English Professors Ja’Net Danielo and Erin Cole had a LGBTQ writer’s showcase to celebrate LGBTQ writers.

Students had to sign up in order to read their own work or an LGBTQ writer’s piece.

The event took place on Tuesday, Oct. 24, where the professors called out students to go up and read.

There was approximately 10 students that showed, and about five to six of them only presented.

Each person who offered to presented had the opportunity to either share something they work or read an LGTBQ writer’s work that inspired and impacted them.

A video was shown by English professor Steve Clifford, which was about an important novel of Christopher Isherwood and how his work impacted other people.

English professor Mark Olgen said, “I thought the event was a success, it gets bigger every year.”

He mentioned that the selections the students pick are more interesting every year.

He also said, ”At the very least, we help students contribute to LGBTQ writers they have not encountered before.”

Cole said,”I thought it was a great way to celebrate LGBTQ writers and in our department, [because] it can be challenging to find diverse writers for these type of events.”

She said that she liked that students shared personal poems and it was brave of them to do so and also it was great that students were able to read their own work to express their feelings.

Danielo said she liked how the showcase brought students and faculties together to celebrate work by LGBTQ writers who are left out and not well known as other writers.

Ricardo De La Cruz, English major said, “I thought it was really good that we were able to get together with people and share these emotions and feelings with people.”

He mentioned that he was disappointed because many people did not show up as he hoped and he was nervous because he was never opened to LGBTQ.

He also said that he never had the right opportunity to share his emotions to the world and being able to be open and honest makes him feel honored that the world is interested to hear his thoughts.

Michael Lagundes, undecided major, said, “I feel excited to be here and it’s fun to celebrate any type of writers and it is important to celebrate LGBTQ writers.”

LGBTQ month is over at the end of October.