This summit also will recognize the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots that took place on June 28, 1969 in New York City.
The Texas Tech University Office of LGBTQIA will host the second annual Big 12 LGBTQIA & Allies Summit from Friday through Sunday (March 22-24) in the Student Union Building (SUB).
The summit will bring together college students, faculty, staff and community members who are committed to inclusion, access and equity within higher education and beyond.
"As communities continue to explore ways to be more culturally competent and demonstrate inclusivity of underrepresented people, we have a responsibility at Texas Tech to lead," said Jody Randall, director of the Office of LGBTQIA. "The summit is a platform for students, faculty and staff within the Big 12 conference and beyond, as well as community partners, to come together and celebrate progress, connect on shared experiences and plan for the future."
Two of the plenary speakers at this year's summit will discuss the Stonewall Riots and how they left an impact on the LGBTQIA community 50 years later. Judy Bowen, a veteran of the riots, will participate in the discussion at 7 p.m. on Friday with Emily Skidmore, an associate professor in the Department of History, Justin Salgado, a history graduate student, and Jordan Butler, a student assistant in the Office of LGBTQIA. This discussion will be hosted in the SUB Ballroom.
Tracie Gilbert, an educator, writer and consultant, also will speak on the Stonewall Riots and their implication for non-black and cisgender allies at 3 p.m. on Saturday in the SUB Matador Room.
Brandie Balken, deputy director of the Impact Project at the Hopewell Fund, will give a talk titled "Ask Not What the Movement Can Do for You" at 9:10 a.m. Saturday. "Cultivating and Enhancing Positive LGBTQIA+ Identities," a talk given by Ellen D.B. Riggle, a professor of political science and gender and women's studies at the University of Kentucky, will close the summit at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Other educational sessions on tap during the summit cover topics like inclusivity in the classroom, Title IX, and working as a member of the LGBTQIA community.
For a full schedule and to register, visit the Big 12 LGBTQIA & Allies Summit's website.
