff and faculty are invited to the center to engage in conversation and enjoy cookies.
Oct. 20 is National Latinx HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD). NLAAD is a national community mobilization and social marketing campaign that unites the Hispanic/Latino community in efforts to raise HIV awareness. CGS will table outside of Clark Library from 3-4:30 p.m.
Oct. 22 is International Pronouns Day and aims to raise awareness about the importance of personal pronouns. The event will be hosted in the Clark Library courtyard from 3-4:30 p.m.
On Oct. 23, LGBTQ+ Spirit Day, the event will focus on bringing awareness to LGBTQAI+ bullying while promoting health, counseling and wellness. This will also be a tabling event outside of Clark Library from 3-4:30 p.m.
Oct. 24 is Asexuality/Ace Awareness Day and will take place in the center from 3-4 p.m. This event aims to promote understanding of the asexual spectrum, combat misconceptions and advocate for the rights and visibility of the asexual community.
On Oct. 27, Intersexuality Awareness Day will be hosted in the center from 3-4 p.m. Health and Counseling Center staff will attend this event to talk about the challenges and joys surrounding the queer community.
Despite the fear and uncertainty felt in response to the Trump administration's ongoing attacks on LGBTQ+ health, the center is shifting toward building relationships between students on campus. Pulver stresses the importance of students and staff coming together to participate in events planned for the month.
Additionally, CGS’s new Center Leadership Team, composed solely of students, will be in charge of organizing and hosting these events. Pulver says he considers the team to be an advisory community to him and his staff throughout the year.
The student-led team reflects the center's ongoing growth toward increased student engagement and leadership.
"The center is developing towards much more student representation and what students want," Pulver said. "I really want it to be student-centric to build programming out of what students say is important to them."
Pulver also says his experience identifying as both queer and Catholic has shaped the center and its mission. He hopes that a focus on dignity, which is also part of UP’s mission and values, will add another layer of inclusivity to the month’s activities.
"Dignity is now in our mission,” Pulver said. “And Imago Dei — the image of God — is 100% what we stand behind. If we're all created in the image of God, our identities should be celebrated, not feared.”
Co-Director of CGS Symone Fiedler agrees with Pulver's mission of community support and visibility. Fiedler recently began her role at the center in mid-September but says she is excited for the events the center has planned for OUTober.
Fiedler also emphasizes that the center is open to all students, staff and faculty on campus, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
"Sometimes it doesn't have to be about their sexuality or gender, but to be around people who are like-minded like them," Fiedler said. "The first step for us is just to realize that you don't have to feel shame for being who you are."
Fiedler recognizes the impact that the center is making and the importance of improvement in the coming years. She believes that by having honest conversations, students can make the center feel like home.
Beyond OUTober events, the center offers a welcoming daily environment. CGS is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is available to all students, staff and faculty.
Rieve Randall is the Community Engagement Editor for The Beacon. He can be reached at randallr28@up.edu.
