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My assumption about the Pride club was very surface level; I thought it was a club for gays and lesbians. However, that was as far as my thoughts of it went. I never delved   deeper or cared to know more about it.

I am from South Sudan. I come from a culture that does not accept or even acknowledge the LGBTQ community. In fact, I did not know such group of people as the existed until I moved to the United States.

Due to this, my views in life are more conservative. I however, was told how it was unacceptable and not god’s intent as the Christian community.

Even so, I have great respect and tolerance for others who have different life style and viewpoints from my own.

“There are a lot of people that came from small town, that don’t see much diversity race wise, gender orientation and they do not know how to react when they see all different types of diversity,” Carlos Rodrigues, pride club treasurer said.

This is why the Grand View Pride Club’s role on campus is being a voice for fostering that dialogue of diversity.

So when the opportunity to presented itself to do a report on the Pride club, I took the chance. It was getting out of the bubble I have always been in and get to know a part of Grand Views community that existed but didn’t necessary interact with.

My assumptions of the pride club were that it was an exclusive club to those who were affiliated with the LGBTQ community.  When I attended the 5 o’clock pride club meeting on Friday, I imagined it would be a room full of people, who would fit the typical stereotype of the LGBTQ community, flamboyant, men who dressed pretty and more masculine dressed women.

I thought wrong. What I found was a small group of people whom I could not tell who was gay or straight until I asked and they were very warm and welcoming.

They were connected through shared experiences of life and they were open and wanted to share their stories. They find support in each other that is not offered anywhere else on campus. The safe environment that was created through the pride club mostly encouraged openness and acceptance.

It is a place that anyone can come and be who they are with out fears of judgment. Some spoke very passionately about the election and what was at stake depending on who would win.

Some members expressed fears about marriage equality being taken away, while others expressed concerns about safety and being judge by peers or professors. They also talked about the fear of sharing a part of them they can’t help with friends and colleagues that might reject their friendship if they knew they were Gay or lesbian.

After listening to them, I felt that I have more in common with them than not. As an immigrant and a minority, I too share some of the fears they were expressing. My fears might not have to do with my sexual orientation, never the less they are still fears. We all have fears of being judged, of not “being perceived as credible” and not being accepted because of differences.

What I thought was so beautiful about the Pride club was that it is not just a place where LGBTQ community were welcome. But all people were welcome.

President of Pride Club, Lauren Krause said, “we want to exist as a safe place for people. They can come here no matter what they are and they will not be attacked for who they are. They can find people who share the same interest with. One of the main goals for the organization is to create awareness within and outside of Grand Views campus.”

Pride is definitely is “a safe place” as the members call it, where all are welcome. The environment lived up to its name. Pride stand for People Respecting Individuals Everywhere and that energy was present while I was in attendance. I might not be affiliated with the LGBTQ community, but after my experience, I am a strong believer in equal rights and everyone perusing a life that is meaningful to them without being judge.