A Week of Events Dedicated to LGBTQ History
In recognition of National Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) History Month, several events will be offered to honor the contributions of the LGBT community during the week of October 10-14. The events, which are sponsored by the Cadena Cultural Center along Queer People of Color (QPOC) and the Gay and Lesbian Association of District Employees (GLADE), will kick off with LGBTQuad Days on Oct. 10 and 12 featuring table displays on the quad from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to highlight LGBTQ history.
On Tuesday, Oct. 11, Fullerton College will host a LGBTQ+ Forum with well-known and respected LGBT author and speaker, Dr. Ronni Sanlo. The forum takes place at 2 p.m. in Building 200, Room 224 and will feature a film screening of Letter to Anita, which is based on Sanlo’s life, followed by a Q&A with Sanlo. Oct. 11 is also recognized in the U.S. as National Coming Out Day.
Letter to Anita is a heart-wrenching story of Anita Bryant’s anti-gay campaign, “Save Our Children” in 1977, which had a shattering effect on Sanlo, causing her to lose custody of her two young children. The film chronicles Sanlo’s journey to peace in the simple act of writing a letter. Following the events in 1977, Sanlo became an activist for the LGBT community. As a retired professor and director of the LGBT Center at UCLA, Sanlo has written several books and more than 100 articles on working with LGBT students in higher education. She has spoken to colleges and universities around the country and is the originator of the award-winning Lavender Graduation, a commencement event that celebrates the lives and achievements of graduating LGBT college students. Numerous college across the county host lavender graduation ceremonies.
The LGBTQ+ Forum is sponsored by the North Orange County Community College District Professional Development Committee and open to all NOCCCD students, faculty and staff.
Students and staff are also invited to participate in a documentary screening of “Gay Pioneers” on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 2 to 3:30 p.m. in Room 327. A brief discussion hosted by the Fullerton College Library and QPOC will follow the screening.
In addition, the NOCCCD Professional Development Committee has invited Sanlo to return to Fullerton College on Friday, Oct. 14 to conduct a district-wide LGBTQ Safe Space Training for faculty and staff. The deadline to register for the training was Sept. 30.
For more information on all of the LGBTQ events, contact the Cadena Cultural Center at (714) 992-7086.
