Karlee Stauffer | Staff Writer
Over the summer members of Spectrum: Queer Student Alliance, an LGBT club at UVU advocated for LGBT rights in Utah Valley. Members of Spectrum attended two Alpine School District Board meetings, where they defended transgender students’ rights.
Members of the Alpine School District Board wrote a letter stating their intention to reject $40 million in federal funding. Rejecting this funding would allow them to deny students equal access to bathrooms.
The Alpine School District Board stated at a later meeting that they would not be rejecting the federal funds, and the UVU students once again spoke, this time expressing their appreciation and speaking about their experiences with bullying and discriminat ion.
“We attended an ASD board meeting and we advocated for equal access to bathrooms and we also helped educate the public about the LGBTQ community,” said Nathan Hill, advocacy chair for Spectrum.
The center also provides other crucial resources to LGBT students, such as scholarship information, housing options and Safe Zone trainings(an LBGT awareness workshop). Karen Deysher, program manager of LGBT Student Services, spends hours on the Safe Zone trainings.
“Faculty and staff learn how to be affirming and supportive of LGBTQ students because LGBTQ students have different needs,” Deysher said. Along with Safe Zone trainings, the center, which opened last summer, is a safe and welcoming environment for students.
Skylar Ostler, public relations chair for Spectrum, said, “It’s really been great to have someone who understands the kinds of issues that certain students can face and to be able to provide a safe place for those students.”
Many students echoed the significance of having a physical location on campus to meet in a safe space.
Hill said, “It makes a big difference in a lot of people’s lives just having this room here.”
The benefits of the center, which is located at the corner of the Liberal Arts Building and the library, on a personal level are important, but it has also allowed for greater organization of Spectrum and a more active LGBT community at UVU.
