The Halloween celebration saw regular attendees and newcomers alike doing arts and crafts, watching movies, sharing pizza and building community. Halloween shares Oct. 31 with the end of LGBTQ+ History Month, making the event, hosted by Queer Book Club, Beyond the Binary and Friends of Sappho, a double celebration.

Luna Moabi, a freshman majoring in mathematics, said they heard about the Halloween celebration from a roommate and decided to come because they thought it could be fun. While they have only been to one other event at the LGBTQ+ Student Center before, they said they would definitely like to become more involved.

“I like seeing the spaces here. I think it’s definitely good for the community,” Moabi said. “I’m not an artsy person, so I’ve just been here for the vibes, but it’s been nice hanging out.”

Bowls of candy were scattered throughout the room, along with a variety of crafts. One activity involved decorating small, wooden bats — which many students donned in costumes or pride flags — to hang above the arched window of the LGBTQ+ Student Center. 

Cody Friedlich, a freshman majoring in philosophy, politics and law, was also told about the event by a friend and appreciated the welcoming atmosphere of the space.

“I just appreciate the community,” Friedlich said. “I mean, that’s kind of basic, but I like that there’s just a space where I can be myself, [with] people without a fear of judgment, because I’m just a little anxious. It’s nice to have people who are affirming and who I can relate to.” 

Gray Ren, a junior majoring in gender and sexuality studies, is a facilitator for two weekly groups at the LGBTQ+ Student Center: Friends of Sappho and Queer/Trans People of Color Lounge. On Friday, they led a candy-holding paper bag decorating activity. Students worked on the couches as bins filled with markers, stickers and construction paper covered the coffee table. 

“I love the center,” Ren said. “It’s one of the few pockets on campus that I think is genuinely and truly kind and facilitates the making of community in a way that I just haven’t seen before on other campuses or other schools.” 

Ren said LGBTQ+ History Month has been a point of focus of the Center throughout October. One project that the Center took on is the creation of the Center’s own AIDS memorial quilt, inspired by the NAMES Project AIDS Quilt, the largest piece of community art in the world, which commemorates the ​​lives and stories of those lost to HIV/AIDS. Participating students are making patches that are sewn together to form the quilt. 

Ren said other areas of the Center’s programming for LGBTQ+ History Month also included screening LGBTQ+-centered documentaries. Resources such as counseling, help with legal name changes and medical appointments are available year-round, Ren said.

Noah Etoka, a senior majoring in public relations, is a facilitator for the Bi+ Spaces weekly program. When asked about his advice for students who might be reluctant to visit the center, Etoka said the best thing to do is to just show up, even if it is in between classes or only once a week. 

“I tell people all the time, even if you’re nervous, just come to the center. Even if I’m there and I’m the only person you know, that’s totally okay, because I’ll chat with you, and it’s a really good way to meet new people,” Etoka said. “Just being there makes a huge difference.”