After President Donald Trump’s DEI ban was proposed this year, LGBTQ residents are left in uncertainty for their rights, safe spaces and personal integrity. Earlier this year, The PRISM Resource Center, a safe space for LGBTQ at The University of Southern Mississippi, was closed due to the previous DEI ban.
The Spectrum Center, a nonprofit organization supporting the LGBTQ community, is filling a crucial gap not just for students, but for queer individuals throughout the Pine Belt. Kristen Kaylor, a senior at the University of Southern Mississippi, said the center came as a surprise to her, noting that it is one of the few hubs of its kind in the state.
“I came from a town that had no spaces for LGBTQ+ youth, so I was really curious,” said Kaylor. “When I was at the center, everyone was very open and welcoming. It was a comfortable atmosphere for queer people to hang out, seek aid if they needed it, meet and communicate with others and coordinate events.”
According to Kaylor and the website, the center caters to adult ages as well as young adults with activities catered to each age group’s interests.
Alicia Pacheco Brown, a volunteer and nurse by day, said she has seen firsthand the positive impact the center has on young participants. Brown joined the center nearly two years ago to support her daughter, who came out as queer in early high school.
“Helping my kid, shortly evolved into participating in pride events,” said Brown. “We had to be a part of this group. They are like a family I never knew existed.”
Brown said the Center has been open since 2014 but has gained huge popularity after covid. She noted that the growing number of participants demonstrates the need for change in the state.
“Uniting as a community and making these problems known to officials can be a help in some cases,” said Kaylor. “Lawmakers and people in power often look down upon minorities and believe that they can do nothing about their situations.”
However, the center uses these obstacles as a fuel to the fire, participating in many peaceful protests over the years. The Center’s focus is advocacy according to tschburg.org Throughout the year, the staff hosts several events to help fundraise money for individuals who consider themselves queer. They have a set of five future goals for their establishment.
The first goal is to open a community fridge, next is to remodel the property building, then pass a Non-Discrimination Ordinance in the City of Hattiesburg, establish a gender-affirming surgery grant program and lastly open a safe, affirming and inclusive shelter for at-risk LGBTQ+ people. With the odds against them, Brown believes being vocal and fighting for the purpose is essential to the spread of awareness.
“We should be grateful for this place,” Brown said. We don’t have many places like this to help bring us together in these circumstances.”
The Spectrum Center strives to secure rights for all citizens and to deny invisibility within society. By using social media, therapy sessions, and raising money to better the community, the staff of the Spectrum Center is determined to defend all the rights of U.S. citizens.
“There’s no getting rid of us,” said Brown. “We’ve been here for 10 years, and we’ll still be standing 10 years later.”
