Family is the focus for several April events at the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center at the University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ at Boulder featuring four special programs.
* "Love Makes a Family" art exhibit, April 1-14
* Lambda Rising Queer Studies conference, April 10
* Leslie Hoffman lecture, April 10 & 12
* GLBT Parent Panel, April 13
The highly acclaimed exhibit, "Love Makes a Family: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People and Their Families" opens April 1 in the University Memorial Center Fine Arts Gallery Annex.
This national exhibit tours to colleges and universities, workplaces, conferences, libraries, schools and Pride events throughout the country. It is designed to celebrate diversity within families that include gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members from different racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. The exhibit will be on display at the UMC through April 14.
Two other events will coincide with the exhibit. The Seventh Annual Lambda Rising Queer Studies Conference will be held on April 10. Twenty-five academics, activists and community leaders will present works covering various aspects of lesbian, bisexual, transgender, gay studies and culture.
According to Beverly Tuel, director of the GLBT Resource Center, the goal of the conference is to delve into issues of sexual orientation and gender identity from both academic and community perspectives. "This is one of the only places where these important issues can be discussed by a broad range of people for an entire day," she said.
A highlight of the conference will be a keynote address by Leslie Hoffman, a renowned educator who works with organizations and institutions on issues of GLBT youth and families, gender equity, sexual harassment, cultural diversity and youth development issues. Hoffman's topic will be "Our Own Families: Valuing the Faces of Change."
In conjunction with the "Love Makes a Family" exhibit, on Monday, April 12, Hoffman will present another talk, "A Picture Paints a Thousand Words: Using Art for Social Change," at noon in the UMC, room 159 A&B. Hoffman works closely with the creators of the exhibit and uses the stories told in words and pictures as a tool for opening minds and building bridges.
On April 13 a panel of Boulder area lesbian and gay parents will talk about the joys and hardships of raising children. This program, "Love Makes a Family: The Reality," will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the UMC, room 157 A&B. Participants will share the richness of their experiences, including both happy and painful stories.
"Lambda Rising: A Queer Studies Conference" will begin at 8:30 a.m. on April 10 with a continental breakfast and end with a reception at 5 p.m. A box lunch will be served. Costs for the daylong conference are free for students and $15 general registration before March 31; after March 31 costs are $15 for students and $25 for general registration.
All other events are free and open to the public and people of all sexual orientations. For information and registration, call the GLBT Resource Center at 303-492-1377 or send e-mail to glbrc@stripe.colorado.edu.