River Campus LGBTQ+ Ally Picnic celebrates inclusivity

On SEMO’s River Campus, students, faculty and community members gathered for the second annual LGBTQ+ Ally Picnic. On Wednesday, Oct. 2nd, local groups from the Cape Girardeau area gathered to recognize the LGBTQ+ community, and present themselves as allies.

The picnic served as an opportunity for attendees to engage with one another and show their support for diversity and inclusion on campus. Organized by SEMO’s LGBTQ+ Resource Center, the event featured chances for students to engage with allies from around Cape.

Junior biology major and President of the Pride Student Organization Peyton Redinger said that the goal is for students to understand there are members of the community who support and love them.

“The main thing is bringing home that there are businesses, there’s organizations, there’s people in our area that are allies to this community, that do protect us and love us and want to support us despite the overarching atmosphere that exists in this area. It brings home that Queer students in this area have a home, have a community, and are valued as a person here,” Redinger said.

Located in the River Campus Atrium, local vendors gathered with goodies for students as they engaged and promoted their messages. Local churches, pride organizations, and even a voter information booth all boasted pins and stickers and provided resources for students. Food was also provided.

Father Ryan Missel, representing the Christ Episcopal church located on Fountain Street said that being an ally means using your voice to help the LGBTQ+ community.

“Allyship, for me as a Queer person, means being open to hearing our stories, and not always speaking above us, but joining us in speaking together. It means promoting justice and love,” Missel said.

Another organization in attendance was Promo, Missouri’s LGBTQ+ public policy and advocacy organization. Member Robert Fischer said that allyship means going further than just showing up.

“True allyship is being hand-in-hand with the community, and saying not only do I support you, but I’m going to show up for you. I’m going to fight for you. I’m going to open doors for you that you might not be able to open. I’m going to utilize and leverage my privilege to open conversations,” Fischer said.

The LGBTQ+ Ally Picnic aimed to provide a platform for support and connection among the community. With participation from local LGBTQ+ friendly groups, members were able to foster a connection with students and bring home the message that they are loved and welcomed in the community.