Faculty and staff will break down boundaries and talk about their personal experiences as the LGBTQA Resource Advisory Committee presents the “Big Gay Panel” Monday.

The panel will take place at 8 p.m. in the Charleston-Mattoon Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

The panel will be comprised of six advisory committee members who will take questions from the audience.

LaVeasey Carter, the assistant director of academic services and committee member, said he organized the panel as an informal way to start a conversation between faculty, staff and students about issues they all may face and offer support.

“EIU Pride does one every year, and we will mirror what they do but with faculty and staff,” Carter said. “With the generation gap, they have different experiences than what students may have encountered.”

Carter said the panel members represent “every letter in the LGBTQA alphabet” and will answer questions based upon their own experiences.

“What we talk about will depend on what people ask,” Carter said. “One of the reasons we are doing this is so students know there are faculty and staff members that represent every characteristic on the spectrum.”

He said another reason for the panel is to make a connection.

“I think it is so easy for students to think there is a disconnect between their lives and that of the faculty and staff,” Carter said. “We’re hoping to bridge that gap and show we all need each other.”

The panel will be presented during EIU Pride’s usual meeting time, but is open to the public.

“It just worked out timing-wise,” Carter said.” They already had the room reserved.”

He said the panel is meant to be a relaxed environment where students should feel no reservations to ask any questions.

“We have a diverse group of panelists who don’t have any reservations about talking about where they stand,” Carter said. “We hope students will feel comfortable enough to ask any questions they may have been too afraid to ask and know they will get honest answers.”

Abby Wilburn, a junior sociology and philosophy major and EIU Pride president, said she is looking forward to the presentation because of how heartwarming it is to see the faculty and staff show their support.

“This is the first time they are doing this, and I can’t imagine anything but a positive reaction,” Wilburn said. “I’m looking forward to them sharing their wisdom and showing our members what other people experience.”

Amy Wywialowski can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].