Lethbridge College will soon be seeing a new group for gay and lesbian students starting up on campus.

            “Right now we are just waiting on approval from our student adviser and then we will be submitting the club to the Student’s Association for consideration. We hope to be up and running and building our membership by the end of the semester, then in January we can really get things going,” says Jessica Lloyd, a former executive of the University’s PRIDE group and president of what will be the college group, the Lethbridge College Pride Society.

            “During the time that I was figuring out who I was, the club provided me with help and support and many lasting friendships. GALIA (now ULSU PRIDE) let me be myself without the fear of discrimination and being excluded.

            “Most colleges and universities in Canada have some form of support network for queer and allied students and I think it’s time for LC to join their ranks and let students know that we support and care for all our students.”

            There is no set location from where the club will be run as of yet. Lloyd says that is something they are going to work towards in the future and that ULSU PRIDE will help the club with access to resources.

            Clinton Iggulden, LC student and vice-president of LCPS, says that “the isolated feeling” he has experienced at the college was part of the inspiration for the group.

            “The fear is so strong that my orientation will be discovered it is easier to avoid talking or getting to know people at the college. That way there is no chance of me being rejected or ostracized.

            “So my main reason for supporting the formation of the group was to provide support for others that might be in similar situations as I am.”

            A goal for the future of the group is to operate on a larger scale like ULSU PRIDE does, but it is starting off small. The intention is to create a fellowship between queer and allied students at LC and let it expand.

            “We will be working closely with USLU PRIDE to maximize our potential, as they are a much larger organization with plenty of resources and a willingness to assist us,” says Iggulden.

            “They (LC) have services for ESL students and First Nations students. I want to see my community represented as well,” Lloyd commented.

            An email address has been set up to offer support and information to students of events and activities the group wishes to hold. LCPS can be contacted at lethcollegepride@gmail.com.