Activities & Organizations

GLOBAL to celebrate national event

The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center will be celebrating National Coming Out Day today by hosting a Cougar Ally Mixer.

At the mixer, which takes place from 4-5 p.m. in the University Center, participants can meet allies, people who aim to learn about LGBT issues, speak with members and share their personal experiences.

“This is the 22nd annual National Coming Out Day,” LGBT Resource Center Director Lorraine Schroeder said. “GLOBAL, the LGBT student organization on campus, has celebrated it in various ways over that last few years. UH Wellness has also held events for the occasion in the past. This event is celebrated all over the country.”

On her experience as the LGBT Resource Center Director, Schroeder said that her position has been worthwhile.

“My experience as the director has been very rewarding,” she said. “From the beginning students, staff, faculty and people from the community have reached out to the Center.”

Schroeder said that she feels the most rewarding part of being the director is the mentoring program.

“I just paired up mentors with mentees last week and I can already see the positive impact it is having,” she said. “The mentees are becoming more confident and comfortable with who they are and my mentors are learning valuable skills. It’s amazing how far a little support can go.”

The LGBT Resource Center has many more events planned throughout the fall semester. The LGBT will also host a movie night at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Calhoun Lofts.

“(The) Amuse Bouche Entertainment, which shows a LGBT movie screening once per month, usually focuses on African American lesbians, but not always,” Schroeder said. “They are wonderful films. The organizer, Jackson, researches and chooses the best films out there.”

They are also collaborating with Houston Transgender Unity Committee to raise attention to hate crimes against the LGBT community. The Transgender Day of Rememberance, which is a memorial for those who have lost their lives, will take place from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 20 in the A.D. Bruce Religion Center.

“Some people need resources and support, and (others) want to volunteer and get involved,” Schroeder said. “The volume of people who have contacted the Center for various reasons speaks of the tremendous need for a resource center like this.”

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