When I took the position as president of LGBTQIA+ Allies last December, one of my main goals was to combine our Jesuit identity with our organization’s Queer identity because I see Jesuit values reflected within our organization. Our mission as an organization is to increase awareness of Queer issues on our campus and provide educational programming such as our annual movie nights and our Drag Show.

Our Jesuit mission takes pride in our service to others, as Allies does. This past April, we as a club, went on Labre to serve the homeless in Cleveland because LGBT youth are more 120% more likely to experience homelessness than non-LGBT youth. We met many other people that night reminded us we are people for others and that service is important – both fundamental pieces of our Jesuit, Catholic identity.

Ignatian spirituality prioritizes reflection as learning, and our organization does many events to reflect on who we are as members or allies of the Queer community. One of these events is our annual Day of Silence. This is a national event as students take a vow of silence for a day to stand up against anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. We then have our “Breaking the Silence” party and reflect on our day.  It is an educational experience for all, and I learn new things every year from participating.

This brings me to our biggest event of the year, our annual drag show. The Drag Show works to provide a visual of what the Queer community offers. It’s more than people cross-dressing and lip-syncing to Lady Gaga. The packed Dolan atrium had fun singing, dancing, and generally being fabulous. We also had our insightful Q&A on how to be an ally for those different from us, the LGBT mental health crisis, and what lays ahead of us in furthering equity. We even learned how hard it can be for a drag queen to date because there is discrimination against femininity within the Queer community itself.

Our main reason for having the Drag Show is to educate the students of John Carroll on what it is like to have different identities. In Anhedonia Delight’s Facebook post, a student told her that the show reminded them it is okay to be who they are. It goes back to who we are as an organization of a Jesuit institution. We allowed students of all different backgrounds to have a positive experience together for a night. We all laughed together, clapped together, and learned together in any environment where all were welcome to fully participate.

If you want to know more about the Queer community and/or want a space to be you, I invite you to join LGBTQIA+ Allies. Our meetings are open to ALL who want to be in an inclusive community. They are Wednesdays, 8 p.m., in the CSDI Lounge.