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Allies seeks love and equality for all

June 10, 2015

Kaitlyn Ellinger was brand new to Clarion, learning about the campus at freshman orientation, when she first heard of Allies. A senior graphic arts major from DuBois, Ellinger said, "Right then and there, I wanted in on it."

She immediately became involved and has been the organization's publicity officer and vice president, and she is Allies' current president.

Allies, founded unofficially in 1993 and officially in 2000, is an organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning and straight students, faculty and Clarion community members who have come together to work for the preservation of the human rights of all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

"We create a safe atmosphere," she said. "We're not going to judge you by your sexual orientation, race or any kind of diversity that comes with being a human being."

Allies mission is to promote a supportive environment, to promote equality and give support to those who don't know who they are, or who know who they are and are scared of what people are going to think, Ellinger said.

"I wasn't 'out' (as lesbian) at home. Only close friends knew. I was in a relationship and had to hide it for three years – I felt like I was in a box and couldn't get out," Ellinger said. "Coming (to Clarion) was great. I could, at all times, be who I wanted to be. Through Allies, I was finally able to express myself and help other people find out who they are."

Having come from a small town, Ellinger wondered how the environment at a small town university would compare.

"Clarion is a very accepting place – I wasn't expecting that," she said.

Clarion is so accepting, in fact, that Ellinger has never encountered negativity on campus as a member of Allies.

"People don't come in (to Allies) and discriminate. I'd consider it a pretty close-knit group," she said. Likewise, as far as treatment on campus in general, she hasn't heard negative terms used toward the LGBT population, but that doesn't mean the campus doesn't have room for growth.

"I still hear people calling inanimate objects 'gay,'" she said. She'd also like to break the stereotype of what a gay person looks like – only manly girls are lesbian, only feminine men are gay. "That's not true."

To help spread the message of equality, Allies members make themselves available for classroom panels. Upon request by a professor or instructor, Allies students will visit a classroom, answer questions, tell personal stories and talk about the next step toward equality.

Last fall Allies invited to campus Mission Improvable, a comedy act, and members helped with UAB's roller skating night. This spring, Allies will host its fourth annual Drag Talent Show as part of Allies Week in April.

"We want to get out there, have fun and make people feel comfortable," she said. "Allies Week will have various activities highlighting the underlying issues of the LGBT community. We want to get people out there beside one another, and just have fun."

Overall, Ellinger said she's definitely pleased with the progress being made for LGBT people nationwide.

"Yeah definitely, especially with same sex marriage laws. I've lost count, but I believe somewhere in the high 30s (states allowing same-sex marriage)," she said. "I think that's great. I remember coming to terms with myself thinking I'd never get married. Things are definitely improving, and I couldn't be more excited by that."

Last Updated 1/11/21