The Capstone Alliance, one of the University’s organizations that advocates support for students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered or questioning their sexuality, will hold their monthly business meeting today in the Ferguson Center 312, from 3-5 pm.
Members of the organization, founded four years ago by Josh Burford, who works in the Community Service Center, will be discussing two of their major upcoming events, the Lavender Graduation and the Day of Silence.
“We host the Lavender Graduation at the end of every April,” said Capstone Alliance President Steffen Guenzel. “It is a celebration for LGBTQ students who are graduating from four years of undergraduate studies, who’ve made it through.”
Guenzel said the Lavender Graduation allows these students to openly celebrate in their own way, with their families, friends and partners without a sense of fear hanging over them.
The second event, the Day of Silence, is also in April. It is an annual event that every member of the Capstone Alliance is encouraged to participate in.
“Every April, we take a day of silence to protest the harassment, discrimination and bullying of LGBTQ students,” said Capstone Alliance Treasurer Renee Wells. “We’re silent to provide awareness of how that treatment can silence students.”
The Capstone Alliance does not limit itself to offering aid to students, however. One of their goals is to provide support for anyone who needs it.
“We do a lot of outreach with a lot of off-campus organization, such as West Alabama AIDS Outreach.” Wells said. “We really try to reach out to a lot of people who might be gay in Tuscaloosa but may not be associated with the University.
“Our short-term goals are to honor activists in the past and present the improved lives of LGBTQ students on campus.” Guenzel said “Also, we are always trying to create safe spaces for students who identify themselves as LGBTQ through the Safe Zone program.”
Wells said Safe Zone is one of the programs Capstone Alliance runs.
“It provides training for faculty, staff and students about the concerns of LGBTQ students and trains them to aid students who are struggling with problems in the coming-out process, especially dealing with harassment,” Wells said.
Guenzel said their long-term goals include the endowment of their Elliott Jackson Jones Scholarship for students who continuously find new ways to support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues on the University of Alabama campus; the growth and expansion of Safe Zone, so that every residence advisor, faculty member and staff member are trained to treat LGBTQ students equally and respectfully; and the achievement of domestic partner benefits for LGBTQ faculty and staff that equal the benefits awarded to heterosexual marriages or partnerships.
“Gays and lesbians should be entitled to receive the same benefits,” Guenzel said. “Whether it’s vacation time or premiums for health insurance, they deserve exactly the same treatment.”
