Claudia Aleman October 09, 2013 UNIV 101-L M/W 9:30am

LBC Reflective Essay 2

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community movement has been an active part of the American society. The LGBT community as well as their allies have grown groups, organizations, and urged change for their own rights. There was an event at the Student Center, room 310A on October 7 th at 7:00pm that I attended of which explained what the movement was going on in Michigan. The Meeting the Movement: Michigan event had exceeded my own expectations in terms of organization, content, and information given out in the event. Compared to the last event I had attended, this informational program was much more organized. There was a number between forty to seventy people that attended the event and workers had to pull in more and more chairs as people kept coming in. Seeing that made me think highly of what was to come. There was a moderator on the front left as well as three state representatives as guests who were seated in the front center of the room. The content of which they discussed was in the form of a question asked by the moderator, which allowed the three representatives speak freely as they wished to give the best answer they discussed. They discussed current LGBT issues in Michigan, where they stood in terms of legal marriage, common misconceptions, transgender rights, the DOMA federal law, and lastly, how to get involved. The state representatives had different jobs within the government and some were able to answer questions better than others, but nonetheless each complemented each other. The moderator knew what he was doing and having that confidence made me think that this event was meticulously planned (the LGBT group at Eastern does this event every year; this would be the third). The event itself only lasted less than an hour and a half because the guests elaborated extensively on answering the questions that were given to them. The information itself was more than helpful and understanding. The guest explained their answers very clearly and concise enough for everyone to understand what they were talking about. I knew already that Michigan was not a LGBT-friendly state, but I learned that night that Michigan was second to Pennsylvania to pass a nondiscriminatory policy in the coming years. Fifty-seven percent of Michigan voters polled in favor for adoption rights as well as gay marriage. The issues that the LGBT

community have that they wish to change has become a non-bipartisan argument where both Republicans and Democrats share similar interests. A chapter in the Step by Step textbook for this UNIV101-L class that closely resembles or aids this type of event is Chapter 11 Appreciating Diversity under the section of Forms of Diversity. It explains vastly different types of diversities that students may come across while attending the university. In conclusion, I would highly recommend any student thats either interested in the LGBT community or politics in the matter to join this yearly event. Its highly informational and even if you share different religious, political or personal views, its a great way to show the open-mindedness that every student should have to make their college experience worthwhile.