(River Coello, un/a artista multidisciplinario/a cuir/qüeer y trans de Guayaquil, Ecuador viviendo en Chicago, Illinois.)
This interview was conducted in English and translated to Spanish by the author and is being published in the newsletter in Spanish to acknowledge QTIPOC experiences and to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month. Both versions are accessible on the website.
La Semana Nacional de la Salida del Armario: Una Conversación con Orador(a) Principal(a) River Coello
Por Hannah Brauer (ella), fotógrafa y escritora para el Spectrum Center
River Coello (ella/él), artista multidisciplinario/a cuir/qüeer y trans, es un(a) campeón(a) de escritura y representación. Coello se graduó de la Universidad de Michigan Escuela de Policía Pública en 2014 y recientemente ha publicado un nuevo libro llamado “self/ser: poems on queer and trans existence and love,” una colección de poemas traducidos en español y inglés escritos en los Estados Unidos y Ecuador, los dos hogares de Coello.
La dualidad es un tema poderoso en la vida de Coello, entre el género, el idioma y las nacionalidades, como descubrí en nuestra siguiente conversación. Coello será el/la orador(a) principal(a) al evento del Spectrum Center para la semana nacional de la salida del armario en el 8 de octubre de 6:30 p.m. a 7:30 p.m. en la Escuela de Trabajo Social.
Hannah: Yo vi en su página web que Ud. identifique como un(a) “artista multidisciplinario/a cuir/qüeer y trans.” ¿Podría elaborar más sobre eso y su trabajo pasado?
River: “Ha habido muchas intersecciones sobre ese trabajo. En mi esencia, he sido un(a) escritor(a) durante la mayoría de mi vida. Empecé a escribir poesía cuando tenía 12 años, y era un gran lugar para procesar parte de mi mundo. Mucho de eso era difícil de entender, y a través de la poesía, encontré un lugar seguro para jugar y procesarlo. Con actuar, eso llegó mucho más tarde, pero estaba tan interesado/a en la narración y la actuación… Siempre he sido tan curioso/a sobre la conexión entre historia oral, poesía, y cualquier cosa sobre las voces marginalizadas.
The Spectrum Center is hoping to strengthen our programs and services to be more aligned with student needs. These focus groups are open to any LGBTQ+ identifying student and will greatly help us in achieving that mission. All participants will receive a gift card for their time.
National Coming Out Day is on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019. We hope you are able to take advantage of and participate in our week-long series:
HIV Testing
Oct. 7, 6-8pm, Spectrum Center (1443 Washtenaw, 1st Flr)
Queer in STEM: A Post- Graduate Experience
Oct. 7, 12-2pm, Rackham West Room
LGBTQ+ Wiki-a-thon
Oct. 7, 3-6pm, Hatcher ScholarSpace
National Coming Out Week Keynote Speaker
Oct. 8, 6:30-7:30pm, SSWB ECC
3rd Annual LGBTQ Monologues
Oct. 10, 6-8pm, Hatcher Gallery
International Pronouns Day is Oct. 16!
The Spectrum Center Programming Board will be tabling on The Diag outside of Mason Hall during the day! You can pick up a free pronoun button at the following front desk locations:
Shapiro Undergraduate Library
Hatcher Graduate Library
Taubman Health Sciences Library
OR Create your own pronoun button! Get craft at the library (Shapiro Library Lobby) and make your own custom pronoun button to celebrate International Pronouns Day! We'll provide supplies, so bring your creativity!
Oct. 21, 6-7pm, North Quad Shared Space, Room 2435
Putting the Ace in Sex Ed
Oct. 23, 3:30-5pm, Trotter Multicultural Center (428 S. State) Large Meeting Room
Asexual/Aromantic CenterSpace
Oct. 23, 6-7:30pm, Spectrum Center (1443 Washtenaw Ave, 1st Flr)
Excited to know more about SC events during October?
There's a lot going on during October - LGBTQ+ History Month, National Coming Out Week, Intersex Awareness Day, and more. We have events for all of them. To help you navigate our month of programming and find some other events you might be interested in, we've put together a (non-comprehensive) calendar as a visual aid!
Please visit our website spectrumcenter.umich.edu for additional details and any last-minute updates.
When: Oct. 18, 9:30am-4:30pm Where: Palmer Commons, Great Lakes South
Do you have an LGBTQ+ Parent/Guardian?
The Families, Adoption, and Diversity Lab at the University of Kentucky is asking children of LGBTQ+ parents to take part in an interview-based research study.
Eligibility: If you have at least one LGBTQ+ parent and you are between 12-25 years old. A $50 e-gift card will be provided to participants. If you are under 18, please have your parent/guardian contact us.
