Category | Arts & Living

KPA encourages all to come out, be active

Published on January 26, 2010 by Berlin Sylvestre

If you’ve ever wanted to belong to a group of active, aware and supportive friends who care just as much about human rights and the struggle for equality as you do, The Kennesaw Pride Alliance might be the group for you.

The KPA doesn’t merely concern itself with homosexual interests; it also encourages its members to go out into the world and rally around the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, inter-sexed and questioning  (LGBTIQ) campfire of equal rights.

Though the core focus of the organization deals with the many issues attached to being a sexual outsider, Mary Frances Edgemon, a junior organizational communications major and president of the Alliance, encourages students from all walks of life to join.

“We have straight people come to meetings, but we have even more straight people come

to our events,” said Edgemon. “Last semester during National Coming Out Day we had a high turnout of straight people who we like to call our ‘allies.’ While we only ask the members about their sexuality on the membership application, many members choose not to answer that question. Their sexuality is kept confidential.”

According to their Web site, “The purpose of this organization is to promote awareness, understanding and tolerance of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues though advocacy, social activities and community service. The Alliance seeks to provide a

support network for the students as well as to educate others, so that they can challenge stereotypes of alternative lifestyles.”

“In the past, we have participated in the National Day of Silence,” said Edgemon. “We have collectively decided that being silent is not active enough for us. If we want to make a difference and weaken the number of LGBTIQs that have become victims of violence and bullying, we are going to have to use our voices. We, as well as many other schools, are going to have a new game plan this year. Silence is not the way to achieve equality nor peace.”

Leigh Anna Young, a freshman psychology major and member of the organization said, ”Basically, I feel like KPA is just a safe place for LGBT students to hang out without fear of judgment.”

Sophomore Laela Batista added that the Alliance is a great group of people: “I’ve never had so much fun with anyone as with the people I’ve met through the KPA,” she said. ”They are unassuming and non-judgmental.”

There are about 50 active members who make up the heart of the 18-year-old KPA.

“With their assistance,” said Edgmon, “we are able to dedicate ourselves to creating a network of support, understanding and continued learning about the evolving LGBTIQ community. Our members chair event committees as well as brainstorm ideas for keeping our organization current and aware of local and national politics and philanthropies.”

For 2010, multiple projects are being scheduled, including a “sexy bake sale” and a charity drag show coming up the last week of February.

The Alliance’s 2010 summit is still in its planning stages but is expected to draw more than 200 people from collegiate alliances across Georgia.

Membership in the Alliance is free. Times and dates of the bi-monthly meetings are posted on KPA’s Facebook page and official site, kennesawpridealliance.com. Membership applications are also available online and available at the Student Center in cubicle #5.