LGBTQ Services office opens in Student Union

This week opened up the First Annual LGBTQ Pride Week on UCF's campus. As part of their kickoff events Tuesday started with the opening of their new office in the Student Union room 304 and transitioned to Pegasus Ballroom that night for a presentation and panel board featuring Karen Graves, noted historian and author of "And They Were Wonderful Teachers: Florida's Purge of Gay and Lesbian Teachers."

During the opening of the LGBTQ Services office, students, staff and faculty discussed the many trials and struggles of activists before them with a gathering in their new office space to speak about being a recognized resource on campus for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.

"This is a realization of a dream that many people have worked for many years to pursue: that we had a place for our lesbian, gay, and bisexual students to be and to work as one to create a morally inclusive campus," Michael Freeman, assistant director of diversity education and student engagement in the Office of Diversity Initiatives, said.

Unlike the informal opening of the LGBTQ Services office, the "Don't Say Gay in Class" panel discussion was a formal platform for members of the UCF community to bring their questions and concerns about being "out" in current society.

Panelists discussed the current laws surrounding the protection of educators at all levels who are open about their sexuality as well as laws that may still be necessary to enact.

Students with an interest in the education field were able to express concerns on how to deal with future co-workers, parents and students in their classroom as well as how to maintain a sense of job security.

"There is no federal law prohibiting job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation," Graves said. The same holds true at the state level in Florida.

Her book followed the dismissal of hundreds of Florida educators during the late 1950s and throughout the ‘60s by a state legislative board known as the Johns Committee.

Since the dissolution of that committee, Graves has indicated that things are much better, but she is quick to point out that there is still a lot of improvement that can be made.

"[T]he gay rights movement of our generation will not be complete until gay and lesbian teachers are truly accepted," she said.

That is one reason why many in attendance at both events, including Freeman, believe the opening of the new LGBTQ Services office marks an important step in campus development as Knights now have their own space on campus where they feel welcomed and accepted.

"It's real exciting. It's good to see how UCF has just transitioned itself. At the end of the day we're not being judged, and we have the University behind us," said Jerry Estrada, a senior event management major.

"Students have to make the space comfortable for students and for teachers," Delta Lambda Phi Fraternity Vice President Paul Doerr, a senior digital media major, said.

Doerr was a part of the panel Tuesday night which included Graves, June Sellers, inclusion coach at Wekiva High School in Apopka; Travis Pilch, Seminole County International Baccalaureate biology instructor; Dr. Cheryl Van De Mark, UCF visiting instructor; Ralph Belcher, a representative of the Orange County Classroom Teachers Organization; Jamie Frishman, a UCF freshman interpersonal organizational communications major; and Cecilia Anik, an Osceola County high school teacher.

By the conclusion of the night, most of the attendees felt that the event was a successful beginning not only to the week, but also to the future of LGBTQ services on the UCF Campus.

"This event really highlights the purpose of LGBTQ Services which is to be a resource in the community, " said David Morgan, the organization's graduate assistant. "I firmly believe that in some ways the Johns Committee is still here, and this will hopefully empower us with the tools necessary to serve the greater good."