The University of Southern Mississippi is known for its sense of inclusivity. However, past and recent events this school year targeting the LGBTQIA+ community has many concerned about how open the Hattiesburg community is. 

Junior criminal justice major Marcus August wrote a paper relating to the struggles and tribulations of the trans community specifically. 

August wrote the essay, entitled Sexuality In This Human Rights World, for a political science class last November, but it has received new focus this semester. 

One of the resources August used in writing the paper was Wes Shaffer, the coordinator of Prism, the LGBTQIA+ resource center on campus.

 Shaffer, who is gender-nonconforming, gave the Printz insight into their own experience of rejection from those in the surrounding community.

“Being that I present as a non-traditional gender, unfortunately, I face these things everywhere. I haven’t felt truly safe where I’ve ever lived,” Shaffer said. 

A concern about safety was also present in one of the people August interviewed for his paper; his cousin Zi’rielle Jones. 

August, who is gay, talked about how Jones, a transgender woman, faced discrimination from within and outside of her family upon transitioning. 

After years of hardship, Jones founded Rewriting Destiny, an LGBTQ+ resource center based in New Orleans devoted to providing resources for those who need it. 

Jones came to campus last week to talk about her life experience for the Shades of LGBTQ+ event, which is part of the programming instituted by the Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement Office for Black History Month. 

Hearing his cousin’s story for the first time is something that brought tears to August’s eyes. Seeing where Jones is now and hearing her story again carried similar weight.

The essay’s main intention was to inform the community about a segment of the population that is not well known about and consistently mistreated: Black trans women like August’s cousin, Zi’rielle Jones.

In an interview on 88.5 WUSM, August explained that these efforts of inquiry could be applied on a macro level for the LGBTQIA+ community overall. 

“Be open-minded. Get to know us first before judging us or talking about us,” August said.

August’s essay can be viewed here [online].For those within the LGBTQIA+ community who need to reach out for help, call 1-866-488-7386 or go to The Trevor Project’s website for support.