By Nylles Vernon |Staff Writer| The SMSU Pride Center is hosting a clothing drive to help provide clothing to transgender individuals. The “Out of Your Closet & Into Ours” clothing drive is devoted to helping students who are trying to find themselves and do not have access to gender-encouraging clothing. Newly or gently-used clothing must be washed before donation. Pride Center is an organization that focuses on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and intersex students and their allies that welcomes all genders to a friendly environment. They also curate school-wide events, as well as provide entertainment and workshops that benefit the … [Read more...] about Changing Clothes
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RFRA is a discriminatory act
By Kassandra Garcia |Staff Writer| The state of Indiana has been faced with national criticism due to their implementation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). In my opinion, the act creates a huge set back in equality because it allows people to justify discriminatory acts as religious choice, but is plain bigotry. When I first heard about the RFRA being enacted, I thought it was a joke. How is it still possible to allow this type of backwards thinking? This law offers no protection for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) community because it allows the possibility of discrimination. Indiana’s Legislature and Governor Michael Pence put … [Read more...] about RFRA is a discriminatory act
Queer athletes deserve recognition
By Shane Burrell |Sports Editor| & Loydie Burmah |Opinions Editor| Queer collegiate athletes can risk their professional careers by coming out. Queer college athletes have a higher risk of risking their professional sports careers by coming out due to the lack of support from the professional sports community. Coming out is an ongoing process, and for the queer athlete revealing one’s true identity does not stop in the locker room. “Homophobia is a salient theme within both collegiate and non-collegiate male athletic subcultures,” wrote researchers Kenneth B. Muir and Trina Seitz in their participant-observational study on machismo, misogyny, and homophobia within … [Read more...] about Queer athletes deserve recognition
The SMSU gets fierce with annual drag show
By Jounghun Kim |Staff Writer| Beautiful queens and even a handsome king took the stage for "Fierce! A Night of Drag" in the Santos Manuel Student Union. On Wed., Feb. 6 the SMSU's Pride Center held their annual fiery event that has attracted many professionals to CSUSB. The professional performers were dancing and the lights where brilliantly shining. Before the big event, amateur performers took the stage, including Iva Fetish, Kawaii Katastrophe and Miss Ogyny. In full make-up and with all their talents on display, they showed the audience that they can give a great performance as much as the professional performers. “It was a great show. I’m interested in gay, lesbian, … [Read more...] about The SMSU gets fierce with annual drag show
Gov. Brown adds LGBT courses to state classrooms
By Courtney Sims |Staff Writer| California is the first state to require public schools to educate K-12 students on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, through required textbooks and mandated courses. In July 2011 Gov. Jerry Brown signed off on the historical law that requires California’s public schools K-12 to integrate LGBT into school curriculum. In a statement made by Gov. Brown, he believes "history should be honest." California politicians like Sen. Mark Leno are very pleased with Gov. Brown’s enthusiasm of the bill and foresee other states following in the same path. "This is definitely a step forward, and I’m hopeful that other states will … [Read more...] about Gov. Brown adds LGBT courses to state classrooms
Federal appeals court deems Proposition 8 unconstitutional
By Courtney Sims |Staff Writer| Proposition 8 has been appealed by a 2-1 ruling in a federal appeals court. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals declared the voter-approved ban on same sex marriage unconstitutional last Thursday. The recent court ruling has some Californians thinking the momentum behind this battle could be geared toward something more important. Supporters of Prop 8 have to decide quickly whether they want to appeal the recent ruling handed down by the Federal courts. “ProtectMarriage, the Christian conservative sponsor of Proposition 8, is expected to announce next week whether to ask a larger panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of … [Read more...] about Federal appeals court deems Proposition 8 unconstitutional
Pride Center gets controversial
By Antonio Sanchez |Staff Writer| Sex, love and spirituality; these topics are not the norm for discussion at many universities, but CSUSB students share their experiences for solidarity. Students shared their life experiences related to these topics in the Pride Center on Nov. 8. The event was a welcomed distraction for many from the cold breezes this month has brought along. Victoria Banegas, a student who attended the event, listened as students seated in a circle shared their stories. “I can relate to some of the stories. I’m glad to know other people have gone through similar situations,” said Banegas. Students were sharing intimate details of their lives and discussing … [Read more...] about Pride Center gets controversial
By Antonio Sanchez |Staff Writer| Sex, love and spirituality; these topics are not the norm for discussion at many universities, but CSUSB students share their experiences for solidarity. Students shared their life experiences related to these topics in the Pride Center on Nov. 8. The event was a welcomed distraction for many from the cold breezes this month has brought along. Victoria Banegas, a student who attended the event, listened as students seated in a circle shared their stories. “I can relate to some of the stories. I’m glad to know other people have gone through similar situations,” said Banegas. Students were sharing intimate details of their lives and discussing … [Read more...] about
The SMSU is alive with the sound of music
By Tiffany Batson |Staff Writer| The Out in Music event showcases ultra-talented local acts in a fun and positive environment The Out in Music event, one of the premier events of CSUSB’s coming out week, was a lively and exciting show with impressive local acts in a positive environment. The lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and ally community gathered together to have a great night with peers and listen to amazing music. The Pride Center is one of the four student centers at the SMSU where students can go and get any assistance they need. There are a variety of other campus resources at the SMSU that assist students in college life situations. The … [Read more...] about The SMSU is alive with the sound of music
CSUSB encourages embracing sexuality
By Norberto Perez |Staff Writer| October is National Coming-Out Series presented by the Santos Manuel Student Union (SMSU) Pride Center. The week-long event allows for a window of opportunity to come out rather than the single international coming out day that fell on Oct. 11. But coming out doesn’t necessarily occur to planned events. Megan Rush, graduate assistant, worked the counter at the CSUSB Pride Center helped anybody that comes into the Safe Zone. The mission statement aims to respect “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and intersex students and their allies (LGBTQQAI) but “greater campus community” to include “people of all races, ethnicity, socio-economic … [Read more...] about CSUSB encourages embracing sexuality