Creating Spiritually Enriching Opportunities for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Students on Campus

1. Creating Spiritually Enriching Opportunities for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Students on Campus Presented by: Gisela P. Vega Associate Director Department of Housing & Residential Life Florida International University

2. Please turn off your Cell Phone/Pager/PDA ringer or put it on a silent/vibrate setting If you must leave the program early, please do so in a manner that does not interrupt the presenters or your fellow program attendees. Thank you for your cooperation. ACUHO-I Program Committee

3. Overview of Program Goals& Objectives • Learn the issues that spiritual GLBT students face on college campuses today • Understand the historical relevance that has brought the LGBT spirituality issue to the forefront at FIU • Learn how this populations needs are being met at FIU • Understand resources available to practitioners • Share successes & challenges

4. LGBT Victims of Spiritual Violence • Spiritual violence is: • “The misuse of religion to sanction the condemnation and rejection of any of God’s children.” (Soulforce 2007) • Misusing religion and/or God to support society’s bias against sexual and gender minorities also inappropriately justifies psychological, legal and physical violence against them. (Soulforce 2007)

5. Spiritual Issues Facing LGBT Students on Campuses Today The experience of LGBT persons with traditional faith communities has been negative Multiple negative messages throughout campus delivered to the LGBT students in regards to spirituality There is a Crises among LGBTQ students in Catholic schools today – Bayly 2007 Media coverage given to organized religions debating the issue of same sex marriage plus the ordination LGB clergy has brought these issues to the forefront of College Campuses

6. LGBT Spirituality Issues at FIU • Historical Relevance • Compounded LGBT Issues at a predominately minority institution • Lack of welcoming & affirming congregations for new students arriving to Miami • Campus Incidents involving extreme right spiritual group

7. Initial Concept • Started as a brainchild between a faculty member and an FIU administrator • Goal was to develop a Spiritual Fair inclusive of all GLBT affirming and welcoming congregations in the Miami South Florida area • Seek funding opportunities to bring a national speaker to FIU and begin a discourse on this topic • Plan a Spirituality Day as opposed to just a fair • Develop a Spiritual Website for the South Florida region • Share important development within organized religion specifically the growth of LGBT welcoming and affirming synagogues, churches and other faith communities

8. Strategy Developed • Gain Institutional Support • Establish Community Groups & Identify Stakeholders • Secure Funding • Event Planning • Logistics • Evaluation

9. Gaining Institutional Support • Spirituality Center • Outreach to Various Groups & Services • Stonewall Pride Alliance • Division of Student Affairs • Housing and Residential Life • MPAS • Women Studies

10. Establish Community Groups & Identify Stakeholders • Convened the South Florida Spiritual Coalition • National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (Winter Party) • Welcome and Affirming Congregations

11. Securing Funding • Grant Dade Community Foundation • Funding Rational • Produce events on LGBT spirituality • Developed a web page focused on LGBT spirituality • The overall goal was to share information with the gay, straight and religious community about LGBT spirituality

12. Budget Plan Line Item Description & Explanation Consulting Services. Honorarium , Rev. Irene Monroe $2300.00 Honorarium , Christian de la Huerta $2000.00 Total $4300.00 Other contracted services. Student research assistant (Research for web page plus evaluation assistance, $10.00 hr. x 80 hours) Total $800.00 Materials/Supplies Paper, pencils, markers, tape, etc. for use during all events Total $100.00 Marketing & Advertising Broadcast media ads (i.e. WLRN) plus print media advertising (i.e. FIU Beacon, SHE Magazine, etc.) Total $1000.00 Printing & Copying Event notification flyers, evaluation forms, etc. Total $150.00 Travel – Out of County Speaker travel ( 2 x $1000.00 each) Total $2000.00 Other costs. Web page design and management Total $1200.00 TOTAL COSTS $9550.00

13. Budget Plan IN KIND CONTRIBUTIONS Project Staff. In-kind value for FIU faculty and staff is as follows: Dr. Nathan Katz (1% time, public relations) $930.00 Dr. Nan Van Den Bergh (10% time, oversight of all project activities) $750.00 Gisela Vega, MA (5% time, Coordination of FIU events) $250.00 Total Staff In kind Contribution $1930.00 Space rental. In kind value of meeting rooms & security: Temple Israel $750.00 FIU Graham Center $800.00 Total Space Rental In Kind Contribution $1550.00 TOTAL IN KIND CONTRIBUTIONS $3480.00 CASH CONTRIBUTIONS SunShine Cathedral $1,000.00 Private donation (1) $1775.00 Private donation (2) $1775.00 Total Cash Contributions $4550.00

14. Event Planning • Days Events Speakers Resources Fair Lecture Performer Community Gathering Class Lecture ACTUAL EVENT Spirituality LGBT Style Lecture at the University Park Campus noon to 2:30 p.m. Graham Center 150 Featuring: Rev. Irene Monroe & Amy Carol Webb Spirituality Fair 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Graham Center Pitt Area Spiritual Open Forum 6:30 pm to 8 pm In the Graham Center Room 243 LGBT Course Classroom Discussion 8pm – 9pm  

15. Logistics • Contact Speaker and Performers • Set-up Table Fair, Communications with Participants and Confirmations • Reserving Spaces • Sound & Equipment for Performer • Solidifying Location of Events

16. Evaluation Over 100 people attended the event throughout the day Many individuals commented on how appreciative they were of having this type of event available There were 15 organizations that registered for the tabling event

17. Advertisement Sample Publicity Advertised on NPR Newspaper Article

18. Group Exercise Developing an action plan to meet LGBT students spiritual needs • What current issues exist on your campus? • Who can you partner with to begin to address these issues on campus? • What community groups are available? • What funding sources are available? • How do you Finding Welcoming and Affirming Congregations in your Area?

19. Successes & Challenges Successes A very successful event Committed group Support and Commitment from community members Over 15 organization represented in the fair Established the Website Challenges Following-up on funding issues Needing to reduce expenses Long Day Staffing Q&A

20. Resources • The Gay Christian Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing resources and support to Christians who happen to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or trangender. We also work with churches and other Christian organizations to help educate the Christian community about sexual orientation issues from a Biblical standpoint. • http://www.gaychristian.net/aboutgcn.php?fbb_session_id/10951ab5d086d05b0bb3e0be9d697c70/ • The LGBTA South Florida Coalition is a group of dedicated individuals and groups who are interested in meeting the spiritual needs of the LGBT population in South Florida. • http://soflospirit.checkoutmypage.com/index.php?p=1_12_Websites • Soulforce: The purpose of Soulforce is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance. • http://www.soulforce.org/article/7 • The Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry: The Center serves three distinct but overlapping constituencies: the world of academic religious scholarship; faith communities; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people and organizations. It is located at the Pacific School of Religion, in Berkeley, California. • http://www.clgs.org/2/2_0.html