Queer Homecoming celebrates LGBTQ+ 

LBCC’s Pride series continued with their Queer Homecoming event, a night of dancing, lavender pinning and a celebration of authenticity and community on Oct. 9.

The lavender pinning ceremony was a symbol of community pride where all attendees participated and received a lavender flower pinned onto their clothes.

LBCC staff member Cyrus Fernandez spoke about his experiences regarding navigating two identities; his queerness and his Filipino heritage. 

“My queer identity is something I’ve negotiated with everyday,” Fernandez said. “Having a squiggly career and life was part of the journey for my self discovery in who I am.”

^{Cyrus Fernandez. speaker for the event, in his speech about his identity as an queer Filipino in today’s world at the W building at LBCC.
Photo by Matthew Bautista}

Fernandez also taught everyone a Tagalog phrase related to the ideas of community and family that related to the event.

“Isang Bagsak. When one falls, we all fall,” Fernandez said.

Attendees were greeted with rainbow decorations and a playlist of some iconic LGBTQ anthems such as “I’m Coming out” by Diana Ross and “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga showcasing that this event at its heart was a celebration of identity.

“We are here to celebrate National Coming Out Day, Filipino Heritage Month and to celebrate queerness,” event organizer Christian Garcia said.

Bracelet making was a major activity offered, having attendees be as creative with heaps of rainbow-colored beads as they could which also helped in creating connections between the attendees, a major theme of the event.

^{A bracelet made at the Queer Homecoming event admist some of the rainbow decorations present.
The Queer Homecoming event is part of the Pride series at LBCC for LBCC LGBTQ students and staff for National Coming Out Day.
Photo by Matthew Bautista}

Once the event officially kicked off, various speakers spoke about the importance of queerness and authenticity in the world today while many focused on the importance of community within someone’s reach.

“We are your family in so many ways”, Erika Santizo said in her speech.

After the formalities, Garcia commenced the “good old-fashioned queer joy” of dancing to hit songs by Demi Lovato and a photo-booth with no shortage of rainbow themed props for maximum fun.

“Queerness Truly is a Gift,” student Ella Funchess said.

The event was part of an initiative put on by LBCC known as the Pride series, a series of workshops and events to uplift the LGBTQ community on campus, both staff and faculty, outside of Pride month, in which there is a decreased amount of foot traffic on campus.