The long-anticipated center for queer student success, the Rainbow Raft Pride Center, had its grand opening full of supportive students, staff and faculty on May 8. Monterey County Supervisor Wendy Askew presented a resolution at last week’s meeting to celebrate the opening of the Rainbow Raft.
“We’re just excited to have a space where students can come be themselves and have a safe space to hang out and build community amongst each other,” said Tyler St Pierre Young, the staff coordinator at the new pride center.
Located in the Student Center, there was plenty of food and space for students to celebrate the pride center. Rainbow Raft is a safe space for any student who is looking for community, resources or support.
Inside the center, there are pride flags that adorn the ceiling. On one of the walls is a collection of Cal State Monterey Bay’s (CSUMB) queer history.
“I think it’s important to show up and show out for your community,” said student-coordinator Athena Burciga. “Community is kind of all that we have right now in the face of all these anti-trans and anti-queer legislation being passed across multiple state and federal governments.”
This was a momentous occasion for many who attended the ceremony. One attendee, David Reichard, has been involved with pride initiatives at CSUMB since 1999. Reichard is a humanities and communications professor who teaches history and legal studies. He is also this semester’s faculty coordinator for the center. After over 20 years at CSUMB, Reichard will be retiring at the end of the semester.
“I’ve worked with [Young], the staff coordinator, and the two student coordinators on getting this organized,” said Reichard. “I was really moved today to see all these people here, especially since I’ve been here 25 years and I was an advisor to one of the first student clubs here on campus. Things were very different back then in the late ‘90s.”
“I’m happy to see so many students, so many allies and so many supporters,” said Reichard.
That “first student club” was called “All In The Family,” it began in 1997 and was a safe space for students who were still growing into their sexual identities. With the new Rainbow Raft, perhaps new chosen families will flourish at CSUMB.
