Ball State University's Spectrum aims to raise awareness about minority issues in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community during its first Pride Month this October.
"I think GLBT issues are getting more exposure, but minority issues in the GLBT community are not getting as much exposure," Zac Davis, Spectrum president, said.
Spectrum's Pride Month begins Saturday with the 2005 Fall Drag Show at 7:30 p.m. in Ball Gym. Last spring, Spectrum was able to raise more than $1,000 for the Damien Center in Indianapolis. According to its Web site, the mission of the center is to empower people who are affected by HIV, . This year's Pride Month events will help to raise more money for the center.
Spectrum serves as Ball State's gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight ally association. According to its mission statement, it strives to "support and advocate for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight community on Ball State University's campus and all surrounding areas." Spectrum said it will provide a safe, confidential, educational, developmental and positive social atmosphere for the GLBTSA community as well as combat heterosexism and oppression to ensure equal rights and respect on Ball State's campus.
As this year marks Spectrum's 31st year on campus, Davis is pleased the association is embarking on its first month of events.
"We're very proud of that," he said. "We felt like we as a body and exec board and campus were prepared to spread out."
The month includes a variety of activities such as National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11. Spectrum will build a giant closet, and students can have their pictures taken as they come out of it. The event will take place on the University Green.
"What we're trying to do is recreate that situation and have a positive light because most students don't have that opportunity," Davis said.
Other events include a candlelight vigil on Oct. 12 at the University Green to honor Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old student who was beaten to death in October 1998 because he was gay.
Desolate Thoughts, this semester's theatrical event, will focus on minority issues in the GLBT community Oct. 20 in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Ballroom.
Tracy Letzler, Spectrum's treasurer, said spreading events out over one month as opposed to one week will be convenient for students.
"A lot of times, people don't have time to go to a lot of the events when they are all crammed together in one week," she said.
Davis said Spectrum has publicized on thefacebook.com, distributed more than 1,000 fliers and promoted its month of events in its new publication "Out About Campus," which it hopes to turn into a monthly newsletter.
"I think people are publicizing more now than in the past - definitely," Davis said.
Letzler said she hopes students will take the time to participate in Pride Month and hopes the month's events will make all students more open minded.
"I expect a great turnout for all of our events," she said.
Davis said he hopes students walk away with some type of questioning.
"The biggest benefit is being able to go into a non-threatening environment and being able to go into a culture they don't have as much awareness of +â-óGé¼" being able to attend things they otherwise wouldn't attend in their daily lives," Davis said. "We really want students, after participating in our events, to leave questioning their beliefs or morals."
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