Photo: WGSS
OW Rainbow kicked off the semester with the first of many meetings on Monday, February 5. The club provides a safe space, spreading awareness, and letting for LGBTQ+ voices be heard without suppression.
Sapphire is the new president of OW Rainbow. Sapphire is a non-binary criminology major now in their second year at the club. They hope to inspire the members to “greatness and colorfulness.” Sapphire led a jovial meeting featuring honest dialogue and understanding during Common Hour at the Student Union.
Attendees came from an array of backgrounds, sexualities, and genders. At this first meeting, they shared their identity freely and without judgment. OW Rainbow plans to make an impact this semester with Thursday evening support groups where students can unpack and address stigma and provide support.
Allie, the vice-president of the club and a recent transfer to SUNY Old Westbury, hopes to see more of a change in the spaces for LGBTQ+ resident and commuter students. She hopes that the spaces for students are approached with more acceptance and less scrutiny.
Berrana, the treasurer of the club and a sophomore at SUNY OW, hopes that the club can make more progress with their initiatives this semester, holding more events like their upcoming game night, which will feature a game of “bucket.”
One of the OW Rainbow’s major resources is the Women’s Gender & Sexuality Studies Center, which recently opened in Woodlands Hall 1. Students and faculty can congregate, discuss, and advocate at the center. The WGSS Center offers education and allyship, exploring the intersection of social identities with events such as book talks, and their recurring “Body Politics” discussion. Old Westbury offers both a minor and Bachelor of Arts in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. According to the WGSS webpage, “The program uses feminist theory and methods to center the experience of marginalized groups within many fields of study.”
OW Rainbow’s mission of celebration, upliftment and encouragement was keenly demonstrated at their first meeting. OW Rainbow intends to blaze their trail on campus, breaking barriers and reducing stigma; their hopes are to encourage the student body to join them on the journey. Sapphire’s slogan for this semester is, “We’re here, we’re queer, and we’re here to stay.”
Major dates for the club will be:
- Support Group on Wednesday, February 14th
- Pride Trivia on Thursday, April 25th
- Volleyball on Monday, March 15th
- Game Night on Friday, February 29th
