Tampa, Fla.- The Hillsborough Community College Ybor City campus has taken a definitive stance on one of the most controversial topics in the country today. The campus took a step towards acceptance, in the fight for equal rights for the gay community. On Nov. 14, 2013, the campus hosted its first ever lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) event, “Scene and Heard”. The event is intended to be informational and enlightening to the struggles and challenges that the LGBTQ is facing and the strides they have made as well.

The event showcased multiple films and other artistic works that depicted the persecution that the LGBTQ community had faced and overcome. Two of the films that were being showcased displayed the direct effects of homosexuality in the state of Florida over the past six decades.

The event also held two interactive panels  hat spoke with students about being “out” and how the reality of what that means for someone. The panels included students, professors, business owners, veterans, and even  a political aide; all of whom are openly gay. They shared their own personal stories and gave advice on how to stay true to yourself with the possibility of being persecuted. Before the second and main panel began, campus president, Dr. Shawn Robinson, gave an introductory  speech welcoming the panelists and expressing the importance of acceptance and educating ourselves about different cultures saying, “We are learning about a community that has been silenced in the past, and should be  heard.”

Students of all backgrounds were drawn to the event, thanks in part to multiple fl yers that have been posted at all of the campuses. Sabrina Harper-Smith is an openly gay student, who was drawn to the event by way of the fl yers, and explained that she thought it was, “A mind blowing event” and that “the school does a much better job of awareness and acceptance” than her high school had done. When asked what in particular was  ifferent at the college level, she explained that she felt comfortable being openly gay at the campus and was bullied and pressured at the high school where she attended.

Some students who came to attend the event were straight men and women, who were looking to educate themselves on this growing and influential culture. Maurice Bastian was one of these students and walked away feeling better informed and appalled by the struggles that the LGBTQ community has faced and is still facing today. When asked what he thought of the current obstacles facing the LGBTQ community, Bastian replied, “We as a nation cannot worry about the people in charge. It is the same people in power and we need to take action as a group.” Bastian did go on to say that he believed the event to be a success and has attended other informative events similar to “Scene and Heard”, and hopes to see many more like it available to the students.

Bastian asked the one question that the event was meant to spur, “Why are people who are the same as me, having their rights oppressed?” Maybe with more events, like the one that the Ybor campus hosted, Maurice Bastian and others will no longer have to ask that  question in the future.