Tuesday, January 5, 1999
Event to stress issues of LGBT community
CONFERENCE: Politics, entertainment to take center stage at
event
By Andy Shah
Daily Bruin Staff
UCLA will host the 10th anniversary of the UC Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender Association this weekend with a conference
titled "Something Queer is Bruin."
The conference, which starts today, is expected to attract 600
students, faculty and staff, most of whom are from within the UC
system.
In addition to the annual meeting of the association, a
system-wide organization composed of students, faculty and staff,
the conference will center around three topics: education, politics
and entertainment.
"We want people coming away from the conference with a strong
concept of what’s happening in politics and how they can get
involved," said Ronni Sanlo, director of UCLA’s LGBT Campus
Resource Center.
Topics of the workshops range from domestic partner benefits and
student leadership to public sex on campus and "Xena, Warrior
Princess."
Featured speakers include Kevin Jennings, executive director of
Gay Lesbian Straight Educators Network, whose organization deals
with LGBT issues in schools.
Donna Red Wing, an organizer with the Human Rights Campaign,
will address conference participants and will present a workshop on
activism.
Shelly Weiss, executive director of OUTmedia, will speak about
LGBT issues in relation to the media and the entertainment
industry.
Also, two films – "Fire" and "Wilde" – will be screened on
Friday, and a student culture show and dance organized by UCLA’s
Gay and Lesbian Association will take place on Saturday night.
Organizers started planning the conference a year ago, but got
into full swing after winter break.
"It’s been a really long process," said Steven Leider, co-chair
of the conference and a first-year graduate student in education.
"But we got a really good response and faculty and staff have been
instrumental in the planning process."
Sanlo said that although recent hate crimes against members of
the LGBT community and upcoming ballot measures are reasons for the
conference, the program’s central purpose is to create
interaction.
"Those things validate the need for the conference but coming
together is good to have happen even without ballot measures,"
Sanlo said.
Leider said the conference will provide a meeting ground for the
LGBT community.
"Outside of bars, clubs and gay pride parades, you don’t get to
see many LGBT people, especially in an academic setting," he
said.
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