The LGBT Resource Center (LGBTRC) hosted its annual LGBTailgate on Oct. 9 in honor of homecoming week. At the event, students could enjoy food, friendship and a wide variety of outdoor activities, including corn hole, life-size Jenga, Connect Four and more.
Lee Baker, LGBTRC’s TNQ coordinator, and Devyn Kadlec, LGBTRC’s program coordinator, were in charge of organizing the event. Baker and Kadlec believe events like the LGBTailgate are essential to host at EMU.
“It brings the community together,” Baker said. “It’s really important to have a strong community on campus. We are really well-known for how tight-knit our community is and the resources we provide.
Ypsi and Ann Arbor are both very queer-friendly places, and having a strong resource center and having these events is definitely a big part of that.”
This event allowed students to learn more about the LGBT Resource Center as well.
“It not only helps bring the community together, but also having an event out here makes us more known to the campus and provides awareness,” Kadlec said.
The LGBTailgate also gave students the chance to meet new friends and make connections.
“This is more of a social, have-fun type of event,” Baker said. “Later in the month we will be having more educational events.”
Step-siblings Jordan Rice and Dru Seymour are both freshmen at EMU and attended the tailgate.
“I’m gay, and I wanted to make friends,” Rice said. “My brother has been very supportive.”
When asked about the purpose of the event, Rice said it “is to get the word out, make more friends, and the community itself.”
Seymour shared a similar outlook to Rice about the event’s purpose. “Basically what she said, but also to find more allies and make people realize different parts of the community,” Seymour said.
The LGBTRC has a wide array of events coming up this month. Visit emich.edu/lgbtrc/events/ to view the schedule.
