The idea of coming out as a lesbian prior to her senior year at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) was scary and nerve-racking for Whitney Pavlica. She was afraid of what people would think and especially concerned about the reaction from her family.
That changed after she visited the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Resource Center on GVSU’s Allendale campus. Like many others before her, Director Colette Seguin Beighley welcomed her, let her know she was not alone and gave her permission to be true to herself.
When people enter the LGBT Resource Center for the first time, “We put bunny slippers and bubble wrap on them,” says Seguin Beighley, acknowledging that it’s hard for many people to make that first step.
“We want to create an inclusive environment that’s welcoming to all students,” she says. “The Center is a safety net.”
The LGBT Resource Center's mission is
to educate, support and empower students to lead authentic lives, to challenge gender and sexuality stereotypes, and to work for social justice.
Seguin Beighley says the Center helps parents as much as students. More parents have been involved this year than in the past, wanting to learn how to better support their kids and be reassured of their safety on campus. As the mother of a son who’s gay, she admits parents often don’t know what to do when a child comes out.
“They don’t teach parents how to do this,” says Seguin Beighley.
The LGBT Resource Center sponsors events and offers a variety of resources and programs for LGBT students, their families, GVSU faculty and staff, and members of the community. Movie nights, support groups and a monthly conference are examples of a few.
Each April, the Center hosts Lavender Graduation, a special ceremony to celebrate and highlight the achievements of LGBT students and their allies.
A library within the Center serves as a resource for LGBT books and entertainment and a place to study.
One of the major programs facilitated by the LGBT Resource Center is Change U: Training for Social Justice. This semester-long class is open to anyone in the community and because of a grant from the Arcus Foundation, it’s free. GVSU students can also take the class for credit.
Seguin Beighley says, “The purpose of Change U is to empower students to work on social justice issues by developing a critical analysis of intersecting systems of oppression.”
“When one community is oppressed, we all suffer,” she adds.
The grant from the Arcus Foundation also went toward sponsoring the documentary film “A People’s History of the LGBTQ Community in Grand Rapids,” which premiered last November at GVSU’s Loosemore Auditorium.
Pavlica’s coming out experience was positive and she’s received lots of good support from family and friends. Not all students are this lucky, and that’s why it’s important that Seguin Beighley and her staff at the LGBT Resource Center are there to support and offer comfort when needed.
“The center helped ground me and make me realize I’m not alone,” says Pavlica. “It’s such a great place for resources and for meeting people you can talk to in a safe environment.”
GVSU’s LGBT Resource Center is a valuable asset not only to the LGBT community, but to West Michigan as well. Here are some ways you can give “bunny slippers and bubble wrap” back to them:
- Learn more about the
LGBT Resource Center at Grand Valley State University.
-
Donate to the LGBT Resource Center to financially support the endowment, scholarships or the action fund.
-
Donate to the West Shore AWARE Scholarship Fund for GVSU LGBT students.
- Enroll in the
Change U: Training for Social Justice class that begins next January.
- Attend a weekly meeting of
Out 'N' About, GVSU’s LGBTQIA Cultural Organization.
- If you are a GVSU faculty or staff member, consider becoming involved with
Allies & Advocates.
- Like the LGBT Resource Center on
Facebook.
- Follow
@gvsulgbtcenter on Twitter.
Source: Colette Seguin Beighley, Director at GVSU’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center, and Whitney Pavlica, a GVSU senior in the Creative Writing program.
Writer: Heidi Stukkie, Do Good Editor
Photos provided by the LGBT Resource Center.