Gays and lesbians in America can gain better acceptance by individuals if they go and become active in their community, a gay rights activist said Thursday night at the L.A. Pittenger Student Center's Cardinal Hall.
"We take it personally when people take away our rights," Linda Perdue, president of the Indiana Youth Group and national board member of Lambda Legal, said. "It energizes us, activates us and makes us speak out."
Spectrum +â-óGé¼" Ball State University's gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight alliance +â-óGé¼" held its second event of the fall by having Perdue address her involvement in various groups, as well as speak about minority issues that the GLBT community faces.
Perdue spoke of three organizations and touched briefly on what those organizations do for the state of Indiana.
"We wanted Linda to come and speak for a strategic reason," Spectrum President Zac Davis said. "She provides a good variance of organizations she is involved in and through that shows how we as students can be active."
Perdue had a five-year involvement with the Indiana Stonewall Democrats, which worked with state legislatures who supported gays and gay-friendly people. She left the group in January to become president of the Indiana Youth Group. The IYG offers a lot of support for gay youth and helps to answer questions they might have about their lives, feelings and new experiences.
Another group Perdue is involved with is Lambda Legal, a national organization that supports the GLBT community and focuses on cases that are going to make law and will affect multiple states and multiple court systems.
"As you continue your education, begin deciding who you are and what you want to do in your life, look at all the organizations and realize they all do different yet wonderful things," Perdue said. "You need to let your senators know you are here in college and that if they are not going to do everything in their power to ensure equal rights, then you will leave and take your money and education elsewhere."
Amber Michel, vice president of Spectrum, said she is really interested in lobbying and activism. She also expressed how awesome it was to know of other opportunities to get involved that others might not be aware of.
Davis said what he took away for himself and others around him was that regardless if it is an election year or not, there is no need to be apathetic.
"There is always some way to be active in government," Davis said.
Perdue challenged people to decide what they are interested in and put their time and energy into what makes them the most passionate. Michel said she hoped that Perdue inspired people in Spectrum to get involved.
"We need to stay in touch with issues in our state and let our voices be heard," Michel said. "The best thing people can do is get involved."
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