The LGBTQ Student Center kicks off its inaugural Pride Awareness Speaker Series on Monday, March 26, with the interactive workshop Beyond Binaries: Identity, Sexuality and Movement Building, from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Shalala Student Center.

Developed by educator, speaker, and grassroots activist Robyn Ochs, the workshop is designed as a tool for increasing awareness of sexual orientation and identity, with a focus on the complex interplay between these and other identities, especially gender. 

The editor of the Bi Women Quarterly and two anthologies—the 42-country collection Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World and RECOGNIZE: The Voices of Bisexual Men—Ochs’ writings have been published in numerous bi, women’s studies, multicultural, and LGBTQ+ anthologies and she has taught university courses in gender and sexuality studies.

An advocate for the rights of people of ALL orientations and genders to live safely, openly and with full access and opportunity, her work focuses on increasing awareness and understanding of complex identities, and mobilizing people to be powerful allies to one another within and across identities and social movements.

The speaker series continues on Wednesday, April 11, with Undocumented & Queer: Navigating Intersectionalites with Yosimar Reyes, a nationally acclaimed, undocumented performance artist and Define America artist in residence. His talk will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Senate Room at the Shalala Student Center.

The series wraps up on Tuesday, April 17, with Libations: Let’s Meet Here by Octavia Yearwood, an arts educator who uses the arts to bridge the gap between community and academia. The recipient of the American Express Emerging Leaders Award and Legacy Magazine‘s recognition of 40 Black Leaders Under 40 in Miami, Yearwood will perform twice, once at 3 p.m. and again at 4 p.m. in the Shalala Center’s East Ballroom.

All events are free and open to UM students, faculty, and staff. For additional information, view the LGBTQ Student Center’s event page on  Facebook for additional information or send questions to [email protected].