The LGBTQIA pride flag reigns high at Valley College

Valley’s Pride+ club made history on campus, as the LGBTQIA pride flag swayed in the wind.

By Natalie Metcalf. Valley Life Editor

Natalie Guerrero, Valley College’s Rainbow Pride Center counselor shares her coming out story in front of students and faculty before the LGBTQIA pride flag is raised for the first time on Valley’s campus. (Christian Cruz | Valley Star)

Valley College President Barry Gribbons and Pride+ President Jamie Roisman raised the LGBTQIA pride flag on campus, while a crowd of students, faculty and administrators gathered at the flagpole.

The event was said to be historic by The San Fernando Valley LGBT Center, Valley and the Rainbow Pride Center. Gribbons spoke during the event, acknowledging the importance of the flag being raised. Rainbow Pride members passed out mini LGBTQIA flags and stickers to students and faculty during the event. Umoja Black Scholars came out in support of the flag-raising, as well as a few players from Valley’s Women’s Basketball Team.

“The truth, as parents are often surprised to hear, is that no matter what the result of coming out is, it can be a scary experience to initiate as we are so often burdened with the knowledge of past queer trauma and pain,” said Pride+ President Jamie Roisman, after sharing his experience coming out and being a part of the LGBTQIA community. “You all are so important to this cause, journey and community and I am happy to have you here.”

Pride+ President Jamie Roisman delivers a heartfelt and welcoming speech to Valley students and faculty during the pride flag-raising event. (Christian Cruz | Valley Star)

The San Fernando Valley LGBT Center joined in the festivities with a pinwheel. Each person could receive a free bag, notebook or pin when spinning the wheel. The center is the first LGBTQIA center in the Valley, being run by CEO Raymond Gomez Garcia and director Renato Lira. Pride+ and The Rainbow Pride Center are collaborating with the SFV LGBT Center in the future with a literacy workshop.

“It is really important to the community, especially in the San Fernando Valley,” said Lira. “It’s the first time they’re going to raise the flag for coming out day. It’s really important for us to show that we are present and we’re here to support.”

Natalie Guerrero, the Rainbow Pride Center’s counselor coordinator, led the event and told her coming out story as well. After the event, students and faculty could join Pride+ in their celebration in the Student Services Plaza. The counselor thanked Valley for being supportive during her first four months working on campus.

“I came out to myself when I was 13, I came out to my mom when I was 18,” said Guerrero, as she told her coming out story to the public. “During that time I was going through a lot of stress. But I didn’t want to cry, so I wrote her a letter just to make sure I said everything I wanted to say. My mom responded with a letter as well.”

National Coming Out Day takes place on Oct. 11. It marks the anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The holiday was founded in 1988 –– on the one-year anniversary of the march –– by psychologist Richard Eichberg and gay rights activist, Jean O’Leary.

“Today we are raising the flag for the first time,” said Guerrero. “It’s a historic event here at Valley College and this is just the beginning.”