University of Hawaii faculty, staff and students gather to discuss lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex equality

LGBTI Gathering at UH Manoa, March 23-24, features keynote address by Hawaii Board of Education Member Kim Coco Iwamoto

HONOLULU — Faculty, staff and students from all 10 campuses of the University of Hawaiʻi system will gather on the UH Mānoa campus on Friday, March 23, and Saturday, March 24, for the first "LGBTI Gathering," a two-day event sponsored by the UH Mānoa Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Student Services office and the UH Diversity and Equity Initiative to address key issues that face LGBTI individuals and allies.

The event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday in the UH Mānoa Campus Center Ballroom.

Highlights of the event include a reading with R. Zamora Linmark, a UH alumnus and author of "Rolling the R‘s," on Friday at 3 p.m., with a book signing to follow, welcome remarks by UH President David McClain on Saturday at 10 a.m., and a keynote address on Saturday at noon by Hawaiʻi Board of Education Member Kim Coco Iwamoto. Iwamoto will share observations on education and policy in Hawaiʻi.

In addition, sessions on both days will include educational tracks on workplace and campus climate issues, LGBTI student life and health, and a LGBTI student leader summit.

The LGBTI Student Services office serves as a campus and community resource on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex issues. The office facilitates student learning and development through a range of education, information and advocacy services. For more information and to register, call (808) 956-9250 or email LGBTQ@hawaii.edu.