(Top left) Ezra Cabrera joined Associated Students Inc. as director of graduate studies and was the first openly transgender ASI board member in eight years on Oct. 13, 2021. (Photo of Ezra Cabrera taken by Ayaana Williams. Photo in the background taken by Max Connor. Graphic created in Canva by Mercy Sosa). (Bottom left) Rosie Quinzel, a computer science major, poses in the Pride Center at the University Union at Sac State on Feb. 11, 2020. (Photo taken by Kayleen Carter). (Top right) Tranh Pham, the Pride Center coordinator poses in front of the Pride Center entrance on Feb. 25, 2022. (Photo taken by Hannah Asuncion). (Bottom right) Rosalba Gomez-Bautista, second year political science major and ethnic studies minor poses in front of the mural on the Studio Theater on April 12, 2022. (Photo taken by Hannah Asuncion). Graphic created in Canva.

LGBTQ+ History Month 2022

Mercy Sosa

October 5, 2022

LGBTQ+ History Month 2022 celebrates Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender icons to make a civil rights statement on the contribution of the community, according to a website dedicated to the month.

This month is an opportunity to educate on the history of the community as well, as it is the only group whose history is not taught in schools worldwide.

The State Hornet has compiled previous coverage of the LGBTQ+ community aiming to contribute to the educational efforts put forth by the establishment of the month.

LGBTQ+ Coverage

Tranh Pham, the Pride Center coordinator poses with students: Emilie Jocson a third year, Jess Lemos a third year, and Bowen Neumann, a first year social work graduate student holding up a variety of LGBTQ+ flags while tabling for the Club Days Event on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. (Photo taken by Hannah Asuncion).

New LGBTQ+ student organization offers a safe and inclusive space for everyone

February 28, 2022

The Pride Society is a student club that started fall 2021 and helps LGBTQ+ students connect with other LGBTQ+ students, and allies by being each others’ support systems at Sacramento State.

The Pride Society is described by Shay Steele, a former third-year early childhood education major and an active member of the Pride Society Center, as a place where everyone can talk about personal issues and interests.

“Students don’t have to worry about hiding an important part of themselves,” Steele said.

Rosalba Gomez-Bautista, second year political science major and ethnic studies minor poses in front of the mural on the Studio Theater on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. “We don’t want to be generalized as just Mexicans, we deserve to be represented and it’s very empowering especially now to be Indigenous and to claim that identity,” Gomez-Bautista said. (Photo taken by Hannah Asuncion).

‘I still haven’t come out yet’: First-generation queer Indigenous student balances their identities

May 2, 2022

In the beginning of the spring semester, Rosalba Gomez-Bautista was thrilled for their Mexican-American experience class, but according to them, it took a turn once their professor gave them a harmful response.

One of Gomez-Bautista’s ethnic studies professors told them that the topic of Indigenous experiences wasn’t in their syllabus and instead of providing materials for them, they recommended they go to a different class.

“The limitation of the material that’s presented in the courses has been a huge setback because if students aren’t aware, then how are we going to get support from this institution?” Gomez-Bautista said.

Pride Center coordinator Tranh Pham (middle right) and other students at the Pride Center on Tuesday, Sept 20, 2022. “I'm really grateful that I am privileged to have amazing staff and volunteers and community members in the pride center who are adding to the collective wisdom and experience other students get to have,” Pham said. (Photo taken by William Duvall).

‘A dream come true’: Sac State’s Pride Center puts on events to promote inclusivity

September 8, 2022

The Pride Center kicks off first in-person event to welcome the university’s LGBTQ+ community.

“How did I feel? I feel amazing! It’s been great!” Pride Center program coordinator Tranh Pham said. “Seriously, it feels like a dream come true for somebody who’s never dreamed that this was possible.”

Pham said their main goal at the Pride Center is to share institutional knowledge with incoming students as well as returning students. They said they want to provide a chance for students to have a positive and welcoming experience at Sac State.

The first non-binary Asian Pacific Islander Pride Center coordinator makes history at Sac State

March 15, 2022

Every day, Tranh Pham goes into what they have described as their dream job doing what they love for a community they said they care deeply for, with an amazing team by their side.

Pham’s journey at Sacramento State started in 2018 when they were first offered a job at the Women’s Center. They eventually started working at the Pride Center as a student assistant in 2019 before being named the interim Pride Center coordinator on Aug. 2, 2021.

Pham was officially named the coordinator Nov. 17, 2021 and is the first Asian Pacific Islander identified non-binary Pride Center Coordinator at Sacramento State. As the Pride Center Coordinator, Pham wants to welcome and make space for and help LGBTQ students thrive.

Ezra Cabrera joined Associated Students Inc. as director of graduate studies and is the first openly transgender ASI board member in eight years. (Photo of Ezra Cabrera taken by Ayaana Williams. Photo in the background taken by Max Connor. Graphic created in Canva by Mercy Sosa.)

First openly transgender ASI board member in eight years strives for change

October 13, 2021

Ezra Cabrera, his fiance and their dog were enjoying TV in their living room when he got a phone notification for his Sacramento State email — a position opening for director of graduate studies in ASI.

He filled out the application. Little did he know, he would soon become ASI’s first openly transgender board member in eight years, according to former ASI President Samantha Elizalde.

“As a trans person, you don’t see representation a lot,” Cabrera said. “So for me I saw it as a chance to be the representation that people might need to see at [Sac State].”
Read more about Cabrera by Shelby Tolly here.

J.J. Jones stands outside of the University Theatre on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. Jones plays the lead character Dr. Frank-N-Furter in Sac State’s “The Rocky Horror Show” production that opens on Oct. 20, 2021. (Photo taken by Ayaana Williams).

Sac State’s lead in “The Rocky Horror Show” shares experiences being Two-Spirit, drag artist

October 25, 2021

Sac State’s production of Richard O’Brien’s musical-comedy is a horror show about a young couple whose car breaks down, leaving them to find shelter in the mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

The lead character of the show, Dr. Frank-N-Furter, is being played by theater major J.J. Jones.

Jones said the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter typically goes to a tall, white and strong baritone male.

“I’m like the opposite of that,” she said. “When auditions were coming out, I was very hesitant.”

Rosie Quinzel, a computer science major, poses in the Pride Center at the University Union at Sac State on Feb. 11, 2020. President Biden has signed executive orders in his first month to address racial inequality and prevent discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation in the military. (Photo taken by Kayleen Carter).

‘It’s called a deadname for a reason’: Sac State LGBTQ+ students on importance of preferred names

February 13, 2021

Lee Kennedy, a communications major at Sacramento State who identifies as transgender and nonbinary, was in a crowded classroom when their professor asked them what their name was before they changed it.

They responded by telling their professor that they didn’t feel comfortable talking about it.

“It’s called a deadname for a reason,” Kennedy said. “It’s not really anybody’s business if I’ve changed my name.”

Deadnaming is when someone, intentionally or not, refers to a person who is transgender by the name they used before they transitioned.

Opinion

Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in Marvel Studios’ “Loki,” exclusively on Disney+. Loki is the first character to be gender fluid in the MCU, meaning their gender identity falls outside the binary construct. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All rights reserved.

OPINION: It’s time for the Marvel universe to follow through on LGBTQ+ representation

June 28, 2021

Marvel fan and The State Hornet’s former copy editor, Alex Muegge, calls out Marvel Studios for their lack of LGBTQ+ representation.

"Marvel has been promising more LGBTQ+ representation for the past two years, and it can’t seem to deliver."

OPINION: Florida Gov. DeSantis passes ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, but who asked?

April 12, 2022

The Florida bill nicknamed the ‘don’t say gay’ bill gives parents the authority to manage children’s exposure to the LGBTQ+ community.

Former opinion editor Kris Hall and former LGBTQ+ beat writer Hannah Asuncion argue the move is offensive to the existence of LGBTQ+ people, insinuating that children must be protected from knowledge of their existence.