On Thursday, members from the Gay-Straight Alliance are hosting a speaker from the Kansas City Anti-Violence Project to inform the Baker community about KCAVP’s project goals and events.

Chai Jindasurat, the outreach and education coordinator for KCAVP, is coming to campus to raise awareness about the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) violence that occurs in Kansas and Missouri.

KCAVP is a non-profit agency that serves LGBT victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and hate crimes in both Kansas and Missouri. The agency also provides direct services such as court, police and hospital advocacy, emergency assistance, case management and therapy for clients.

Wendi Born, assistant professor of psychology and faculty sponsor of GSA, said Jindasurat’s presentation will raise awareness of the very real violence that LGBT people face in this area, as well as informing students of the resources in place for victims of violence.

“It is difficult to know what to do when violence touches people we care about in any way; when it concerns someone’s LGBT status, it can be an even more difficult problem,” Born said.

Meghan Gabel, president of GSA, said she hopes Jindasurat’s visit raises awareness for LGBT violence and lets students know that LGBT hate crimes are a problem. She also hopes Jindasurat’s presentation will attract more advocates to volunteer for KCAVP, so in the future there can be a safer environment for the LGBT individuals.

“I want students to realize that LGBT violence is a problem that is going on,” Gabel said. “A lot of times it is hushed and silenced and people tend to overlook it (LGBT violence) and not pay any attention to it.”

In the future, Gabel said she hopes people in the LGBT community will feel safer so they don’t have to constantly hide in the shadows.

In order to continue to raise awareness and show support for the LGBT community, GSA will be participating in the Day of Silence April 16. Day of Silence is a national student-led action that brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools.

"The Day of Silence represents the silence that many LGBT people have to go through each day," Scott Ireland, vice president of GSA, said. "The Day of Silence helps Baker's LGBT community by bringing all of us together and facing the silence together."<br/>