Camarillo, Calif., April 14, 2016 — When Ramon “Ray” Visaiz graduates from CSU Channel Islands (CI) on May 21, he will wear a rainbow cord with his cap and gown to signify the struggles he faced and overcame as a member of the LGBT+ community.
Several other LGBT+ seniors like Visaiz, 22, will also receive rainbow cords during the “cording process” at CI’s Lavender Brunch, which will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 28 in CI’s Petit Salon.
The annual brunch is an opportunity for (LGBTQIPAA) students to honor the mentors who helped them navigate the University experience, and to be recognized themselves for all they have contributed to the campus.
LGBT+ is shorthand for LGBTQIPAA or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex, Pansexual, Asexual and Allies.
“The students this year wanted all the letters included,” said Stephen Stratton, Head of Collection Development at the John Spoor Broome Library and Faculty Advisor to Spectrum, the campus club for LGBT students. “They want to provide education for folks who are not familiar with all the gender identities.”
The keynote speaker will be Chris Angel Murphy, a Trevor Space administrator for the Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is an organization dedicated to suicide prevention within the LGBT+ community.
Because not everyone accepts their lifestyle, LGBT+ students are especially vulnerable to suicide, bullying, depression and a host of other perils.
That’s why seniors will be given a chance to thank the mentors who helped shepherd them through their years at CI. A mentor to re-balance an LGBT+ student during times of difficulty can make all the difference.
“We have to overcome family challenges,” Visaiz said. “You may have a family who’s really conservative that doesn’t agree with your lifestyle. They think it’s a choice.”
For Visaiz, that mentor was Stratton.
Stratton says he is happy to guide LGBT+ youth through their University experience as he believes the nation still has a long way to go toward LGBT+ acceptance.
“We have a couple of students who face homelessness each summer because the residence halls close, and their parents will not let them come home,” Stratton said. “There is a need for these people to feel accepted.”
When Visaiz graduates with a degree in Communication and a minor in Political Science, he knows he is also leaving a legacy.
Visaiz was one of the students who helped LGBT+ activist Ronni Sanlo, Ph.D., retired Senior Associate Dean of Students at UCLA, and about nine others launch the Lavender Brunch in 2014.
“We’re leaving a lasting impact on this community and leaving a mark for others to pick up where we left off,” Visaiz said.
This event has concluded
Limited parking is available on campus with the purchase of a $6 daily permit; follow signs to the parking permit dispensers. Free parking is available at the Camarillo Metrolink Station/Lewis Road with bus service to and from the campus. Riders should board the CI Vista Bus to the campus; the cash-only fare is $1.25 each way. Buses arrive and depart from the Camarillo Metrolink Station every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. For exact times, check the schedule at www.goventura.org.
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About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting CI's Social Media.