Standing out at GRCC

When Eirann Betka decided to return to college, she found little activity or support for the gay and lesbian community at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC). She made it her personal mission to change that and now, she's the president of StandOut, GRCC's Gay-Straight Alliance student organization. 
 

Prior to Betka getting involved, the group was not very active and she says she wanted to "energize it and get it bigger." Since then, StandOut has been meeting every Monday at 1:00 p.m. in the Student Center's Farside Room with around 10-15 people attending each week. They also attend conferences and are currently planning activities for a Pride Week.
 

If you have noticed the abundance of buttons around the GRCC campus, it's most likely because of the button maker StandOut members use regularly. Once a month, they host button-making parties where guests cut out images and words from magazines and make them into buttons. Betka says the purpose is to make a stand with the buttons, but the events also "build camaraderie."
  

Betka and other members from StandOut also recently attended the Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference (MBLGTACC) in Lansing this past February. The conference is the largest LGBTA college conference in the nation. Speakers shared ways to strengthen college organizations, network more efficiently, and create change. 
 

"I got fired up!" Betka says. 
 

She was still very much 'fired up' when she attended GRCC's Feb. 13 Diversity Lecture Series featuring journalist and gay rights activist LZ Granderson. At the well-attended event, Granderson spoke about what it means to be gay and living in Grand Rapids. He encouraged everyone to stand up to bullying and for equal rights, while sharing personal stories about his life.
 

Members of the GRCC Board of Trustees were also in attendance at the event and afterward, Board Trustee Richard Ryskamp was somewhat critical of the event and commented that if someone speaks on gay issues again at GRCC, that person should be someone "who has tried being gay but now regrets that path or is trying to walk a new path." 
 

Not only did Granderson publicly question Ryskamp's understanding of sexual orientation in response, but Betka challenged him on his assumption as well. Last week, she met with Ryskamp for more than two hours and left with "an agreement to disagree."

She says the two broke down his statements "word for word" and shared what the comments meant to each other. Betka says their candid, yet respectful conversation went extremely well, and he challenged the way she perceived her own community. 
 

"I respected how much he challenged me and I know I also challenged him," she says.
 

StandOut's president appreciated that she could have that type of conversation with Ryskamp and admits it humbled her and aggravated her at the same time.
  

"My intention is to cause change, whether this college -- or Michigan -- is ready for it or not," Betka says.
 

And that change may very well begin with GRCC's first ever Pride Week April 8-12. The StandOut group is collaborating with other student organizations on campus (including minority groups) as well as the GRCC Library, the Red Project, and the LGBT Network. Pride Week will feature an open mic night, an art show, and more, with additional information announced soon.  
 

GRCC's StandOut group wants to promote equality for all. If you agree with that idea and want to get involved, here are some ways you can:
 

- Like StandOut, the GRCC Gay-Straight Alliance, on Facebook. 

- Attend one of the Monday meetings in the Farside Room within GRCC's Student Center. StandOut meets weekly at 1 p.m.

- Participate in Pride Week at the GRCC campus April 8-12. More information will be posted on the group's Facebook page soon. 
 

Sources: Eirann Betka, president of StandOut, GRCC's Gay-Straight Alliance student organization 

Writer: Heidi Stukkie, Do Good Editor