Pamela Bishop: Hello, everyone. I’m Pamela Bishop, director of marketing and communications for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. And I’m here today to talk about the 20th anniversary of the LGBT Resource Center. This is a historic moment for the university, and we are so thrilled to celebrate this all year long.
Today, I am joined by Dr. Bryan Hubain and Dr. Dan Cairo, who are AVP’s in Student Affairs and in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion that have joint responsibility for the LGBT Resource Center. So welcome. And I’m really glad that you guys have a few minutes today to speak with us about this momentous, historic anniversary here at the university. So, Dan, would you start telling us about how has the LGBT– the LGBT Resource Center, changed over the last 20 years?
Daniel Cairo: Thank you, Pamela. Hello, everyone. Yeah so, you know, I’ll come out by saying that I was here 20 years ago as an undergraduate. And so I’ve been able– I’ve had the pleasure of really seeing the growth of the LGBT Resource Center, right? So when we were– as an undergrad in [2002], when it was really initiated, it was really a space that allowed people to find connection with others, find a space that really said and it was upstairs in the union and the [third] floor in a little closet and people were like, “what is this? It’s the LGBT Resource Center,” right? But it really gave a home to a need which was, are there people here that I can connect with, that I can find similarity with?
And so I would say that over the 20 years, it has grown from this little closet of finding connections to really being a fully realized center that supports students in a vastitude of ways. Right. It’s not just about connecting and belonging with other people who think, you know, may look like you or have similar experiences like you, but also about supporting their development, supporting their leadership by connecting with other social issues right? And then really branching out the work that we’re doing so that now we it’s, you know, it’s we’re not just talking about gay, but we’re talking about queerness. We’re talking about QTPOC, right? We’re talking about, you know, trans individuals who are on campus and then, you know, gender non-binary folks, right?
So the LGBT Resource Center has really grown into really a cornerstone place here at the University of Utah that tells us, and works with us, and educates us on how do we become affirming and inclusive of people’s identities wherever they may land in the spectrum, be it gender or sexuality, right? And so I’m really happy that over the last 20 years, the center has really grown and will continue to grow because we continue to change and we need to continue to adjust our practices so that we can affirm and support students.
Pamela Bishop: That’s true. The work of the center is just so important and I’m just so glad to see, like you said, it grew and you were here. So how ironic is that and how– it’s got to be very rewarding for you to see it come full circle. So that’s awesome. So, Bryan, tell us about Gay-La that’s coming up. What are you looking forward to, this annual event that’s known as Gay-La?
Bryan Hubain: There are so many things I’m looking forward to and I would say, you know, with any queer event, it’s a protest. It is us really saying, “this is who we are, we are here, we are proud.” This is a moment to really see people who look like us, who hold similar identities to us. But, you know, when it comes to this– the whole theme, it’s a masquerade! So we get to definitely have some fun.
But one of the most powerful aspects of Gay-La is seeing our student leaders shine, recognizing our scholars– our scholarship recipients, and saying, “thank you for representing who you are authentically,” and celebrating that authentic-ness in community. And so Dan talked a lot about community, this is about community, and it’s about recognizing our leaders because the LGBT Resource Center provides so much leadership development for our students.
Pamela Bishop: That’s awesome. Gay-La is always a fabulous event and, you know, for a wonderful cause just helping student leaders, training them, you know, it’s really a fabulous event. And so tell me both, what are you looking for in the next 20 years, in the future of the LGBT Resource Center?
Bryan Hubain: So I am definitely looking forward to its evolution. I think with every big milestone, especially like 20 years, it’s a milestone. And so we get to see an evolution in how we conduct business, how we show up in terms of programs, how do we provide support for students. But I would say, with the ways that we see different forms of oppression evolving, we get to see advocacy evolving to match that and to really stress that we will find ways to remove the barriers that stand in the way of student success.
Daniel Cairo: You know, I’m excited for the next, you know, for the next years and the future of the LGBT Resource Center to really be a leader on our campus so that we are actually creating culture change, right? We know that right now our students, our faculty, and our staff are affirmed and seen and validated when they come into the LGBT Resource Center. And still, in many ways, those are the only spaces where that affirmation happens.
And so I would hope that as we continue to grow and we continue to do this work, the reach of the center is far and wide, so that you don’t have to just go to a particular place in the Union or a particular place in your academic college to be affirmed in everything, in all the parts of your personhood and humanity. And I think that that’s really laying the groundwork and what Dr. Hubain said in terms of our leaders, both our raising student leaders and our current individuals in leadership. And so I really look forward to where the center will continue to grow and create those spaces of affirmation for our people.
Pamela Bishop: That is awesome. The work of the LGBT Resource Center is so important. And you mentioned, both of you mentioned the word “affirming.” You know, I mean, that’s what we’re trying to do with all students. But I really can see it’s so important that, you know, from 20 years ago to 20, to 20 years in the future and beyond, it’s so important that we affirm students so that they can really be their authentic selves and make true contributions here at the U and once they leave.
So please, everybody, look out for anniversary — 20th anniversary — events that are happening all year long, but start with Gay-La. If you need tickets for Gay-La, go to the LGBT Resource Center website at lgbt.utah.edu. Or you can always visit our website, diversity.utah.edu to learn more about the LGBT Resource Center and to get tickets.
