The entrance of the HUB on Monday was decked with two rainbow balloon archways for the LGBTA Pride Week HUB Takeover, which kicked off the events happening within the next two weeks.
The event featured six tables with information about different organizations that support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, including the LGBTA Student Coalition, Counseling and Psychological Services and HealthWorks.
Allison Subasic, director of the LGBTA Student Resource Center, said the event provides information about Pride Week and the LGBTA community.
“So many people go to the HUB everyday, so it is a place that we can go to increase visibility and celebration,” Subasic said.
The goal for the HUB Takeover was to promote the visibility and education of the LGBTA community, she added.
Erin Sacksteder was at the CAPS table promoting awareness about sexual violence in the LGBTA community.
Abuse in the LGBTA community tends to be overlooked because many people think of sexual violence as aimed toward heterosexual women, Sacksteder (sophomore-special education and psychology) said.
“Women go into women’s health clinics and say that they were abused by another woman and they are told to go back home because the clinics are for women abused by men,” Stacksteder said.
Tesha Davis sat at the ally pledge table, where heterosexual students could sign a pledge stating that they support all different people and deny the existence of heteronormality in society, she said.
“[Pride Week] is an excuse to be happy about who you are,” Davis (sophomore-communication sciences and disorders) said.
While some students were available at tables, Zach Davis (sophomore-women’s studies) gave out free hugs to “brighten the mood”, he said. The HUB takeover is important because people are able to see LGBTA’s presence on campus, he added.
Erica Green (senior-biology) was the team leader of the Access to Protection table ran by HealthWorks. This table promoted safe sex and offered free condoms.
Sovandara Prom (sophomore-nursing) led a table promoting positive self-image, where students were able to sign a banner saying why they were beautiful.
Pride Week will continue with numerous events throughout the next two weeks to raise awareness about the LGBTA community.
“We’re out, we’re here, and we’re not going anywhere. And it’s a really awesome feeling,” Maureen Dunn (junior-criminal justice) said.
