This semester’s diversity dialogue, entitled “Is Everyone Really Welcome?”, partnered with the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Center to present the personal stories of students as well as this organization’s efforts to raise awareness on campus.

“To be safe, the number of education programs has to increase,” said Justine Hollingshead, the director of the GLBT Center.

The dialogue came as one of a series of events in “Everyone Welcome Here” week, continuing with today’s Blue Jeans Day and concluding with Saturday’s “Raleigh is Coming Out” party.  

The week began with painting the Free Expression Tunnel painting on Monday, though it was met with negative responses, which is just another example of the need for change, according to Hollingshead.

“You walk by the big mural, and this is what you see,” she said, referring to the anti-GLBT community messages in the tunnel. “A member of the GLBT community feels, ‘Well, gosh, I’m not welcome.'”

Luke Harris, a sophomore in sociology, felt the messages were important.

“Leaving it on the wall raises awareness,” he said. “It’s a representation of what we go through every day.”

Harris was one of four panelists at the event who each shared personal stories about their experiences on campus, a key feature of the event

“When people can put a face with an idea, it’s personal,” Hollingshead said. “It’s a lot harder to hate some you know.”

The panelists’ stories demonstrated many of the issues which the college experience complicates.

“Families just walk away,” Hollingshead said of many of her students’ experiences. “People take for granted having that family support.”

The campus also provides what she calls a “fishbowl environment,” an effect of constantly being around others whether in a classroom, dormitory or dining hall.

“It’s really hard to be anonymous,” she said. “You’re always being looked at. It’s harder to hide.”

The GLBT Center, located on the third floor of Talley Student Center, focuses on providing resources, education, awareness and advocacy for students facing these issues, according to Hollingshead.  

“We need to move beyond tolerance and acceptance to understanding,” she said.

One of the most discussed issues at the event was enhancing these students’ feeling of comfort in the residence halls, where most GLBT students feel unsafe, according to Hollingshead. All three student panelists struggled to integrate their living quarters and their sexual orientation.

“I can’t just be Matt,” Matt Woodward, a sophomore in applied sociology, said.

Panelist Miles Clark, a junior in sports management, experienced similar difficulties. As a transgender beginning hormone therapy after enrollment, he said he had trouble balancing that situation with his housing.  

Eventually, he was given his own space and bathroom, which, with the additional aid of the GLBT Center, made quite a difference.

“I’ve had people in my corner to back me,” he said. “I’m able to say that’s not the only thing about me. There are other sides to my personality besides being transgender.”

However, the situations are not exclusive to GLBT students.

Spencer Guy, freshman in the First Year College, experienced this last Tuesday, after picking up an “I [Heart] Diversity” shirt in the Brickyard.

“Someone said, ‘You’re going to burn in flames for wearing that,'” he said.

The GLBT Center is also starting conversations with faculty and staff on campus and plans on presenting before the Faculty Senate, according to Hollingshead.

Ultimately, the goal of the GLBT Center is to change the campus climate. According to Hollingshead, the ideal climate would look like Sunday’s National Equality March in Washington, D.C.

“You can be comfortable, safe and people embrace who you are,” she said.  

To her, these desires are not unique to the GLBT commuity.

“Allies want to feel safe, get married, have families, enjoy life,” Hollingshead said. “I want all those same things.”