Queer and Transgender Resource Center

For the Trans Week of Remembrance, QTRC hosts various events, including the vigil and feature video dedicated to the transgender individuals’ who were lost their lives this year.

The memorial vigil will be held Thursday, November 15, at the library lawn at 5 pm. While the video screen will be featured throughout the week located in the SMSU building.

According, to the Human Rights Campaign, 29 transgender people were murdered in 2017. This continuously occurs throughout the years. 

The city of San Bernardino does not have designated LGBTQ organization, so the center has become a resource not only for the campus but the community beyond too.

In hopes for a greater audience and equal rights for all the members LGBTQ community, the QTRC continues to host events on campus.

The Graduate Assistant for the QTRC, Raul Maldonado, continues to gather data of all sorts to bring more resources for the LGBTQ community.

“I worked on researching and gathering data to serve people and to be more visible on campus; [our work functions] as a form of resistance,” said Maldonado.  

The QTRC is fully funded by student fees from annual tuition costs. The resource center has various annual and once in a lifetime events.

The most popular annual event is Coming Out Monologues, followed by Pride Prom, Drag show and Lavender Graduation.

For the past few years, progress has been made for some in the community, such as marriage equality. There is still a lot of change to be made for the rest. 

Transgender people do not have access to a lot of the same things, than those that are lesbian or gay. There are still barriers that prevent transgender people to move forward. In healthcare, there is a lack of misunderstanding in transgender medicine.

“Same-sex marriage didn’t solve anything for the rest of the LGBTQ community,” Maldonado said. 

California has made progress for the community, compared to the rest of the states. Yet, not much has changed, for instance, the ability to have a name or gender change.

A new birth certificate can be a big step, although, it would cost due to the living expense in California. Since most LGBTQ people inhabit the state of California. 

The LGBTQ recently added to their ever-growing acronym. Currently, LGBTQ+ is most popular, meaning the community is inclusive of others.

For example, it’s being inclusive to those who identify as, queer, which means to be abnormal from society. Since the late 60s, the word queer is still being reclaimed. 

“The word was used on people who weren’t gender-conformant, such as gay men,” Maldonado said.

Maldonado identifies as queer because it is a daily awakening of who he is internally.

“It’s about the fluidity of who I am, to figure it out through the days, that’s what queer means to me,” Maldonado said.

The Coming Out Monologues have become popular over the years. The event is based on the LGBTQ who express their coming-out story in a monologue.

This year it is expected to have LGBTQ students attend from the Palm Desert campus. For it does not have a resource center and it is important for the center to include everyone.

The Drag Show event is held every Winter quarter for all who enjoy watching men dress up like drag queens.  

Pride Prom is held for members of LGBTQ to have fun and enjoy a good time with friends and their significant partners. 

This upcoming Spring quarter will be the sixth annual Lavender Graduation event. It is held to honor all graduating LGBTQ students, who will receive a sash, rainbow tassel, and a gift. 

The resource center also invites various LGBTQ celebrities or advocates to speak on being queer or trans. Such as, Leah Deloria, from “Orange is the New Black” who came and spoke.

Some speakers intersect ethnicity with their identities; this highlights the differences in experience for many LGBTQ. Such as, being an immigrant and LGBTQ or African American and LGBTQ.

For some, it may take time to realize their true identity and be difficult to “come out” and express their feelings. Especially, to loved ones and friends.

“I didn’t realize it, until my late 20s,” CSUSB student, Michelle Orbelies said, “I realized I am more attracted to girls than guys.”

This occurs in different and sometimes, difficult situations. For some, it can be frightening “coming out” to loved ones. Many do not know how to react, which may create controversy.

“It was very difficult because I grew up Catholic and homosexuality is seen as something abnormal,” said, CSUSB Alumni Victor Hurtado.

Lauren Pratt identifies as bisexual and believes the community has had more support. Prior, to previous years, there are more people resisting and expressing themselves. As opposed to past years, upon which, many LGBTQ members were hidden in their shells.

“I feel the community has come a long way from what was a lot of hate,” CSUSB student, Lauren Pratt said,” and today’s climate is alright, it can ultimately be better,”

The LGBTQ community wants more genuine support from politicians that will create more rights for them. It is important that each member has rights and opportunities.

“For the future of the community, I see more love being spread and haters being blocked,” Pratt said.

For the LGBTQ, it is essential that love prevails, rather than hate. Ultimately, love defeats all hatred.