Northridge — The Pride Center of the University Student Union (USU) invites all Matadors to celebrate and support CSUN’s Trans* community during “Trans* Empowerment Week” from Tuesday, Nov. 12 to Thursday, Nov. 21. With its weeklong series of fun community-building activities and educational workshops, this is an opportunity for CSUN students to help create a welcoming space with the Pride Center while making new friends and raising the visibility of transgender, gender-queer and gender non-conforming individuals.
“We are very excited to host events like ‘Trans* Empowerment Week,’ that empower the Trans* community and bring awareness to the campus,” said Sarina Loeb, Pride Center Manager.
To begin “Trans* Empowerment Week”, Matadors can attend the Trans* Resource Fair on Tuesday, Nov. 12 starting at noon and ending at 1:30 p.m. on the Plaza Del Sol of the USU. You can learn about and engage with local trans-friendly resources available on and off campus. Next, take the opportunity to learn more about the Trans* community at Trans* 101 that same day from 2 to 3:15 p.m. in the Flintridge Room in the East Conference Center, across from the Student Recreation Center main entrance. Attendees will hear more about the current issues in the Trans* community along with appropriate terminology you can use while making connections and meeting new friends.
On Monday, Nov. 18 from 2 to 3:15 p.m., you’ll have another opportunity to attend Trans* 101 in the Flintridge Room. Then, you can meet your friends later that evening at the USU Theatre located on the second floor of the Northridge Center Complex from 5 to 7 p.m. for an engaging screening of Two Spirits, a powerful film focused on the diverse gender identities within Native American tribes and how the ideology of gender transforms throughout time. In addition, you can participate in a clothing swapping event at the Pride Center each day of the week during their hours of operation where you can explore your sense of style and help yourself to any clothes that express your gender identity.
On Tuesday, Nov. 19, it’s another chance to attend a Trans* 101 workshop from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Pasadena Room at the East Conference Center of the USU. That evening, you can learn useful techniques at the Self-Defense Workshop from 5 to 7 p.m., presented by Supernova Self-Defense in the Flintridge Room of the USU.
Then, make plans to join the Pride Center on the 2nd floor of the USU Sol Center the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for the “Trans* Day of Remembrance Vigil” to pay respects to all the trans* individuals we’ve lost over the past year. As a community, we will come together for a vigil where we will share condolences and remember the trans* victims who lost their lives from hate crimes and assault.
To conclude the week, there will be an informative panel of local trans* activists on Thursday, Nov. 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. located in the Pride Center. Come together to discuss the different ways to combat transphobia and create connections with each other as a supportive and safe community.
Don’t miss out on this special week filled with inspiring and educational workshops with many opportunities to create new connections. For more information about “Trans* Empowerment Week”, please visit csun.edu/pride/tew or contact the Pride Center at pride@csun.edu.
