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
Queer
Pride Center provides peace
By Michael Isberto |Features Editor| The Pride Center at CSUSB is one of the many resource centers on campus that empower everyone’s singular identity and journey. Their mission statement states, “The Pride Center provides education and advocacy in order to develop a more equitable and inclusive environment by addressing issues of homophobia and heterosexism throughout the campus community.” Many students are aware of the Pride Center as a resource on campus, and believe it’s a great place to build relationships, as well as build up a community. The Pride Center holds many events throughout the year including, Cosmic Queers, Lavender Graduation and Gaymer … [Read more...] about Pride Center provides peace
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
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
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
NY beats out CA in gay marriage
By R. Anthony Diaz |Staff Writer| Most people have always thought of California as one, if not the most liberal state in the United States. The near past has proven us otherwise. On July 24, 2011, the state of New York proudly legalized gay marriage making it the seventh state to give homosexual couples equal rights to wed. I recently went to the Castro in San Francisco to get a feel first-hand of how the legalization in New York affected Californians. As I walked the crowded streets many gave an opinion but did not want to be on camera, while others were eager to share their piece of mind with the world. Javin Stone, a resident now living in California shared his views about … [Read more...] about NY beats out CA in gay marriage
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