Questions students may have about the LGBTQA community will be answered with personal stories from the members of EIU Pride during the latest “Let’s Talk About It” series Tuesday.

At 7 p.m. at the 7th Street Underground, students can come and ask any question and take part in a discussion focusing on the stories and struggles of LGBTQA members.

Danny Turano, the UB chair, said the decision to have a “Let’s Talk About It” segment focusing on the LGBTQA community came from a desire to do something new.

“We were trying to think of things we hadn’t talked about yet,” he said.

He said members of the UB had wanted to focus on the LGBTQA community because of the community’s prominence on campus.

“It’s very big for this campus,” he said. “We want to have an open, comfortable discussion, and hear their stories too.”

Turano said members of EIU Pride are expected to be answering questions and leading the discussion.

During the segment, students are encouraged to ask questions they may have about members of the community, and members will be sharing stories they have.

“They’re going to be discussing how hard it was to come out,” Turano said. “They’ll speak about how their friends and families reacted, and what the negative and positive reactions to their coming out was.”

Turano said he hoped students who participated in the discussion took something away from it they had not thought of before.

“It’s all about getting a new perspective,” he said. “It’s about seeing how people in your community are, and getting to know them better.”

Turano said the “Let’s Talk About It” series turns the spotlight on different controversial issues for students, and tries to help students learn more about these issues.

Other segments of the “Let’s Talk About It” series have included topics such as religion, all in the hopes of resolving unanswered questions, Turano said.

He said through the questions and the LGBTQA community members’ personal stories, students can better understand different issues.

“This is a way to bring the community together and have a great discussion,” Turano said.

Bob Galuski can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].