Celebrating the sixth annual Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Awareness Week, the New Mexico State University Sexual and Gender Diversity Resource Center and Stonewall Queer, Straight Alliance present fun and informative events for April 13-16.
The week features events centered on a safe space and provides awareness to help create an informed and empowered campus culture.
Kicking off the events is the Festival of Colors on the Corbett Center Student Union Outdoor Stage from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, April 13. Live music, information tables and a glitter water balloon fight are planned. The festival serves as a resources fair and networking opportunity for students, faculty and staff. Lunch will be provided by Sodexo.
Tuesday, April 14, a meet and greet will be held at Garcia Annex, Room 235, from 2:30-5 p.m.for students who are interested in becoming involved or have questions.
From 6-7 p.m., comedic juggler Nick Pike of “America’s Got Talent” will perform at the Corbett Outdoor Stage. A Glow in the Dark Dance will follow the performance from 7-9 p.m.
The LGBT Community Panel discussing topics such as marriage equality, transgender rights and laws will take place in the CCSU Auditorium, Wednesday, April 15, from 5-7 p.m. It will provide a safe and comfortable space to get an important conversation started. Speakers include: Bill McCamley, Jess Williams, Carrie Hamblen, JT Perez and more.
“I want to make sure people are familiar with laws concerning transgender individuals in New Mexico,” Stonewall QSA president Gary Diaz said. “Students are now capable of changing their names on documents to their preferred name. It’s important for them to know that SGDRC can help them do that.”
The week’s most popular event, the drag show, will wow the audience in a performance by local performers from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, April 16, in the Corbett Auditorium, space is limited.
“We will be featuring a more well-rounded group of drag queens this time around,” Diaz said. “The show will highlight the different aspects from transgender, to alternative.”
Events are brought to students in part by the Associated Students of New Mexico State University, SGDRC, Stonewall QSA, Wave and Sodexo. All events are free and open to the NMSU community.
For more information, contact the SGDRC at 575-646-7031 or sgdrc@nmsu.edu.
Information from NMSU