Hi. Kirk Ralston here. I really hating talking about myself, truly. Most people in my life would find that hard to believe, but I swear it’s true. From a young age, I’ve always struggled with what I wanted to be when I grew up. I’m honestly still struggling with that, but I have a better idea now. That’s part of the reason I became interested in the DESJ route, because no matter what, I always knew that I wanted to help people. I guess in my younger years I was confused or unsure how that would translate to a career. I discovered there were degrees centered around helping people, which made me want to start my educational journey. Initially, I was waffling between Communications and Human Services, but decided on Human Services, because that’s who I’ve always been. 

Even before I identified as a gay man, I knew about equity and always fought for the fair treatment of others. After fully accepting and realizing myself, my resolve for social justice only got stronger. Which leads me to the Pride Center at the college. Obviously, we live in a world where there are serious and life altering events taking place. The size and appeal of the Pride Center doesn’t even make the list of immensely important things, but it’s the principle of the matter. I had heard of the Pride Center when I first started attending college, but I was unsure about where it was. I still remember the first day I discovered it. I was on my way to get a coffee when I saw that the door was open (for once), and there were rainbow flags everywhere. I stopped, looked in, and was kind of shocked. I could be more dramatic here, but I’ll be somewhat professional instead. While I was happy the college had reserved a space for queer people, this tiny room with an even smaller Keurig left a lot to be impressed by. To me, Pride “Center” was a little bit of an exaggeration. 

Now, I don’t necessarily believe that queer people deserve whole buildings or pyramids, but this room isn’t it. As a marginalized community, we’re used to settling, and taking the back seat in society. Being second best in the eyes of many is a life we’re all accustom to living. Which is why even when the world is in shambles and there is a myriad of tragedies, how queer people are treated after everything we’ve overcome and achieved, should be a priority for those who consider themselves our allies. For many, the Pride Center will be nothing more than another room on campus, but for the queer kid that’s struggling with his home life, it could be a lifeline. We all deserve and need a place to go, regardless of how we identify, a larger and more accessible Pride Center would be a great place to start. As they say, a rising tide lifts all boats.