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Center's growing leadership helps further LGBTA cause

By Andy Elder, Student Affairs Writer

Almost any devotee of college football has heard the familiar refrain “We Are ... Penn State!” reverberate through Beaver Stadium.

For sports fans, that proclamation means they are active supporters of the university’s various sports teams.

“We Are ... Penn State” also means the university community includes a diverse range of people.

Included in that community of “We Are ... Penn State” are also lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders and allies, which are friends, family and supporters of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities.

The LGBTA Student Resource Center in the Division of Student Affairs helps to make sure the LGBTA community is as integrated and accepted into the campus community as any other group of students.

The center has a new ally in that effort — assistant director Christian Matheis, who came on board in July of 2005.

Before coming to Penn State, Matheis served in dual roles at Oregon State University in both student affairs and academic affairs as program advisor for LGBT Services Office and as program coordinator for the Difference, Power and Discrimination Program.

He holds a bachelor of science in psychology and a master of arts in applied ethics, minors in ethnic studies and sociology. Both of his degrees are from Oregon State University.

“Coming from another institution whose support services are in their infancy, it’s wonderful to come to a place where their support services are so extensive,” Matheis said. “The center has a wonderful library and staffing and even student interns. I feel like I’ve stepped into the future as far as what a center could be like.”

His work with the center includes, among other duties, advising and mentoring responsibilities to various student groups and student leaders, planning and coordinating guest speaker appearances for the LGBTA Lecture Series, facilitating development and training sessions for students, staff and faculty, as well as providing outreach and support to students, staff and faculty throughout the Penn State University system.

The center provides an array of programs and services for LGBT students. Among them are:

• Straight Talks: Panels of speakers comprised of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally students from a kaleidoscope of beliefs and background who educate the university community on sexual orientation, gender identity, oppression and diversity at Penn State University.
• Mentor Program: It pairs students who are coming out and exploring an identity as a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individual, with other individuals who are more knowledgeable and self-accepting of their LGBT identity. Mentoring helps people develop a positive LGBT identity by providing a supportive relationship, accurate information, and a safe person to talk with about coming out concerns.
• LGBT General Discussion Group: This is an online, bi-weekly discussion group for people who are either questioning their sexual orientation or are not out of the closet. Students are invited to meet people in a safe environment while staying in the comfort and safety of their own home.

Even with all of the center’s resources, Matheis said the center still has work to do in educating the Penn State community.

“Our support network reaches quite a few people throughout the campus system. The mentorship program here places students with mentors and does wonderful work. We’re learning how to establish resources within the program when we don’t have enough,” Matheis said.

“Many people are tolerant and somewhat aware that LGBT people are at Penn State, but I don’t know if I can call it acceptance. I hope people’s natural curiousity leads to a willingness to accept some things they didn’t know before."

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