Story by Ariel Wright
Sharna Horn (Left), Patrick Schuler (middle) and Megan Hernandez stand outside their office in Regents Row, 532 Stewart St.
The Sexual and Gender Diversity Resource Center, easy to spot with its new colorful banner, has helped more than 1000 students since opening its doors on April 23, 2007, at New Mexico State University.
Coordinator of SCDRC, Sharna Horn, said in an e-mail interview the goals for SGDRC at NMSU this fall semester are finishing the renovations of their office in Regents Row, bringing more of the NMSU community into the center and the creation of a plan for the coming semester.
The SGDRC office now has two computer rooms and a new conference room, along with a rainbow banner donated by a supporter. According to Horn, the new space allows for students to have a comfortable atmosphere to connect with other students and be open with their thoughts and emotions.
The SGDRC at NMSU is intended to be a safe and supportive environment for all students, staff and faculty with an emphasis on resources for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and inter-sex community. It welcomes a diversity of racial, ethnic, religious, political and cultural values. The center is committed to serving the campus and the larger community with professionalism and esteem, Horn explained. “SGDRC offers encouragement and referral with the purpose of enhancing the well-being and meaningful experience in the NMSU community,” according to the center’s Web site.
A variety of services
“We provide the greater NMSU community with trainings panels and educational outreach programs in the area of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, asexual and ally issues,” Horn said.
“So far in this academic year the concerns or needs of each student have varied. One main need … is finding the LGBTQQAA community here on campus, ” she added.
The university pays the staff for the SGDRC, but the program accepts volunteers for events on campus. The SGDRC office is meant as a safe place for students and members of the community to come and feel comfortable, gain knowledge of what it means to have an atypical sexual orientation.
Events the center will sponsor
The events coming up for the SGDRC are the Transgender Day of Remembrance in November. Then on Dec. 1, the center will hold World Aids Day. For the spring. some of the major events for the SGDRC are the Day of Silence in April, the SGDRC third anniversary on campus, among many other activities that can be seen in the calendar on the SGDRC homepage.
Sharna Horn, Patrick Schuler and Megan Hernandez welcome students into their resource center that has two computer rooms and a library. (Photo by Ariel Wright)
“We are also hoping to have a lavender Graduation for the LGBT community towards the end of the spring semester to coincide with commencement,” Horn pointed out.
The Sexual and Gender Diversity Resource Center is open Monday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday from noon to 5: 30 p.m., Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
