Pink Triangles in the Golden Triangle
by Angie Alvarado

Editor's Note: At Empower, we met several members of the newly formed Lamar University Gay and Lesbian Association (LUGLA) in Beaumont, who came both for the expo on Sunday and for the regional roundtable on Saturday. We're inspired to see the blossoming of gay rights in the small towns of Texas and the strength of those putting themselves out there. We asked member Angie Alvarado to tell us about LUGLA and about what the environment is like toward lesbians and gays in the Golden Triangle area.

During the Lamar University Springfest 2000, I met Francis Mijares. He told me that Lamar University Gay and Lesbian Association was founded in 1999 (by him), and he had also served as the organization's president. Francis explained that the organization is a common-interest group that provides social, political, emotional, and spiritual support. Although its membership is small it is continuing to grow. After talking to Francis, he invited me to the annual Pride Party so I could meet other members of the group and the faculty advisor, Kelly Draper. I was nervous about going, but once I was there I had never felt more at home and as if I belonged. I have always been an activist, but when you stand alone you don't ever get too brave.

The Golden Triangle (Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange) is a community that is proud of its reputation as being a "good ole boy" society with advances in technological capabilities. It is a place I love to live in. Lamar University continues that hometown feel while also delivering progressive education.

Being gay is looked at much like the "don't ask, don't tell" policy the military uses. If you are open about being gay, there can be a struggle from some of the religious groups and other old-way thinkers who are very strong in this part of Texas. I am open and might be considered a contradiction to being gay as I have a family (married with two children) who know all about my life. So many people do not believe I'm really a lesbian.

Our group is open to anyone who is willing to join. This group is not just for Lamar students and faculty but we are here for the whole community. We do not discriminate at all. We have members who are openly gay, "in the closet," or heterosexuals who support friends/family who are gay. We had to start small to keep from falling apart in an area that is not ready for us yet, though we will soon be changing that.

Our goal is to educate the community about gay issues and break down the barriers that exist in our community about being gay. We also hope that in education we can achieve acceptance. We are here to support others in their decision to come out, remain in the closet, or to provide a protective environment on campus and in the community. We are here to support our members in any way we can.

Our accomplishments include the annual beach cleanup that is held at McFaddin State Park, Triangle AIDS Network benefits such as World AIDS Update and Paint the Town Red. Socially we hold a beach retreat for our members once a year, and we sponsor many events at Lamar University as well. We plan to sponsor the World AIDS Day Banner display and perhaps provide a lecture series for the students regarding HIV and other health issues.

Since we are a new group we have not really had any recognition, but I hope to change all that. We are starting to get speakers to address us at our meetings. We have plans to invite political figures to speak on their platforms and how the gay community may be involved.

We have two monthly meetings, the second Wednesday and the fourth Thursday of each month. The later monthly meeting is when we schedule our speakers.

For more information, you can call me at 409/385-6586.

Empower is the first conference we have attended and were so grateful to Coy Tow for the invitation. We learned so much from the conference and we hope to share it with our community.