By Shanice Davis

Assistant Features Editor

Junior, Kia Washington, is a Peer Educator at the LGBTQA Pride Center, who cites the community as her strength and support system to be herself.

“My passion and energy for the Pride Center comes from the courage that the community there gave me to come out as queer,” she said.

It was the acceptance she found in this environment that encouraged her to help others.

“I knew that no matter what, there would be people there for me, and I want to continue creating that environment for others. I want to be one of the leaders to pass that experience and passion on to all students who come into contact with us,” Washington said.

As a Peer Educator, Washington puts on many events; one of her first solo events was a Queer Discussion called “50 Shades of Correction,” an event in which participants discussed the dangerous inaccuracies of BDSM portrayed in Fifty Shades of Grey. In addition to that, the Pride Center frequently holds Nights Out, which are nights when students can play games and watch film screenings.

As this month is GAYpril, the Pride Center is putting on some upcoming events including Queer Homebois, occurring at 5 p.m. on April 27 in USU 3100, where there will be discussion of masculinity in relation to the Latin@ identity. At 5:30 p.m. on April 29 in USU 3100, Zumba Pride will occur, and finally the Campus Pride Walk and Festival will take place from 11:30 a.m to 1 p.m. on April 30, beginning in the Commons.

Washington says that working at the Pride Center gives her the opportunity to give back to the community and provide support, as she aims to promote social justice on campus.

“My position gives me the opportunity to not only inform and educate, but to continually become more educated myself,” she said.

She also expresses the gratitude that comes from the end result of fostering change within individuals.

“Seeing someone who has become more informed take what they’ve learned and use it to treat their fellow human beings with more dignity and respect is absolutely amazing,” Washington said.

Educating people on gender and sexuality, and advocating for the rights of all is the main course of action that Washington hopes to convey to people when doing her job.

“The beauty in having the innumerable groups of people exist within it is that everyone should have the right to define and represent themselves,” she said.

In addition, Washington recognizes the power of unity in promoting social change.

“However, I must acknowledge the work we must do to support those who are marginalized by the very community meant to empathize and empower them – for example, bisexual, transgender and non-binary people,” she said. “I believe, perhaps too idealistically, that it is vital for the community to be united, especially when there is still so much to fight for.”