Nearly 300 people attended “Queer and Now,” a conference held on Tuesday June 2 to celebrate the LGBT community at De Anza College.

The day-long event in Conference Rooms A and B provided its participants a safe place for self-expression and mutual learning.

The number of visitors reached its peak during the second plenary when poet Francisco Alarcon, chair of Disability Justice Mia Mingus and writer Sinclair Sexsmith discussed the interpersonal dynamics of a LGBT life.

“We are good at resisting a system, but we are less skilled at articulating the world we want,” Mingus said. “What world are we fighting for?”

Transgender activist Tiffany Woods said “queer” people still face insecurity and violence despite increasing awareness and resources.

“People are fighting to pee peacefully, safely and with dignity,” Woods said.

De Anza College implemented three gender-neutral bathrooms in 2014, but the panel said the campus could be safer and more inclusive.

Students can ask instructors to use the name and gender pronoun they prefer, said Thomas Ray, Dean of Language Arts.

“Give them an opportunity to learn from mistakes,” Ray said. “We want to be corrected, and we want to be forgiven.”

The presenters also said they envision a campus with more allies–people who work within and help the LGBT community.

Woods said, “To be an ally is being a voice for somebody who can’t be the voice right now.”

Hakwoo Kim, 23, human development major, broke into tears as he played a song on his guitar.

“I always wanted to work towards a more humanistic world, where people are encouraged and supported to explore who they are and really achieve their self-actualization,” Kim said.

“Recently I realized that lack of self-love was preventing me from creating that world within myself… I was going through kind of a healing process, realizing how much I appreciate my life and love myself.”

Ashley Rose Sanchez, 20, liberal arts major, said she did not have to hold her breath like usually does when she walked into the conference.

“I felt a sense of community I’ve been lacking,” Sanchez said. “There is a power in openness, vulnerability and being proud of who you are.”

The planning committee began planning for the event since April 21, said Janet Tillman, Student Equity Initiatives Coordinator.
“It was a win for the college,” she said. “We created a safe enough space where people could just be themselves.”

Tillman said the committee intends to make “Queer and Now” an annual event, in addition to hosting “Coming Out Day” on Oct. 11, and “Transgender Remembrance Day” on Nov. 11 this year.

“De Anza is progressing,” said Melissa Epps, 20, sociology major. “But the school needs to listen to students’ requests and opinions to continue evolving.

“As Mingus said, we are all not free unless everyone is free.”