Hi!

I am the Texas Youth Advocacy Coordinator. I read this post on facebook and decided to post it on Amplify on behalf of one of the 10 fabulous Texas Youth Leadership Council members, Lizzie.

Stay tuned for advocacy efforts in Texas!

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Lizzie Cochran
Hi, everybody!

My name is Lizzie Cochran and I am a Dedman II Senator on the SMU Student Senate. As some of you may know, legislation is now in the works to add a Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Senator to the Student Senate. I believe this is not only a worthy effort, but also a necessary one. SMU has long had the reputation of being not only a homophobic school, but also one that is generally unaccepting of students of different races, religions, and backgrounds. I know, as I'm sure nearly all of you do as well, that this is a stereotype that is no longer the norm at our school. It is through the work of many dedicated students, teachers, and staff members that SMU has risen above this stereotype to become a school strongly dedicated to the idea of equality for all students.

However, this past year there has been much debate over the special interest senate seats that I believe have played an integral role in making minority students feel well represented on the SMU campus. With legislation in the works to remove these seats all together, it is our responsibility as advocates of diversity and equality to stand up for special interests seats. By supporting the upcoming legislation to create a Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity special interest seat, you will not only be supporting the deserving and often overlooked SMU LGBT community, but also helping protect special interest seats as a whole.

As part of our effort to pass this legislation, we will be launching the SMU Voice Campaign. Modeled after the 2008 Courage Campaign against the possible forced divorcing of homosexual couples married before Proposition 8, The Voice Campaign seeks to show that the SMU student body supports the addition of a Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity senator as well as maintaining the current special interest seats.

I will be by the Flagpole from noon to 3:00 pm, Friday, November 13, 2009. Please stop by and have your picture taken with our "I support a Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Senator" sign. These pictures will be presented to the Student Senate on the day the legislation for the seat will be voted on. Take a picture and make your voice heard!


Thanks,
Lizzie Cochran


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If you cannot make it to the flagpole on Friday but would like to be part of The Voice Campaign please feel free to take your own picture with a sign stating "I support a Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Senator." Our sign is featured in the photo section below, but if you would like to make your own you are more than welcome! Please send your pictures to Lizzie Cochran at edcochran@smu.edu.