Regardless of whether one is familiar with stories or issues within the LGBTQA community, Julia Keleher believes everyone will find something to enjoy in the upcoming LGBTQA Office Speakers Bureau Open Panel.
This recurring event allows volunteers from the LGBTQA Office to connect with the local community for a night of storytelling and conversation.
“This is an amazing opportunity to learn first-hand what it’s like to be a queer or trans student at the University of Idaho,” Keleher said.
Julia Keleher | Courtesy
Keleher — LGBTQA Office Director — said the uniqueness of each student’s story helps to make the conversations more personal.
“If you’re not too familiar with LGBTQA people, it can be kind of mystifying, like what’s the facts about people’s lives and what’s a rumor or misinformation that’s spread,” said Keleher. “Granted, everyone has their own experiences … but you get a good glimpse.”
Carson Poertner, Mia Giglio, Tegan Campbell volunteered to speak on the panel. Poertner and Giglio have previously served on LGBTQA Office panels.
According to Poertner and Keleher, each of the four students on the panel will introduce themselves and their experiences before opening the floor to questions.
Poertner started speaking on bureau panels three years ago. He speaks out to help others understand different perspectives while Giglio decided to start speaking after she watched a panel in her women’s studies course two years ago.
“I like the speakers bureau because it gives a platform for queer students to connect with other queer students and educate people on a deeper level,” Giglio said.
Poertner said he wants to share his story and help the LGBTQA Office assist people. A sentiment echoed by Giglio.
Both students feel the event will provide a positive opportunity to learn and connect.
“One of the beauties of having this panel is that it opens up a safe space to have these conversations and to unbox and explore these difficult things that we’ve been socialized to be skeptical of,” Giglio said. “It’s one of the only places you can have a genuine heart-to-heart conversation and nobody’s going to take it personally.”
The event starts 7 p.m. Thursday in the Idaho Commons Crest room. The event is free and open to the public.