The qualifications/experience I have to be able to provide this service are as follows:

As both a member of the LGBTQ+ Community and a person that truly believes that everyone should be treated equally and with respect; the LGBTQ+ Rights Movement is near and dear to me. Helping the LGBTQ+ Community is my single biggest passion and it is my entire life. I have done intensive work in this area already, and I have dedicated my entire life to the LGBTQ+ Rights Movement.

Starting during Winter Term 2015 I began my work with the LGBTQ+ Community as the Intern to the Associated Students of Chemeketa Community College (ASC.) It was during this time that I help a team of four people create what is now considered the “Gender and Sexuality Diversity Representative” position for the ASC—a position dedicated to helping the entire LGBTQ+ Community of the college. At the beginning of June 2015 I applied to take on the new position which I had helped create with the goal of continuing this work and was hired on shortly their after.

I began training the following September and began work shortly their after. I took a very simple, yet profound, approach to my work. That approach is that it wasn’t my job to tell others what to believe but to help them understand that even if they don’t agree with something they still need to treat everyone with respect. I took an educational approach to much of the work I did with the idea that it isn’t fair to expect respect without the general population knowing what is and isn’t. Over the course of my time I ran several educational type events and trainings. The first event I did was a drag show aimed and social sustainability and education; which had above average turn out of students. Another educational event I did that had a big impact was the Food for Thought on sexuality and gender identity. In this event a panel of four people spoke about what it was like to be in the LGBTQ+ Community, what it was, what is wasn’t, and answer questions from the community. The even was very well received.

Over my time as the Gender and Sexuality Diversity Representative I have attended and ran various trainings. In May of 2016 I attended the one day LGBTQ+ Intensive Oregon Student Equal Rights Alliance (OSERA) training put on by the Oregon Student Association. During the Oregon Student Leadership and Activities Professionals (OSLA) training in September 2016 I did a workshop teaching student leaders from across the state about the difference between sexual orientation and romantic identity.

I have also had the pleasure of working in the legislative process as the Gender and Sexuality Diversity Representative Position. During my time in this position I was approached by someone who identified as Transgender whose group home refused to allow them to identify as they truly did. Upon doing some research I found that there were not a whole lot of policies regarding gender identity in the group homes of Oregon and with this information I reached out to the Governor’s Office and had the pleasure of meeting with the Diversity Chief of the State, Serena Stoudamire and discussing with her a.) the importance of gender identity and sexuality inclusive policies in the group home and b.) that I felt it was likely that with the lack of policies there was more than one group home in this position. A few months later Ms. Stoudamire informed me that the information I provided to her helped create a new mandatory training that all group home owners will have to attend regarding the importance of gender and sexuality inclusivity.

I have also had the pleasure of advocating on the federal level for LGBTQ+ Equality. During my time as the Gender and Sexuality Diversity Representative I have done research on HR 3185—also known as the Equality Act—which has been introduced in the house and senate. HR 3185 would amend the Civil Rights Act to include gender identity and sexuality as protected classes and include places of public accommodation as protected areas. Upon researching further into this bill I found that it was currently in five sub-committees and with this information contacted the office of Senator Jeff Merkely regarding what I could do. Upon meeting with them I was given the contact information of the people leading all the committees and encourage to contact them. I then wrote a letter, using research about LGBTQ+ Statistics, to state why I found this bill absolutely necessary. According to me most recent research this bill was just recently re-introduce in both the house and the senate.

However, the thing that I succeeded in that is my greatest accomplishment would have to be the creation of the Gender and Sexuality Safe Zone at Chemeketa Community College. While in the position of Gender and Sexuality Diversity Representatives I worked hard advocating for an inclusive space for the LGBTQ+ Community that could be used as a place to escape the pains many people face and a resource center to help those who need it. This space was a combination of intensive research, strong advocating, presentations, team work, and flexibility. One year, a 59 page proposal, countless hours of research, and more advocating than I care to remember later the Gender and Sexuality Safe Zone isn’t just created but been guaranteed to stick around for years to come. The space is heavily used; often one of the heaviest used places in the entire college.

In my time as the Gender and Sexuality Diversity Representative I have also attended as a full time student and graduate with two Associate Degrees. These degrees are Administrative Office Professional Associate of Applied Science and Virtual Office Assistance Associate of Applied Science degrees. In obtaining these degrees I have received intensive training in the entire Microsoft Office Suite, computer applications, research, and general administrative office work. The most notable thing I learned was how to be creative in learning new skills so I can always stay up-to-date and effective.

I do my best to make my availability flexible.