The LGBT Campus Center, located on the first floor of the Red Gym, started its welcome week festivities Tuesday with an ice cream social and a visit by congressman and part-time ice cream scooper for the day, Mark Pocan, D-Wis., one of seven openly gay members of the U.S. Congress.
Pocan, who represents Madison and the rest of the state’s second district, gave a short speech in support of the center to a crowd of several hundred students milling between tables representing supportive organizations on campus.
He spoke about the recent “tremendous successes” for the LGBT community nationwide, including the full support of President Barack Obama on the political issue of same-sex marriage. The congressman also added several personal notes during his speech, discussing his successful attempt to get his husband the full access rights of other congressional spouses, as well as the importance of having a place on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus where people can feel safe and connect with friends.
“The Badger experience is really special,” Pocan said. “Having [the center] here is just a testament to how important it is that UW recognizes the [LGBTQ] community. There still is discrimination out there, but having a place where people can come together is really powerful.”
Rebecca Blank, UW-Madison’s new chancellor, introduced Pocan and adopted a similar tone, emphasizing the university’s desire to include members of the LGBT community.
“You are Wisconsin; you are a very important part of our community, and we are very glad that you are here,” Blank said about those assembled during her introductory speech.
Gabriel Javier, an assistant dean of students and the director for the center, reiterated the importance of having a place for LGBT individuals and allies to gather given the ongoing existence of discrimination, even in a place such as Madison, that community members feel generally embraces LGBT lifestyles.
Dany Seiler, a transfer student and the accessibility and diversity program coordinator for the center, said the university has been helpful in providing services and making the LGBT community feel welcome. Seiler does not recognize as male or female and opts for the pronoun “they” as a reference.
Seiler said they got involved with the center to help other LGBT students avoid the discrimination and homophobia they felt at their previous school in southern Indiana.
“There’s always room for improvement on campuses and Madison isn’t perfect, but having people come here, and maybe people who haven’t been exposed to LGBT issues or people even, and see that we are normal people and have all these organizations behind us, it’s really cool,” Seiler said.
The LGBT Campus Center has a variety of future welcome week events planned for LGBT individuals and allies, including a welcome barbecue and a s’mores night at picnic point.
