The new leaders of Queer-Straight Alliance say they will provide gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight communities with a campus support system and a safe environment to unify people with different sexual preferences.
Andrew Turner, chairman of QSA, said it is a place to meet people and a great way to find new friends.
"It's important because it offers a safe haven for people who may not have a place to go, and it also helps with diversity on campus," he said.
This semester, the alliance will be directed by Turner and co-chairwoman Brandy Rodke.
Rodke said she and Turner have the same vision for the coming year.
"Our goal is to help harmonize the queer and straight and get people to understand our point of view and to get us out there," she said.
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She said the group focuses on providing fun activities on campus to spread awareness.
The group volunteered at Highland High School to assure incoming freshmen that they will have support.
Adam Quintero, incoming vice chairman of QSA, has been part of the alliance since his freshman year and said it is important to reach out to high school students who are about to begin college.
"It is sometimes hard, especially when you're a freshman, to find other people who have similar interests and who are like you," he said. "This offers a little community."
Turner said another event the alliance participates in is the National Day of Silence every year. The National Day of Silence began 12 years ago as a way to bring attention to anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender name-calling, bullying and harassment.
"You're silent for one whole day in remembrance of those who have been silenced by homophobes," Quintero said.
Turner said acknowledging the National Day of Silence is crucial for college students.
"It shows everybody how horrible it is to be silenced by hate and discrimination," Turner said.
Quintero said QSA can help with conflicts that arise between people of different sexual orientations.
"Whether you see it on campus or not, there is still that struggle of being accepted - of people tolerating us," he said.
Quintero said it is important to have an organization like the alliance on campus as it helps both gay and straight students.
"Like the name, it's not just queers; it's straight people too," he said.
The alliance aims to celebrate National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, Turner said.
It is a national event to promote honesty and openness about being lesbian, gay or bisexual, he said.
"You don't have to accept it as right or wrong - as moral or not - you just have to be tolerant and respectful of other people," Quintero said. "That's hopefully what we can show people here at UNM."
Rodke said the group hopes to be bigger and better, have fundraisers and bring more people to the meetings.
"We want to help people feel more proud of themselves - to be who they are," she said.
The group meets Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. in the SUB.
