LGBTA's Pride Awareness Week

Rainbow streamers and flags adorned the Student Union as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Ally (LGBTA) club kicked off its annual Pride Awareness Week on April 14. It featured LGBT themed workshops, networking opportunities, LGBT Rights, safe sex information and health services offered by the university.

The first day featured a morning workshop called Ally 101, which was presented by Alison Aguilar Haehnel. It was later followed by an opening ceremonies/night of networking event. The LGBT club president is student Heather Dean and she welcomed different LGBT groups in the area as well.

The following day brought Bill Greaves to campus where he talked about the development of LGBT Rights in Chicago. Casey Schwartz from Howard Brown Health Center then presented a workshop called Trans 101. He offered tips on how to be an ally of transgender people.

Wednesday, April 16 featured Janeida Rivera, Jonathan Rosa and Myra Rodriguez, who talked about organizing around LGBTA issues in Chicago's Latino neighborhoods. A documentary film called "Brother Outsider" followed, which was about legendary civil rights activist Bayard Rustin.

The next day, NEIU instructor Robin Heggum hosted a LBGT themed '90s game show called Super Sexy Double Dare. Topics like safe sex, LGBT history, games and prizes were part of the workshop. Members from the Greek community on campus also participated in these events. The LGBT club collaborated with other groups on campus, recruited more members and got NEIU faculty to participate in events.

The last day of Pride Awareness, April 18, featured the LGBT organization's fair in the University Commons. Members from other LGBT organizations like Amigas Latinas also took part in it. The week ended with music, sports and an LGBT picnic in the Quad. Lambda Legal, Il Giordino del Dolce bakery, and Starbucks had also contributed to the fair.

"Overall, it was a success," said club Treasurer Jacob Chacko. "We did all of this without any funding," he noted. The group was pressed for time and money and all workshops were done for free. Chacko says that Pride Awareness Week created more visibility of LGBT issues on campus. With funding, the event can only grow and get better for next year, he said.