Students come together to promote LGBTQIA+ issues and lifestyle
Spectrum, an on-campus club, promotes the acceptance and education of LGBTQIA+ community and its allies. The LGBTQIA+ issues and lifestyle have been in the public eye since the mid 2000s as part of a larger social justice movement. But the movement does not live solely in the protests and demonstrations; it echoes into the classroom.
Lizz Freeman, the president of Spectrum and a junior theatre major, seeks to further the clubs expansion and involvement on campus.
“Spectrum is a club that’s designed to be a safe and welcoming place for all members of the LGBTQIA+ community on campus,” Freeman said. “On top of that, it’s our mission to be a safe place, but also to educate the rest of campus and make St. Bonaventure an even more accepting community.”
Sean Conklin, the advisor of Spectrum, manages the events and is involved in and oversees the students of the club. He also knows the struggles Spectrum experienced in its early days.
“It was founded in the 2002 to 2003 era, so we’re at the end of the 15th anniversary of the club. It’s a big deal because we are one of the longest in-progress clubs, I believe, of the student organizations,” said Conklin. “It was founded by a group of students who didn’t feel like they were getting enough representation in student life, specifically, in terms of student affairs, student developments, as well as student safety and security.
Such issues are the focus of Spectrum’s activism, as well as demonstrations on campus, including Thursday evening’s memorial for the Day of Transgender Remembrance. Spectrum created a living memorial, in which members represented victims of transgender violence to illustrate the impact of intolerance and hate against the transgender community. The actual Day of Transgender Remembrance is on Nov. 20, over Thanksgiving break.
Gender inclusivity is also a primary focus of Spectrum, which seeks to educate others on the fluidity of gender, as well as expand the acceptance of gender-variant individuals by pushing for accommodations such as all-gender restrooms on campus. Lauren Barry, a member of Spectrum and a sophomore psychology major, saw the influence Spectrum had as a victory for gender inclusiveness.
“We have gender inclusive housing on third and fourth Dev,” Barry said. “We were really pushing for it last year; we partnered and talked to Nicole Gonzales. Now it’s there!”
Furthermore, Spectrum likes to have fun, light-hearted gatherings as well. Each month, Spectrum hosts a ‘Just Dance’ party, where every student is invited to dance and be themselves in a place without judgement.
In the recent past, they held a ‘Coming Out Day’, where students where invited to walk through a door covered in LGBTQIA+ flags, to physically come out. Kaylyn Foody, the vice president of Spectrum and a sophomore professional and creative writing major, encourages students to attend upcoming the club events, including seeing Bohemian Rhapsody and attending the monthly ‘Just Dance’ party.
“We’ve previously had Transgender Remembrance Day, petitioned for gender inclusive housing,” Foody said. “We’ve also had a PRIDE event. We’ve had Spirit day. Everybody wore purple on Spirit Day. It was really fun. We’re looking to continue becoming more active on campus.”
Spectrum would like for all students to know that all are welcome. An LGBTQIA+ club is inclusive, not exclusive, according to Bobby Nguyen, the secretary of Spectrum and a Junior cybersecurity major.
“Just because it’s ‘Spectrum LGBTQIA Alliance’ doesn’t mean that you have to be gay to join. We welcome everyone,” said Nguyen.
By Anastasia Smith, Staff Writer
smithan18@bonaventure.edu
