Peer Panel Program

What are peer panels?

The LGBT Center offers Peer Panels to raise awareness and discuss the gravity of homophobia and heterosexism that exists on the Minnesota State University campus, while breaking the stereotypes and reducing stigma that affects the LGBT* community. The panels consist of student volunteers who are committed to making our campus safer for all individuals.

The panelists share personal stories of coming out and give insight into their personal experiences as members of the LGBT* and/or ally community. Following their individual stories, the panelists will field questions that are submitted anonymously by the audience. While most topics are eligible to be discussed, each individual panelist has the right to choose whether or not to answer a question.

Panelists are not experts in the field of LGBT* issues and can only speak to their own experiences. Requests for presentations beyond coming out stories and a panelists' personal experiences should be made to the LGBT Center directly.

When do I request a panel?

The LGBT Center is in search of students for the speaker panels and not quite ready to schedule panels at this time. We don’t quite have enough students and also need some time to train and allow the students who have and do sign up as panel speaker to shape and have input in the panel structure and ground rules they want established for audiences.

Students interested in being a panel speaker can reach out to the LGBT Center Director, Zeke Sorenson at Zeke.sorenson@mnsu.edu or the Graduate Assistant for the LGBT Center, Ashlyn Rakos at ashlyn.rakos@mnsu.edu 

What if I only need one person to come and speak to my class?

If you are only seeking a one person speaker, please contact our graduate assistant.