The upcoming Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual course, which is part of a five-year plan for the LGBT Studies Certificate Program, was discussed in a round-table meeting on May 6 in the Student Life office. The speaker and teacher of the course, Professor Jeffrey Mitchell Matthews, encouraged group think while divulging the details of the upcoming class.

Also discussed was the background of Matthews’ 22 years at Los Medanos College.

The certificate program is divided into three phases. A part of Phase One, being worked on in 2013 and 2014, is already complete as the Intro to LGBT Studies class was approved to be a part of the courses offered in the AS/AA Degree’s Ethnic/Multicultural Studies Box.

The course will work with more degree and certificate programs including: Administration of Justice, Anthropology, Art, Child Development, Communication Studies, Drama, Journalism, Liberal Arts, Music, Nursing, Psychology and Sociology.

During Phase Two, beginning late 2014 and ending in 2016, more faculty hiring is planned in order to help create more LGBT courses, such as LGBT History and LGBT Art. Professor Mitchell would help with faculty interested in creating the courses.

In Phase Three, LMC’s LGBT Resource Center, Q*Spot, will be institutionalized. The creation of a LGBT Studies certificate will also be completed.

“Q*Spot has always literally been my office and only open during my office hours. If I should suddenly die, Q*Spot would die with me,” says Mitchell.

The creation of an official building for Q*Spot would help ensure referral services for its resources, such as counseling and support groups for LGBT youth, and offers a safe, supportive place for LGBT people to meet at LMC.

The upcoming LGBT studies course will be listed as English-135-1277 and will be held on Thursdays from 7 to 9:50 p.m. in Room CC-296.

“I think it should be a fun addition to the school,” said student Alyssa Johnson adding,

“I might even take that class. It sounds like it would be really interesting.”