By Angie Burkhart |Staff Writer| It’s time to accept the transgender community and their right to express their identity. The term “transgender” is often misconstrued, in my opinion, because quite frankly, people don’t understand the true definition. I believe the confusion lies in differentiating between sex and gender. While most people believe being transgender involves sexual preference, it has far more to do with identity. While sex refers to whether one is male or female, gender is constructed by society and falls back on one’s measure of femininity versus masculinity. We should never reject things simply because we don’t understand them. I believe what many … [Read more...] about Transgender community needs more support
CSUSB Pride Center
Pride Center prepares for a year of community and friendship
By Sung Wi | Staff Writer | If you’re interested in meeting new people here on campus, the Pride Center offers many events on campus for you to get involved. The Pride Center is here to support all CSUSB students. Their event on Wednesday, Oct. 2 welcomed students and informed them about their center. The goal of the Pride Center is to serve the community, provide best resources, safe space to interact with each other, and it is also a hangout place that offers a kitchen, a computer room and free games. Students that attended were offered free pizza complementary to a birthday party for staff member Jorge Rivera. The attendees enjoyed playing games and getting to know each … [Read more...] about Pride Center prepares for a year of community and friendship
Colors of the Rainbow has CSUSB students talking about coming out
By Kevin Schaefer |Staff Writer| People of color need better representation in the LGBTTQQIA community and the community at large. This was one of the sentiments expressed on March 6 at Colors of the Rainbow held in the SMSU Theater. The Pride Center hosted a panel of LGBTTQQIA people of color who talked about their experiences and discussed different aspects about being a person of color within the LGBTTQQIA community. The panel included Alex Iling, DeeJay Brown, Bien Fule-ver, Virginia Millacci and Izak Perrez. The panelist talked about their experiences, the organizations they’re involved in, as well as different issues that impact the LGBTTQQIA community. “If you look … [Read more...] about Colors of the Rainbow has CSUSB students talking about coming out
Coming out with music and pride
By Lupe Duran |Staff Writer| Throughout the week of Oct. 15-19, CSUSB students came together to celebrate National Coming Out Week, an event presented by the Santos Manuel Student Union Pride Center that included do-it-yourself activities, outdoor fun and music. Each day featured a different event that welcomed not only the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual communities, but everyone on campus. Tuesday night in particular was full of musical talent as the SMSU dining area hosted the "Out in Music" event. "The goal of 'Out in Music' was to provide a sense of community, to be out and be proud and allow all students to share their stories … [Read more...] about Coming out with music and pride
Bullied students take action
By Amanda Wigley |Staff Writer| National Anti-bullying Awareness Month kicked off with students sharing their experiences. This month kicked off bringing awareness to people across the nation that bullying is a very serious issue. “One incident of bullying [occurs] every seven minutes,” according to an article in the Huffington Post by Irene Monroe, the nationally-known African-American lesbian activist. When you think of bullying, you may think it only happens to younger students. But sadly it happens to students of all ages and levels. A CSUSB student was brave enough to tell his very personal story and I would like to share it with my readers so they can see just how … [Read more...] about Bullied students take action
Obama should push for marriage equality
By Aunjolay Lambert |Staff Writer| Equal rights should be given to everyone even if it involves marrying someone of the same sex. If it was up to me, same-sex marriage would have been legal a long time ago. I don’t know why people feel like they have to dictate the lives of others but the I think the government is doing a good job of it when it comes to the LGBT community. It’s kind of hypocritical when the Declaration of Independence says that everyone is created equal, yet the LGBT community is not treated the same as everyone else. Obama confirmed last week in an ABC News interview that he supports same-sex marriage. But where does it go from there? I feel he’s using this … [Read more...] about Obama should push for marriage equality
Performance artist Rebecca Kling transforms CSUSB
By Marissa Mooney |Staff Writer| The Pride Center at CSUSB welcomed Chicago-based artist Rebecca Kling to the Santos Manuel Student Union on April 25 to present her one-woman show on her identity as a transgendered woman. Kling presented "Allusion/Illusion: A Day with Rebecca Kling" and a performance of Trans Form at the SMSU Theater. Gabby Sandoval, a student assistant at the Pride Center introduced Rebecca right before her multimedia performance that included video, story-telling, movement and acting. The start of the Trans Form was a live action theatrical production with sound effects and lighting. In one notable moment, Rebecca ran around the stage acting like a young boy … [Read more...] about Performance artist Rebecca Kling transforms CSUSB
Defense of Marriage Act loses its defense
By Kyla Cook |Staff Writer| A law firm hired by the House Republicans to defend the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) withdrew from that case on April 18 and gay rights groups claimed the withdrawal a victory, reported The New York Times. However, upon withdrawal of the case, Paul D. Clement, partner and assigned lawyer on the case, resigned from King & Spalding and has taken the case over to Bancroft P.L.L.C as a partner and will continue to defend DOMA, reported The New York Times. DOMA was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996 and defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman. DOMA denies same-sex couples of over 1,100 federal … [Read more...] about Defense of Marriage Act loses its defense