Inaugural Safe Zone event

Hosted by English Professor Michelle Blair, with
the Office of Students Affairs The Transgender
Awareness Panel and Discussion was a success,
with over 70 people in attendance. Three panelists,
Kelly J. Kelly, Robyn Adams, and Aron
Valdez (an SJCC graduate), spoke honestly
and compellingly about their experience being
non-gender-conforming. Q & A followed the
speakers.
Finally, Transgender Day of Remembrance
(which takes place annually, on Nov. 20) was
honored as names were read aloud from a partial
list of those who had been killed in 2016 by anti-
transgender violence.
Huge thanks go to Lezra Chenportillo of the
Transfer Center; Maria Avalos of the Student
Affairs Office; Judy Wessler of the President’s
Office; and President Byron Breland and V.P. of
Student Affairs Roland Montemayor, who make
sure that equity and inclusivity abound on our
campus. Look for more Safe Zone events next
semester.
If you are interested in becoming part of Equality,
SJCC’s LGBTQ-Straight Alliance, please
contact Michelle Blair at: michelle.blair@sjcc.
edu. The club is in the process of being formed,
so your input is greatly encouraged.