Celebrate Diversity and LU Pride Month
April is Celebrate Diversity Month, started in 2004 to recognize and honor the diversity surrounding us all. By celebrating differences and similarities during this month, organizers hope that people will get a deeper understanding of each other. The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment. It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within everyone.
April is also when Lamar University celebrates LU LGBTQ+ Pride Month, with programming and initiatives dedicated to increasing awareness, support, and allyship on campus.
Sources:
https://www.qcc.cuny.edu/diversity/definition.html
https://www.diversitybestpractices.com/2021-diversity-holidays
Spring 2022 Events
Day of Silence
Date: April 7, 2022
The GLSEN Day of Silence is a national student-led demonstration where LGBTQ+ students and allies all around the country—and the world—take a vow of silence to protest the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ people in schools.
Started in the mid 90s by two college students, the Day of Silence has expanded to reach hundreds of thousands of students each year. Every April, students go through the school day without speaking, ending the day with Breaking the Silence rallies and events to share their experiences during the protest and bring attention to ways their schools and communities can become more inclusive.
The Office of Global Diversity and Inclusive Excellence invites the Lamar University community to take part in this observance to spread awareness and to take a stand for equality, inclusivity, and solidarity.
Find the LGBTQ+ Students of LU in the Setzer Student Center on April 7th 11:30 - 12:30 p.m. to participate and learn more!
Source:
https://www.glsen.org/day-of-silence
Break the Silence Rally
Date: April 8, 2022
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: TBA
After participating in the Day of Silence, join the LGBTQ+ Students of LU for a Break the Silence Rally, where participants will gather to reflect on their experiences, on the meaning of the event, and how to take action.
Midnight Garden Prom
Date: April 9, 2022Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Setzer Student Center Atrium
Join CAB and the LGBTQ+ Students of Lamar for an all-inclusive prom. Dress up and dance the night away!
LGBTQ+ Safe Zone Training
Date: April 12, 2022
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual
The purpose of this training is to assist students, staff, faculty in having a deeper familiarity and comfort with vocabulary, inclusive practices and to provide participants with the opportunity to learn more about how to be better allies to those within the LGBTQ+ community. Our goal is for participants to become and more knowledgeable about identities and systems they may otherwise not be aware of. The guest facilitator will be Lauren Wilson.
Past Programming
2021 Safe Zone Training with Larneka Lavalais
Larneka Lavalais is a lifelong resident of Port Arthur, TX. She graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School, received a Bachelor’s of Art Degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology, Masters of Science Degree in Applied Criminology, and Masters of Education Degree in Counseling and Development from Lamar University. Larneka is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has experience as a psychotherapist for a non-profit organization, outpatient behavior health and currently works as a Behavior and Mental Health Counselor and an online therapist for Talkspace.com. She is also the owner of a part-time private practice, Larneka Lavalais LPC PLLC.
Larneka is involved in community outreach and advocates for the underserved in the community. She is the founder of the My Story to Tell: Breaking the Cycle support group and QTPOC SETX support group. Larneka also serves on the board of directors for TAN (Triangle Area Network) Healthcare.
Engineering Research Annex Building
