Alphabet Center, Pride Alliance combine for ‘equality’

Two Eastern LGBT support groups are combining forces to create an entirely new organization to broaden horizons and reach a wider audience.

Last semester members of both the EKU Pride Alliance and the Alphabet Center voted to combine the organizations into one.

"The officers of Pride and Alphabet Center felt like having two organizations would be too much," said Nicholas Wade, president of the new organization. "Trying to get them to give two to three hours of their time per week is too much."

Wade said this time consumption came from the two meetings each person would have to attend if they wanted to be involved with both groups. This is not including any activities either group would have planned during the week.

Along with being more time efficient, the organization also hopes to combine the two original goals of the separate organizations.

"The Alphabet Center has traditionally focused on activism and awareness," said Patricia Hart, public relations vice president of the new organization. "Pride is more of a social organization. We just felt like we could accomplish more together."

The new organization is currently working on becoming a registered student organization (RSO) and has a variety of plans for the upcoming semester.

Hart said they are working on Tranzene, an effort for transsexual members of the LGBT community, other future events include a seminar entitled "Being Gay and Being Christian" and "Spring Out and Get Tested" Day, which will raise awareness of HIV/AIDS.

Hart said one of the organization's main goals this semester will be to push for an LGBT living learning community on campus.

"There are a ton of living learning communities on campus, LGBT is one that really needs it," Hart said. "Imagine being a trans-male or trans-female and not fitting into either one of them."

The organization is laying the groundwork for a proposition for the living learning community. But Hart said this is "something we probably won't see for a few years."

"With a larger group, you can make a bigger change," Hart said. "I feel like it's more efficient. I feel like we have more input from a variety of different sources and different perspectives."

Wade, who was originally president of the Alphabet Center, said taking on the responsibilities of Pride required him to think more from an educational aspect.

"It's now sort of coming up with weekly meeting topics, as well as activism projects," Wade said.

The new LGBT organization has yet to be named. The two names being considered, which will be voted on at the organization's first official meeting next Tuesday at 8 a.m., are Spectrum and Alphabet Alliance.

The Alphabet Center, which is also a space located in the basement of Miller Hall, will still be in operation and used at the new organization's meeting space.

"It's a very exciting and inclusive if you have an interest in social equality, gender or social acceptance," Hart said. "Mostly our goal is to make people feel safe and comfortable, regardless of their sexual orientation."