Spring Break
Annual seminar explores women's issues
Series of eight lectures informs curious students
Mason W. Canales
Intern
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The second annual Diverse Women's seminar, "Developing Multicultural Leaders: Women who are Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and their Allies," included eight lectures, ranging from leadership to abuse.
These small lectures were on the fourth floor of the University Union from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. and 12:20 to 1:35 p.m. Friday.
"Anytime you get an opportunity to educate, it is an opportunity of a lifetime," said Laurie Scott, a community case manager, after her lecture. "Education is part of helping."
Scott gave a lecture about the "Same Sex Family Violence Dynamics."
Scott stressed that abuse occurs in the homosexuals and transgenders, and addressed how to make this community comfortable when they seek out help for abuse.
"How can these places help to encompass the gay community," Scott said.
"The majority of this can be changed with language, instead of using the word husband use the word partner."
Scott explained how a simple word change affects the attitudes of people.
One word difference makes straight couples and homosexuals feel comfortable, Scott said.
There are not many straight couples that find the word "partner" uncomfortable.
Rebecca Covells, a lawyer in Texas and Missouri, passed out a true-false quiz containing legal facts and falsies and a lecture outline at her breakout session, "Important Legal Issues for Women who are Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender."
Covells went through a list of true-false questions pertaining to wills, child custody and burial rights.
She laughed at some of the questions as she gave the answers, before she explained why the question would pertain to her listeners.
"It was a very informative lecture," said Doris Deckland, a minister and the spiritual speaker at the seminar.
"It is nice to acquire the basic knowledge to get a greater understanding. It affects my family more, which is why I attended. I have a son and I want to help him."
Other breakout sessions that took place on Friday included "Women Mentoring Women" and "The Transgender Leader: Challenges and Triumphs and Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Women in Sports and the Media."
