Do you know what all of the letters in the acronym LGBTQIA+ stand for? Do you know what a safe space is orhow to be an ally? Do you know what intersectionality is? Well, it’s okay if you don’t know yet, claimed Dr. Jorgenson, Executive Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Leadership at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in his speech to students on Tuesday, February 25.
Dr. Jorgenson visited RCTC’s campus to discuss the meaning of LGBTQIA+, the struggles and concerns of this community, how to be an ally, and the complexities surrounding safe spaces. He notes that a “safe space” is more complicated than just a space where individuals can feel safe physically. It also encompasses some form of mental and emotional safety, brought about by open, inclusive conversations about ideas, without criticizing people. Thus, he defines a safe space as a “dynamic, community space with ever-evolving expectations and experiences.”
Similar to the stance of Sidney Frye, whom students heard from last week, Dr. Jorgenson also urges students to lean into and move through the discomfort they may face when having difficult conversations. He states that this discomfort can be a sign of growth and learning.
Learning is one of the most important aspects of becoming an inclusive person, as well as an LGBTQIA+ ally, according to Dr. Jorgenson. He teaches students that the letters of this acronym stand for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and etc., respectively. However, he urges students not to be overwhelmed with memorizing these letters, especially since several variations of the acronym may be used by members of the community themselves. Rather, he encourages students to be more focused on the ways in which they can support members of the LGBTQIA+ community. This could look like standing up for someone who is being attacked for their identity, using someone’s preferred pronouns, or desiring to become more educated on the issues that LGBTQIA+ members face.
For example, there are several layers of ideological, institutionalized, interpersonal, and internalized oppression that LGBTQIA+ members (and other marginalized communities) face. These instances of oppression may cause someone to simply feel like an outcast or even be disproportionately affected by acts of violence, medical neglect, and/or other matters.
These facts do not mean that students should lose hope, says Dr. Jorgenson. Rather, they (we) must work together to become a community focused on making sure that everyone is represented and included. According to Dr. Jorgenson, there are many identities that everyone has, whether they are born “as” or born “into” them. These different identities overlap and affect our lives in different ways, thus creating unique experiences of discrimination and privilege. This is intersectionality. The first step in becoming an ally is simply recognizing the identities that we hold and what they mean.
All in all, Dr. Jorgenson wants students to hold tough conversations with “accountability and grace,” thus finding ways to become more inclusive and learn things you didn’t know before.
If you want to hear another inspiring talk, please join us next week on Tuesday, March 4th from 1:00-2:00 pm with Victoria Alexander to discuss implicit bias, racial and social identities, and fostering social change.
This series runs from February 11th to March 4th and is a part of the campus’s strategic academic plan for the next few years. One specific goal of the plan is to cultivate inclusivity and collaboration across the campus, which will aid in professional and academic growth. Thus, by attending at least three of the four speaker sessions, students (who have signed up) can earn a certificate of completion to add to their resumes. Besides this, the sessions are a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about different cultural, gendered, and professional experiences and ask questions directly of those speaking about these topics.